So you're almost finished with your time in college and are ready to start thinking about jobs. You probably have plenty of questions. "How can I network with potential employers?" "How do I get a resume ready?" "What interview questions should I ask in conversations with company representatives?"
This article answers all these questions (and more!) and will help you prepare for your next college career fair. Attending a career fair is a great way to get your name (and resume) out to potential employers.
The following sections will explain what a career fair is like and describe how to have the best possible experience at the next career fair you attend. We'll walk you through a proven step-by-step process to ensure you make a strong first impression that can lead to job opportunities and job offers.
Research beforehand
Before you head off to the event, do your research to learn which employers will be attending. This will give you a better idea of the material to prepare beforehand.
This research will also help you tailor conversations based on what you've learned, giving you a better chance of impressing potential recruiters.
If you're unsure where to start, reach out to your college's career center or career services department for a list of employers attending the event. From there, you can visit each company's website to learn more about them.
Prepare your resume
If you don't have a resume yet (or if it's been a while since you updated it), review it in advance to ensure it reflects your recent experience and qualifications. Try to craft a resume that is both professional and attractive, and print a few copies to share with potential employers you meet at the fair.
Your resume can include previous job or internship experience and volunteer work. Many also list high school or college club or organization involvement.
Listing your bachelor's degree (even if you haven't graduated yet) is OK. In fact, we recommend including this information. After all, you've worked hard to earn this degree, and prospective employers should know about it.
Finally, print a few copies of your resume to share with job seekers you meet in person at the fair. You can also save the document as a PDF to share at virtual career fairs or on LinkedIn.
Dress appropriately
It's probably best if you don't show up in gym clothes or your high school letterman jacket. You should dress professionally and in a manner that helps you portray confidence and success.
Men typically wear dress shoes, slacks, and a long-sleeve collared shirt, while women can wear pantsuits or skirts with a blouse or dress shirt. Try not to wear anything too flashy or distracting - you don't want your clothes to be overly distracting to someone during a conversation.
Prepare an elevator pitch
As you move through the job fair and initiate conversations with different recruiters and human resources (HR) managers, you may not have enough time to have prolonged discussions with each person you meet.
Developing an elevator pitch ahead of time can be a helpful way to practice communicating the most important details in a concise manner. An effective elevator pitch usually lasts 30 seconds to one minute and includes details about your past experience and skills.
Approach confidently
If Ted Lasso were writing this article, he would remind you of the importance of believing in yourself. He would then point to a slightly crooked yellow sign taped to the wall with blue letters that spell out "Believe," and we would all be inspired to do our best - not just on the pitch but in life itself.
You can bring a similar mindset to your next college career fair. Believe in yourself and what you have to offer, and maintain the right sense of confidence when approaching different booths and employers (this confidence will impact your attitude and body language). Give a firm handshake, make eye contact, and relax. The steps in this article will give you a great chance of making a positive impression.
Ask questions and show interest
As you engage with potential employers, show interest by asking questions to learn more about their company and any open roles they may have. Here are a few questions that can be especially helpful:
- What are your company's top values?
- What would success look like for the person who takes this role?
- What do people most often struggle with when they take a new job at your company?
- What does your company want most for the customers it serves?
- If you could design the ideal person to work with your company, what qualities or traits would they have?
These questions will help you learn more about the company's passion, values, and priorities while determining if you could be a good potential match.
Don't forget that you're deciding if you want to work for the company, much like they are deciding if you would be a good employee.
Prepare for a potential job interview by researching interview tips and reading a list of questions that often come up in interviews.
Get contact information
It doesn't matter what kind of conversation you have if there isn't a clear step on how to follow up. You can share your contact information with the employer and encourage them to reach out to you, or you can ask for their phone number, email address, or business card so you can touch base after the fair.
Asking when to reach out if you haven't heard back from them is also smart. This shows intentionality on your part and respects their need for time to make a decision.
Follow up after the career fair
You wouldn't want to do all the work of getting ready for the career fair and networking with potential employers to see your effort go to waste. Unfortunately, many conversations don't produce an outcome after the job fair because people get busy or forget about their many new connections.
You can lessen the chances of this happening by following up with employers after the event. This demonstrates proactivity on your part and opens doors for future conversations and new opportunities.
Send a follow-up message or thank-you note that expresses gratitude for their time at the event, asks for clarification about the hiring process, and reinforces your interest in the company's open positions.
What questions should you ask at a career fair?
In addition to the questions mentioned above, here are a few more specific questions to keep in your back pocket as you prepare for your next career fair:
- What opportunities for promotion or advancement does your company offer?
- How do you support your employees' continued career development, professional development, and ongoing learning?
- What's the team or department like where I would be working?
- What specific projects or initiatives is your company working on right now?
- What is the hiring and onboarding process like for new employees?
- Does the company offer any hybrid or remote work options?
- What are the company's long-term goals?
You can also ask about a company's recent initiatives, partnerships, and new offerings. This shows that you've done your homework and already know something about the organization.
How can you stand out at a career fair?
Here are a few more best practices for making a strong impact at your next career fair:
- Be prepared. Building a resume and preparing an elevator speech will take some time. However, the effort shows prospective employers that you take yourself seriously and know how to properly present yourself.
- Be knowledgeable about the companies and businesses present. While you don't have to memorize a company's entire history, knowing some basic information about what they do and what their top values are is helpful.
- Look professional. We all love a worn-out hoodie and a pair of gym shorts, and there's nothing wrong with wearing them around the house or while running a quick errand. However, you'll probably want to dress a little nicer for your career fair. Business casual wear is a good best practice.
Discover how College Rover can help you find the best school for you
Hopefully, this article gave you a better idea of what to do at a career fair and how to best prepare for the event. You have all the information you need to make a strong impression and land your dream job.
Perhaps you're not quite ready for a career fair because you're still thinking about higher education and narrowing down your college choices. If so, College Rover can help you research schools, programs, and more.
You'll be amazed by all the information you can learn about colleges and universities simply by browsing our online database and comparing various schools.
Give it a try today! We think you'll find that it makes searching for schools a little more awesome.
.jpg "Easiest College Majors & Degrees (2025)")
