How to Impress Employers at a Career Fair

You want a job or internship but you refuse to settle for just anything. After all, it has to pertain to your field of interest and require a skill set that you already possess. That’s why it’s crucial that you hit a career fair in your area. But, of course, it's not just enough to GO to a fair. You can't expect employers to hand you a job with no effort on your part. You need to take action. Here are tips for impressing college fair representatives, a.k.a. your future employer(s):

Dress up: Ratty jeans and a T-shirt are simply not appropriate for a career fair. At the very least, opt for khaki casual---consider a sweater, corduroys, and loafers your bare minimum. A better choice, however, would be a suit. Yeah, suits are stuffy and not usually especially stylish or fun to wear but for a formal, professional event like a career fair, they’re necessary. The only piercings, for better or worse, that are acceptable are single ear piercings for women. If you have visible tattoos, cover them with concealer. Ladies, steer clear of distracting jewelry; keep your pieces small and conservative. Your make-up should also be subtle and natural-looking.

Think up a brief introduction: Don’t just walk up to an employer and start stammering or you’ll only embarrass yourself. Come up with something intelligent and worthwhile to say, specifically about your academics and work experience. Mention your college name and major, your year and when you plan to graduate, past summer experience, your career plans, and special skills. Are you an honor student? Do you speak a foreign language or possess unique technical skills? Where did you work last summer? What kinds of internships have you held in the past? What sort of internships do you hope to have in the future? These are all questions the company representative will probably want answered. Be careful not to just read directly from your resume, either, though. Talk naturally but professionally.

Do your research: If possible, find out well in advance which companies will be represented at the fair. Some of the names may be easily recognizable, like The Washington Post or the Smithsonian Institution, but others, especially smaller, local non-profit organizations, may be more obscure. Briefly find out what each of the companies is before you assume that you don’t want to work at one. Go through the list and think about which industry each company is in and whether that industry matches your career interest. Then check out each company’s website and then Google them. Look for the company’s mission statement, accomplishments, history, public reputation, career opportunities, and any other information that will help you better understand what the company is about.

Exude confidence: How you present yourself definitely counts in the eyes of potential employers. Stand up straight, pronounce your name loudly and clearly, make eye contact, deliver a firm handshake, and be prepared to answer questions. If you look shy and unassertive, employers probably won’t be too eager to hire you. Don’t let them make assumptions about who you are. It’s normal to be a little bit nervous but keep in mind that that you’re at the fair to sell yourself. Make yourself out to be a bargain employers can’t resist!

Bring your resume: If you don’t have a resume, write one. If you do have one already (which you probably should if you’re in college), double-check that it’s up-to-date. It’s easy to forget to list an award or a job experience, especially if you’re very busy, so it may have been months or even a year since you last edited your resume. Print out several copies of your resume on quality paper and place each copy in a folder. Hand the resume to each one of the representatives whose company interests you. This way, the company has a way of contacting you if you particularly impressed them.

Ask questions: After you introduce yourself to the company representative, one of two things will probably happen: the representative will either go into a long spiel or the two of you will stand there, looking at each other. Try not to let the latter happen. If there’s too long of a pause after your introduction and it’s clear that the representative’s not going to say anything, that’s your cue to start asking questions. A good place to begin is to ask what available jobs and internship the company currently has. Try to write out five to ten questions for each company when you do your research. You may or may not get to them all but it’s wise to be prepared.

GRAB!: Don’t go wild but do take a brochure or two from the company’s table. This way you have a concrete reminder of visiting the table and you have official information about the company from the company. Also request the representative’s business card if it’s not set out on the table. Try not to shuffle through the papers as the representative’s talking. It’s generally best to wait until the end of your table visit.

Follow up and apply: Unfortunately, it’s not enough to just go to the career fair, meet a representative from the company where you hope to work, and expect to get a job on the spot. That rarely happens. That’s why it’s so important to follow up. Send the representative an email thanking him/her for their time and asking for the next step. Does the company have an online application? Can the company mail you a paper application? Is it possible for you to visit the office? Could you meet with one of the company employees over lunch to learn more about the work environment there? If you feel very bold, call the company representative and even walk into the office yourself, brandishing your resume and a written recommendation or two. Show that you’re qualified, serious, and enthusiastic and, chances are good that you’ll land an internship or job with the company.