Prior to the Career Fair
Plan to wear a professional outfit - first impressions are critical and lasting
- Do not wear jeans, t-shirts, wrinkled clothes, sneakers, hats, mini skirts, active wear, tank/halter/sleeveless tops, low cut or tight fitting shirts.
- Women - wear a suit, pants suit, blazer with skirt or dress, conservative color, no heavy jewelry or perfume.
- Men - wear a suit or a jacket & tie with slacks, conservative color, no heavy cologne or after-shave.
Prepare plenty of copies of your resume - more than you think you'll need
- Have an attractive resume on good quality paper, using bold, underline, and bullets; we strongly suggest white or other neutral-color paper.
- Check carefully for typos, spelling and grammar errors.
- Have it critiqued at Career Services.
- Keep the copies in a folder or portfolio at the event.
- Some employers may also ask you to submit your resume through their company website for their specific type of applicant tracking system. This is a growing trend due to a requirement that employers who maintain contracts with the federal government that are over a certain dollar amount must report detailed recruitment. This data is most easily collected through employers' online applicant tracking system.
Familiarize yourself with the employers
- Decide which employers you want to speak with and prioritize them.
- Research, research, research - a list of participating employers is available on our website two weeks prior to each event.
- Visit the employers websites
Market yourself
Develop an introduction to use when meeting employers at career days and other networking events.
At the Career Fair
Come early in the day - employers are at their peak and there is less competition
- Bring a pen, folder or portfolio for your resumes, and perhaps a pad of paper.
- Carry as little as possible (no coats or backpacks, etc.)
- Turn off cell phones in the employer areas.
Approach employer representatives with confidence
- Introduce yourself, make good eye contact, and offer a firm handshake.
- Give the recruiter your resume and tell him/her about yourself and your career interests.
- Ask questions about job openings/descriptions, the organization, application procedures, etc.
- Collect business cards and employer literature.
Speak with as many employers as possible
- Visit your top choices first. Avoid standing in a long line to speak with one recruiter when you could talk with 3 or 4 others in the same time period.
