What Students Need to Know Before Attending a Career Fair

Preparing for a career fair can be difficult at first. There are so many companies to think about, questions to ask yourself, and different information that you should prepare beforehand.

Thinking about these suggestions can help you get started.

Research the Companies Beforehand

When you’re getting yourself ready for a career fair, do a little research beforehand about the different companies who will be present at the career fair.

When you come prepared with information about the company, you can spend less time on more general basics and instead focus on your specific profile as a potential candidate and on the specifics of their company that attract you.

These types of conversations tend to be more productive and lead to you making real connections with recruiters, gaining valuable information about companies’ goals, and figuring out the specific opportunities that you want to pursue.

Prepare Your Questions

Preparing for attending a career fair can feel like a grueling process. You need to research the different companies, possibly individual recruiters, and think about an elevator speech.

And in the process of doing all this preparation, it can be easy to overly focus on what you will say to questions that recruiters ask you.

But while you must come prepared to respond to their questions, it’s also essential that you prepare questions of your own. Not only do you want to be able to demonstrate interest and knowledge of their company through your questions, but you’ll also be able to gain valuable information through posing those questions.

Because the information that recruiters share with students tends to be relatively standard, the questions you ask will make the difference in making your conversation with a recruiter stand out from the host of other conversations the recruiter will have that day.

Take Notes

When you’re in the process of meeting with and talking to different recruiters, take notes.

Taking notes will not only allow you to better remember the different conversations you have with different recruiters, but it will also demonstrate the serious way you are approaching each conversation with each recruiter.

You’ll be able to send the signal that you are legitimately interested in their company. And then at the end of the day, you can refer back to your notes so that you’ll be able to best prepare yourself to get the jobs you want.

Dress to Impress

When it comes to going to a career fair, dressing to impress can help you make a good impression but more importantly can help you feel better about yourself. A modest dress can make women feel confident in their appearance in a professional setting.

When you wear a dress or pants that you feel great in, you’ll be able to focus more on the conversations that you’re having and less on tugging at and tucking your clothes.

Know What You’re Looking For

One of the best things you can do for yourself when it comes to preparing for a career fair is figuring out who you are looking for. As a student without a degree, it can be easy to get overwhelmed and feel like you don’t have much to offer.

You can easily feel like you are just looking for something—anything.

But instead of approaching the career fair without an end in mind, think about the types of companies you are specifically interested in and what you hope to accomplish by attending the fair.

Maybe there are a couple of companies that you would love to work for eventually but that you know you might not be qualified to work for now. Instead, think about discussing with them the specific things you can do to be prepared for the future.

Prepare a Good Introduction

When you’re at a career fair, you’ll have the opportunity to introduce yourself to several different recruiters in a short period.

If you’ve done your research about the different companies there and if you know what you’re specifically looking for out of the career fair, tailor your introduction to those points.

If you’re hoping to find an internship in a social work setting, introduce yourself to recruiters as someone passionate about being a good listener.

Then position a few highlights from your resume in a way that emphasizes the skills you’ve developed that would best fit the profile the company would be looking for.

Arrive on Time

When it comes to career fairs, everything counts when it comes to making a good first impression. Showing up late is one of the first things that people will recognize about you.

Even if you are attending an open career fair, being one of the first people to talk to a recruiter can often mean that you’ll be more memorable. The more people a recruiter talks to, the easier it becomes to forget those different faces.

Know Conventions for Virtual Fair

With COVID-19 over the past year, many events that would have typically been in person have gone online. With so many things going online, it can sometimes seem like some of the events are a whole different ballpark now.

When it comes to attending virtual career fairs, there are a couple of things that you should be aware of.

First, you should still make sure to come dressed appropriately and professionally. Second, make sure that you have a clean professional background when you are Zooming.

You should try to avoid having a digital background if at all possible. Even if you feel like there isn’t anywhere in your house with a background that you feel is professional, you can purchase a white tri-fold presentation board at a store and position it behind you so you have a clean background.

Preparing for a career fair can seem overwhelming at first. With so many different things to think about, where do you even begin? Starting with some of these ideas can help you get going in a good direction.