Career fairs can be a little crazy. There are a lot of people, a bunch of employers, and everything’s happening so fast that you can barely keep up. Last time I was at a career fair, I got a headache from smiling and had to leave for a bit to let my face relax[MH1] . Going into a career fair blind is a bad idea, and admittedly a bit daunting. So here are a few tips and tricks to help you get through that career fair that could land you a great summer internship:
Before the fair:
1. Research, research, research
If you’re going to a career fair, you can easily find out which firms and organizations will be attending the event, so you need to do your research. Look up the company website, read their Wikipedia article for the CliffsNotes version, and check their careers page to see which positions they’re hiring for and if any of them are a fit for you. When you find a position you like, read up on the qualifications they want. That’s what you’ll want to talk about when you go up to a recruiter, to make yourself look as attractive to them as possible. Remember, it’s not about what they can give you (i.e. a job), but what you can give them.
2. Take notes
If you research 20 companies, decide to apply to 10, and don’t take notes on any, you’ll inevitably mix them up. Take notes on the companies you like in a small notebook that you can use as a cheat sheet at the career fair (discreetly and out of sight of the recruiters). Note down what the company values, what you like about the company, and talking points about yourself that focus on the skillsets they’re looking for.
3. Prepare an elevator pitch
A 30 second ‘about me’ that covers your best skills and job accomplishments, an elevator pitch should be prepared and practiced well before the job fair, so you can rattle it off easily at a moment’s notice. Feel free to use Clark Career Services and Google to help you create your elevator pitch.
4. Prepare questions
It’s a great idea to ask the recruiter questions that are definitely not along the lines of, “tell me about your company!” (Baaad idea; you clearly did not do your research.) Have a few pre-planned generic questions on hand that you can ask just about any recruiter (“How’s the work environment” or “What qualities are you looking for in a potential employee”), and a few specific questions for the companies you like that will show them that you did do your research.
5. Customize your resume
Definitely have a number of copies of a generic resume with you, since those are the ones you’ll be handing out left and right. But if you really, really like a company or three, you might also want to have a few customized resumes on hand. Each customized resume should cater to a particular company. This is a lot of work, but if you really want a particular job, it’s a good idea to customize your resume to fit that job. Just be careful that you don’t hand out a resume customized for one company to a different company.
6. Prepare to talk about yourself, a lot
Unlike at a networking event, you mostly need to focus on yourself at a career fair. Recruiters know you’re here for a job – no need for pretenses. They will ask you questions like, “What are you looking for?” and “What can we help you with?” and “Why are you interested in us?” and even “What are your qualifications?” You need to know how to talk yourself up in a way that doesn’t sound too self-centered. It is an art, and requires a lot of practice. It really helps to be aware that the first few times is probably going to suck, but you’ll get better at it as you go.
7. Have a game plan
Keep a list of companies you don’t want to leave without speaking to. Know your limits. If you’re aware that you can’t last three whole hours at a career fair and need to finish up in an hour, make a game plan that covers one hour. If you want to talk to every single company there, make sure you don’t cut conversations short to achieve your goal. Set a goal for yourself. As long as you meet that goal, you’re good.
At the fair:
1. Dress to impress
Dress like you’re attending a job interview. In fact, think of this career fair as a very short, first job interview. Stick to the dress code (usually business casual). Personally, I like to wear slightly unorthodox business casual outfits to networking events and career fairs, be that a bright shirt or a poofy skirt, or colorful heels that draw eyes. There are good sides to this, in that recruiters are more likely to remember you in the sea of neutral colors. (I can’t tell you how often I get a comment like, “I like your shoes,” that starts off a great conversation and lets me segue into talking about how much I love the company’s policy of granting employees autonomy or something.) There are also bad sides, in that there will always be conservative recruiters who will not like you stepping out of the ‘appropriate’ zone, and who will dismiss you right off the bat for dressing differently. It’s up to you to weigh the risks and rewards, and decide for yourself what you want to do.
2. Arrive early
The earlier you arrive, the fewer people will be there, and the more time you’ll have to make your rounds. You don’t have to wait in line to meet people, and recruiters are fresh-eared and will pay more attention to you when you go up to them. They haven’t become jaded by fifty fake-smiling faces and haven’t heard the same questions and same boring ‘here’s why I’m so great!’ pitch sixty times yet.
3. Start with companies you don’t care about
Walk around the room once first, just to get an idea of who is where, then begin.
