Career Tips: How to Prepare for a Job Fair

Do you have an upcoming job fair and you don't know what to do to get ready? My name is Courtney Kriz and I am a recruitment specialist at Blue & Co.

Here are my best tips for how to prepare for a job fair! After all, using the quick and easy tips below is what could land you that next internship and/or job! 

Did you know that showing up to a Career Fair could be the start of your new career?!  You never know who you might meet!   

Pre-register for event (when applicable)

It is important to pre-register (when applicable) to ensure you have all the latest information and details surrounding the event.

By pre-registering, you will receive emails from your university, as well as the employers attending. This will give you access to review those employers in great detail prior to scheduled date. Showing up prepared and knowledgeable is a great first step to success!

Come Dressed to Impress

First impressions are everything and your clothes play a major role in making a positive first impression. A clean, put together outfit goes a long way. This doesn’t mean you need to have a suit or dress suit, but nice slacks with a polo/button down or  even a dress or pants with a nice blouse will do the trick!

Dress codes are more casual than they once were, but always better to come overdressed than not.  

Do Your Research Beforehand

Always show up prepared to set yourself apart from the competition!

You can do this by researching the potential employers in advance and reading through current openings to understand what the employer(s) are looking for. 

A few additional things you can do to prepare are:

• Review the website and see what the company stands for—This is a great topic to discuss with the team and they can elaborate in more detail.
• Ask about the culture of the company. The culture of a company is what sets them apart.
• Review the company on Glassdoor, follow on LinkedIn and more! By doing these things, we will automatically be connected and you will be in the know of what is happening with that employer.

How does this help? If you come prepared and ready to ask specific questions, we know you did some homework and are interested and willing to learn!

Refresh Your Resume & Practice

When coming to a career fair, it is very important to have a current and updated resume. Ensure you have it updated with your current jobs, school information and even more recent GPA. If you prepare and print your resume for distribution, this will ensure the employer has a great way to stay connected, share your information and even follow up.

Also, when you come up to us to chat, having a brief summary of yourself will set you apart! Something as simple as noting you reviewed our website in advance, and touching on your goals or the direction that you are hoping to go in the future will make you stand out.

Have questions? Ask away! We love answering questions and ensuring you have all the answers you need to make the right decision. 

Other Career Tips Best Practices

After the Fair, have a game plan! Whether that means you go and directly apply to our website or send an email to the employer you met. Showing interest and following up after an event goes a long way.

It is also important to note, you should always have reasonable expectations of the day. Be open to what the company has available or recommends. We want what is best for you and want to help send you down the right path with our company.

All of the above information are great ways to prepare for your future! Recruiters like to see candidates who are willing and eager. By completing the above tips you will make a great first impression and that may just land you an interview on the spot!

Even if we don’t interview you immediately, we may take your resume and contact for another time. This will also help you build your brand and contacts in the professional world and you never know when that “one” connection may bring you your dream opportunity!