Preparing for a Career Fair

Planning on graduating after this semester? Want to go into the workforce? Then what you need is to attend a career fair. But before you do, here are a few helpful steps that you should take.

Step 1: Make sure that your resume is in tip-top shape. It never hurts to get an outsider’s opinion. I even suggest getting the opinion of more than one person. Ask your counselor, professor, or classmate to look it over and give you tips on how to improve it. There is always room for improvement! However, with that said, everybody has a different opinion on how a professional resume should look. So use your own judgment; if you think something looks better the way you already have it, then keep it.

Step 2: Research the companies that you want to approach. There should be a listing available of the organizations that will be present at the career fair so that you can browse and decide which sound like a good fit for you. After that, narrow down your list by researching the companies on the internet. When you speak to the representatives, you’ll want to sound well-versed about the company. Research their mission, their staff, and anything else you think would be useful to know.

Step 3: Prepare questions. If you ask questions about the company and the position(s) available, it will show the representatives that you are truly interested. Also, good questions can make a good impression. Ask questions such as what a typical workday is like or what their favorite part of the job is. This gives you a means of interacting with the people you are speaking to. If things go well, they just may remember you!

Step 4: Plan your outfit. You want to look professional, so I suggest that you dress business casual. Men should wear dress pants and a nice shirt. Women should wear dress pants and a blazer. Make sure that your clothes are ironed and lint-free! The career fair should have a coat check so you won’t have to carry it around with you. And women should carry a small purse (if any). Have a portfolio with multiple copies of your resume, and a pen and paper for any notes you may want to take.

To recap, you should prepare your resume, do your research, prepare questions ahead of time, and dress the part. Following all of these steps will help to prepare you for a career fair. Good luck and happy job-hunting!