Tips on How to Prepare for a Career Fair

Why do companies attend career fairs?

Companies are predominantly there to recruit good, qualified candidates. There are many other benefits; good public relations, community visibility, outreach, and surveying the labour market.

What to expect

You can experience emotions from motivation to knowledge-overload. Some companies are there to inform you on procedures of applying for open positions, some have positions ready to be filled and are there to already recruit candidates for an interview, and some are here to get a feel of how many students are interested in working for them.

How to prepare

• First and foremost, bring a few copies of your CV and be prepared to quickly run and make some adjustments to address the specific company advert and needs (especially your cover letter which needs to be addressed to the specific company).
• Dress professionally. First impressions count. Some people take this as a casual event. It is not. The serious job seeker will dress appropriately.
• Do an attitude check. Am I coming across positively? Do I really want to be here?
• Come prepared with a skills statement: “Hello, I’m Thato. I will soon be an Investment and Banking graduate. I would like to know more about your positions available to graduates with my qualification”.
• Be prepared to ask a few questions. Remember, career fairs are quick impressions of you, as well as of the company.
• Thank the company representative for his or her time. Courtesy goes a long way. Display proper etiquette, you will also stand out in the crowd.
• What’s the next step? May I call you in a week? When would it be appropriate to call?

The biggest mistakes candidates make (based on experience gained from attending career fairs)

• Assuming that your background does not fit with the company’s. Sometimes, companies only bring their current openings. You will be missing opportunities if you don’t ask about future openings.
• Focusing on just one or two companies. The advantage of a career fair is to talk and network with as many companies and resources as you can.
• Not following up on leads. Follow-up is the key in the job search process. You might have some initial excitement, but persistence is what gets the job.
• Not being focused or direct. Focus and direct communication will get you closer to your goal.
• Treating career fairs impersonally. Come with a smile and a firm handshake. Recruiters are people too.

How much time to spend at a career fair

Plan to spend two or three hours there. Remember, the advantage of a career fair is that you can talk with real people about real jobs.

Have a set of goals

Research has shown that people with written goals are more likely to accomplish what they want. Think about how many companies you wish to see. Planning in advance really works and it takes some of the stress away from the event. If you are starting a career, a career fair is a great opportunity to see what’s out there, who’s hiring, what kinds of jobs they have, and the salaries that are being offered. In short, a career fair is a great place for anyone who is looking for a job either now or in the future.

Adapted from Graduate Magazine, 2013