Navigating career fairs: your top questions answered

Photo of Kaitlyn next to test for All you need to now before your next career fair

Career fairs are an excellent way to network, get out of your comfort zone, learn about the companies and job opportunities near you, and potentially land an interview, internship, or a full-time job – all in one place. 

But let’s be real: attending a career fair can be intimidating and sometimes overwhelming. With the right preparation and mindset, it can be less intimidating and open many new doors to exciting opportunities. 

Whether this is your first time thinking about attending a career fair on your college campus or you’re an experienced attendee, here are your top questions answered by career readiness expert Kaitlyn Endo to make the most out of your visit.   

What is a career fair and how do I sign up? 

Kaitlyn Endo: A career or job fair is an event that brings together employers, recruiters, and organizations with potential employees and job seekers. It’s a chance to meet hiring managers, ask questions, and learn more about different jobs and industries. 

Usually, at colleges, career fairs are hosted by the school’s career center, so start there to see when the next one is scheduled. Make sure to check out the date, time, and location to see if you can go in between your classes or make time for it. Time management is key!  

Career fairs can also exist outside of college, sometimes hosted by a city, or by a collection of companies or professional organizations. Search for online events in your area and find the event details and registration.  

How do I prepare for the career fair and what do I bring? 

Research the companies 

Kaitlyn: Career centers usually show the companies in their event details. Take a look at who’s going to be there. You want to make sure you are maximizing your time and are familiar with a handful of companies you want to prioritize. Search for the companies you are interested in and look at their mission, values, and products or services. The more you know about the employer, the better.  

Plan your visit 

Career centers usually provide a map. Plan your route to prioritize the companies you want to visit. If a map is not provided, be prepared to walk and explore!  

Bring the essentials 

Bring at least one copy of your resume for each of the companies you are excited to meet with and bring around five extra copies just in case. If you have business cards, bring them. Make sure to have your LinkedIn updated, and you can even have your QR code that links directly to your profile ready or customize your URL which is an easy way to share with recruiters. Finally, bring a small notebook or open your notes app to keep track of important details! 

Dress and timing 

Figure out what you want to wear, how you are going to get there, budget your time there, and dress semi-formal. Be presentable since you are making your first impression. 

What do I need on my resume?  

Kaitlyn: For a career fair, you don’t have to necessarily target your resume because there can be other companies there that you meet and want to know more about. So as far as targeting, think about the types of opportunities you are looking for and tailor your resume to that, but you don’t have to do one for each company since that is extra pressure. It’s fine to have a polished one-page resume! 

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How do I stand out at a career fair?  

Have genuine conversations 

Kaitlyn: What stands out is when there are genuine connections and conversations and when there are prepared questions that are hard to find answers to on their website. If there is anything you are curious about that you see on the website, just jot it down so you can ask it.  

Sometimes, the follow-up questions or the questions asked are more impactful than some other parts of the interview, just because it shows genuine care and curiosity.  

While researching the company you’re interested in, you can see, for example, if they have been on the news for something, if they released a new product, or if there is something on their blog talking about their work culture. Things like that are things that you can use to differentiate yourself. 

Also, don’t be afraid to talk about yourself! It may feel uncomfortable, but it’s an important part of interacting with companies. 

Be yourself 

Honestly, just be yourself, I know there’s pressure to code switch or present yourself in a certain way and unfortunately, for some industries that is a norm BUT for the most part, most employers just want to know students and share their opportunities.  

There is a level of preparedness to have, but life happens so when going into that space: know yourself, know what you’re capable of, know what you want. As long as you are in tune with that, it makes it easier to navigate those situations where you aren’t 100% prepared but you can talk with employers from a genuine place of curiosity.  

It just helps to get familiar with the story you get to tell yourself and others about your journey, connecting the dots and how you got to this point and where you hope to go next. Those things don’t really change, so stay in tune with that.  

You may have to roll with the punches and that is totally okay and normal, and you never know what may come out of those interactions, they can be more organic and you can create a strong connection and those things may be even better that those things that you prepare for. 

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What mindset should I go into the career fair with?  

Be mindful 

Kaitlyn: You don’t want to talk to an employer for longer than a couple minutes if there is a line. If there isn’t a line, you can talk for longer, but you do want to be mindful. Just make enough time to introduce yourself, give your elevator pitch, and ask your questions. Chit chat, network, get their contact info, and be on your way.  

Sometimes, there can be really long lines, and you will probably have to make the decision to stick it out and wait or see other tables. It’s never a waste of time to talk to another company!  

Set an intention 

Regardless of where you are on your career path, going in with a specific intention is always good whether you know you want to be an engineer or are there to explore. Going in with an intention shapes the way you communicate with that intention in mind.  

Keep it simple! Approach, shake hands, keep eye contact, share your elevator pitch, ask questions, answer their questions, provide your resume, and exchange contact information for your follow-up message!  

What if I’m still figuring things out?  

Set a small goal 

Kaitlyn: It is rare to find students who know what they want to do right away – that’s the beauty of career fairs. If you’re familiar with yourself and know your goal of going to that particular event, it makes it easier. Like if your goal is to explore, go ahead and do that. Maybe you want to challenge yourself to meet with at least five companies. Again, set an intention before going to that space, and it makes it less intimidating.  

Ask broad questions 

Maybe it’s about asking what the work culture is like, their hiring processes, or how many of their interns come back to work full time, or what the average time their employees would stay in that company. 

What is your final advice for success at career fairs? 

Prepare 

Kaitlyn: Know your elevator pitch, do some research, bring the essentials and prepare some questions.  

Reflect 

Be familiar with yourself by doing some reflecting. Think about your intentions, be mindful, and make a digestible goal for yourself.  

Push yourself 

Go above of what’s comfortable. These kinds of experiences are good for the practicality of it, but also for your personal growth of doing hard things. You learn a lot by testing things out and doing stressful things. 

Remember, career fairs aren’t always just about landing a job, they’re also about building connections and getting out of your comfort zone. By being prepared, intentional, and staying true to yourself, you’ll not only just stand out, but also grow personally and professionally.

So, take the next step! You never know where one meaningful connection may lead.  

This Q&A with Career Development Manager Kaitlyn Endo was hosted and edited by Wave-Maker and Lead Marketing and Storytelling Intern Giovanna Barragan.

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