I like to start with organizations offering teacher/tutor positions (there are usually a few at any given job fair), because those are jobs I don’t actually want. It’s a good way to warm up for the companies you do want to work for. If you care about teaching/tutoring jobs, you want to save them for after you’ve warmed up with a few other companies. The first few will be a little awkward, a little stilted. You’ll probably be thinking too hard. I guarantee, however, that no matter how bad you are at talking to people, practice will help you get better. Soon you’ll be like a well-oiled machine, making eye contact, shaking hands, launching into your elevator pitch, and asking questions without thinking twice about it.
4. Save the companies you do care about for later, but not too late
Once you’re warmed up, go for the companies you care about. Don’t wait too long or save them for last, because a lot of companies don’t stick around for the full job fair. When you feel like you’re comfortable enough with talking, head straight for those tables you’d been eyeing since you got there.
5. Hand out your resume and collect business cards
Never leave a recruiter without your resume. Even if you don’t care about the company, or you think the conversation went poorly, ask if you can leave your resume, and ask for their business card. You never know when an opportunity could arise. Scribble a note or two on the business card. Maybe the recruiter wanted you to add them on LinkedIn, or maybe they recommended a specific position on their website you’d be suited for. Notes help.
6. Don’t dismiss companies you don’t care about
Especially in instances where you’re walking around the room and you accidentally catch a recruiter’s eye. Go up to them and introduce yourself; don’t keep walking unless time’s running out and you have other companies you want to talk to. Like I said, you never know what could happen. It’s always a good idea to make a connection.
7. SMILE
I don’t care if your face feels like it’s going to fall off, KEEP SMILING. Body language is super, super important. Keep your arms uncrossed, stand straight unless you can’t, use your hands to talk if you need to, lean forward a little to show interest, maintain (or at least try to maintain) eye contact. If you have sweaty hands, keep a pack of tissues with you to mop up before you go up to a recruiter. If you have dry hands, moisturize. A good, firm handshake shows confidence. Listen attentively, and be openly excited even if you’re dead inside.
8. Be honest
Don’t lie. I don’t know how else to say this. Don’t talk up your crazy writing skills if you don’t actually have any, or go on about your experience with Excel if you can’t use it very well. The recruiters will follow up on that. They might right then, or later, and one way or another you’ll end up in an awkward position.
Being honest also means being genuine. You can make jokes. You can laugh at something funny, or tell a recruiter that was a terrible pun they just made. The last career fair I attended, I was offered an on-spot interview which included taking a test. I was not in the right mindset to take a test right then (I wanted to talk to other companies and I was not thinking about numbers at the time). I told the recruiters that and backed out, and they offered to schedule a phone interview with me for the next week instead. Knowing your limits is important; don’t push yourself to do more than you can at the time. Knowing your strengths is also important. If you think you can do an on-spot interview when you’re offered one, go for it. Just be honest, with yourself and with them.
9. Take breaks
This one depends on whether or not you need one, but I think it’s a good idea to leave the room for a while, get away from the cacophony of voices in there, sit down, take a deep breath, regroup, and come back. Sometimes you can fall into a pattern and recruiters can tell when you’re sort of just moving on autopilot. Taking breaks keeps things fresh, both for you and the recruiters.
10. Consult your notes
Before you go up to a company you like, take a second to look over your notes and remember what you want to talk about. Do this OUT OF SIGHT OF THE RECRUITERS. This is actually what I like to do when I take a break: leave the room, look over my notes, and come back with a game plan for the next few companies I’m going to speak to.
11. Keep moving
Try not to stand in one place for too long or huddle with your friends unless you’re organizing something, waiting in line, or your feet hurt and you just need to be still for 30 seconds. Walking around the room makes you appear more purposeful. If you need a break, you can always leave the room and come back.
12. Do one final circuit before you leave
This one is entirely optional, but if I stay until the end of the fair, I like to go up to a recruiter that I know I had a good conversation with before I leave, and just say hi one more time, ask another question or two. It’s just a way to make sure they remember me. Sometimes, of course, you won’t get a chance to do that, either because there are still too many people at the table or you need to leave early, and that’s okay.
After the fair:
1. Follow up
So, so important. Recruiters meet tens of potential candidates. You can stand out from others by sending a short ‘thank you’ email. Reiterate your interest in the company/position, and tell them it was great to meet them!
In conclusion:
It’s all about impressions. Make a good impression, be interested and be interesting. Smile, and try. Practice makes everything better, and don’t worry if you stumble a bit, or fall. Everyone does. You’ll be fine.
Good luck!
