Tips for Career Fair Preparation

Before career fairs:

Research the organizations that interest you before you go to the fair. Go online to gather more information about these employers and the projects they are working on.
Be open to meeting many different organizations. There are often several departments within large organizations and they may have positions that you had not anticipated. For example, tech firms have human resources and marketing departments, so there may be more than just tech jobs available.
Prepare some questions based on the information you find from your research.
Prepare and a short career pitch for employers, include who you are, your career goals, and some of your strengths that can be beneficial in the workplace.
Dress appropriately (avoid sweatpants, jeans, shirts that read too casual like tank tops and graphic tees).
At Carleton’s Career & Networking Fairs, most employers will ask you to apply for jobs on mySuccess or their organization’s job portal. It’s good to have your resume up to date so that you can apply soon after attending the fair if there’s a job that catches your eye.

Sometimes it can help to warm up with a conversation with an employer that feels less pressure before you get in line to speak to the one(s) you really want to speak to.
When planning your time, prioritize the organizations you would like to speak to and create your plan of action (if you have work/classes, leave enough time in your schedule in case you need to wait in line to speak with the employers).
Expect to take the lead with the recruiter and be prepared to deliver your pitch. You may ask for their contact info or LinkedIn to follow up.

Develop a filing system to keep the information that you learned organized.
Make notes about employers you met while your memory is fresh.
Follow up with thank you emails or personalized LinkedIn messages to employers you met with at the fair.