Career Fairs
Most career fairs are in large venues with teams of employer representatives looking for talented individuals. Employer representatives could be people from HR, recruiters, hiring managers, alumni, etc. Career fairs are usually set up for you to do “speed networking”, meaning you will have the opportunity to meet with several different companies in a short period of time. Like in all networking situations, first impressions matter, so you want to make sure you are dressed professionally and make a warm greeting. The biggest benefit of career fairs is the connections you can make. With everyone you speak with, ask for a business card or connect with them on LinkedIn.
Video Resources
Planning and Preparation
Preparing for a career fair is likely anything else you prepare for – you consider your options, make your list, and execute your list. This will help you get organized, stay organized, and optimize your time.
Why this job fair? From there, you can set goals of the types of companies you want to speak with about what types of roles.
Positions and companies you are interested in, and how the role you do fits into the company. Ask validating questions to ensure your goals align.
Consider where the job fair is at and what time of year it is. Plan and dress accordingly. Carry a portfolio where you can keep anything you might need when speaking with an employer – resume, business cards, etc.
Career fairs often list who will be there, so you can determine who at which company you’d like to speak with. Find this information on places like LinkedIn, company websites, investor relation pages, Dun & Bradstreet, Google, social media, alumni chats, etc.
- Do any UW alumni work there?
- What do they do?
- How do they make money?
- Who are their competitors?
- Are they growing or declining?
- If it’s a public company, how has their stock been doing?
- What are some new things they are trying?
- Where do they have offices?
- What is the culture like?
- What do they offer for training?
- What roles are they hiring for?
A 30 second summary of yourself – Who are you? What do you do? What do others say about you? Why are you interested in this opportunity? Practice by yourself or with others!
Tips for the Day of the Fair
- Firm handshake and a smile with each person you speak with.
- Open posture, comfortable but upright – no slouching!
- Paralanguage: pitch and tone are very important when you are speaking.
- Have good but casual eye contact.
- Neat and clean appearance – hair, clothes, makeup, etc.
- Use your 30 second elevator speech.
- Ask good questions.
- Share your resume.
- Ask for a business card.
- Suggest “next steps”.
- Be grateful and thank them.
- Take notes.
Follow Up After the Career Fair
Follow up after the career fair is critical. It is on you to reach back out, not the recruiter that you met there. Cardinal rule – leave every conversation with the other person’s contact information with the understanding that you’ll be doing the follow up.
Good practices for following up:
- Send brief thank you notes or email employers with whom you had strong rapport and connection – 24-48 hours post event.
- Indicate your appreciation for their time and advice. Include interesting information from your conversation.
- Share steps you may have taken since talking.