Job Fair Success

Our job fairs are the largest events we organize at the office of Career Services. We average between 30 and 60 employers and between 300 and 500 students in attendance per fair. From our experience running these massive events, we've come up with a few suggestions for improving job fair success for both employers and students.

Employers:

Stay the Entire Length of the Job Fair: Some of the best candidates are the ones with complex and busy schedules. They may be arriving at the last minute, not because they didn't prepare carefully, but because they are coming from an internship or class. It sends a negative message to students when employers leave too early. One of the most common complaints we hear from students is that too many employers leave early.

Send staff who are committed to interacting with students: Knowledgeable and outgoing staff who proactively reach out to students are sure to draw the best candidates to your table.
Stand in front of your table: Remember, for many students, this may be their first time interacting with professional employers, being physically approachable will make you more accessible to candidates.
Avoid leaving your table empty if possible: If you came alone, perhaps leave a note on the table indicating when you expect to return. Bottom of Form
Students:
Dress Appropriately: One of the most common complaints we get from recruiters is that students don't dress appropriately for our events. Don't let an overly casual appearance detract from your qualifications!

Do Your Research: We post the list of attending employers weeks in advance of our career fairs. Doing prior research on employers of interest will provide you with two benefits. First, you'll come off as more prepared and professional when you speak with employers and second, you'll be less overwhelmed by the number of recruiters available to talk to if you know ahead of time who your target contacts are.
Prepare a Resume, But Don't Be Disappointed if a Recruiter Asks You to Apply Online: There are some anti-discrimination related federal guidelines that prevent larger companies from taking paper resumes from students. If a recruiter asks you to apply online do so and be sure to remind them that you met at the job fair.
Follow-Up: Ask employers 'What's the best way to follow-up with you?' THEN DO IT. Send thank-you notes to employers with whom you met.
Attend the Job Fair Prep Sessions: Take advantage of the drop-in assistance Career Services offers the Monday and Tuesday before the job fairs. You can bring in a copy of your resume and get advice on what to wear and how to introduce yourself to employers.
The Summer Job & Internship Fair is March 31^st.