At The Career Fair
What to Wear: Conservative business attire is necessary! Also known as business professional or interview attire, this style of dress is expected of all Career Fair attendees. The following links provide detailed information about how students should dress for the Career Fair.
Method of Approach: After reviewing which employers will be attending the Career Fair and researching each company, create a list of employers you would like to meet with according to priority. A good strategy is to try and visit your top priority employers first and then work your way down the list of employers with whom you want to meet. If time permits, explore opportunities with other employers that you may not have made your top picks. Check out some more Career Fair tips in this video.
Meeting the Career Fair Exhibitors: You may have only 2-5 minutes to create a positive first impression, so your "30-Second Infomercial" needs to be powerful, well thought out and tailored to the individual employer.
30 Second Script Format
- 5 seconds: Personal information, degree, year, major
- 5 seconds: Why you are here and the type of opportunities or information you are seeking
- 5 seconds: Experience (work, internship, volunteering)
- 5 seconds: Accomplishments (work, classroom, activities and organizations)
- 10 seconds: Knowledge of the company
Think about the benefits that you are able to offer the company as well as any relevant experiences you have had. Be sure to make eye contact, offer a firm handshake and show interest. Be ready to have a great answer to "What are you here for today?" Tailor your answer to the research you have done on that organization as well as what you are interested in. Also know what questions you would like to ask. A great question to conclude your short conversation is, "What do I need to do to obtain a second interview with your firm?” For more information, review interview tips.
Networking: Besides networking with the employers, who are recruiting at the Fair, remember that another valuable resource from attending a Career Fair is sharing information with your peers. Consider sharing information about job leads, companies, etc. that may be of more interest to someone other than to you. A networking card is an effective way of sharing information about your skills, education and experience with prospective employers and people in your network.