How to Get the Most Out of a Career Fair

Career Fair Ready!

You are probably wondering, are Career Fairs even a thing anymore? Understood - with the rise of virtual sessions and networking options, in-person gatherings, including job or career fairs, saw a sharp decline relative to the rise of virtual options. However, the career fair is making a comeback, and some industry networking events have a career connections component that may not be called a "Job Fair," but essentially function as one!

These events are highly valuable in today's mostly virtual networking world because in-person connections make much more of an impact now. You'll have the opportunity to meet employers and real people in real life, which will not only set you apart and make you more memorable, but give you much deeper opportunities to chat, learn, and follow up in a genuine way. Here are some ways you can get the most out of these events.

• Make your list! Prior to the job fair, scan the list of employers and make a list of the ones you want to prioritize meeting. Put these employers at the top of your list! When at the fair, whenever you see a priority employer with few or no other job seekers, make it a point to go over.

  
  

• Bring your resume! Though some employers may not accept paper resumes at the job fair, always bring a stack of resumes just in case. It shows initiative that you came with a resume, and if the employer accepts the resume, you’ll have given yourself an advantage over other job seekers.

  
  

• Meet and greet! The most valuable part of a job fair is being able to meet employer representatives in person. When they meet you and you meet them, you start to form a professional connection that could help them remember you in the future. Furthermore, when you chat with a representative, you can get inside information that could help you successfully apply to a job such as how to navigate the job site, what qualities they look for in employers, when they may hire for a new position, etc. Each interaction with an employer representative is a chance to learn something new and make a good impression.

  
  

• Aim to collect! Challenge yourself to collect at least one business card (or name and email) at each employer you visit; you can usually ask for a card as you are chatting with the person, or you can write down their name and email. Additionally, challenge yourself to find another take-away that will help you in your job search. This could be a paper print-out of a job posting; a “get to know us” flyer; a tri-fold of services the employer provides, etc.

  
  

• Yearn to learn! Chances are, there will be employers at the job fair that you’ve never heard of, or if you have heard of them, you might not know exactly what they do and the type of people they hire. Go in with an open mind and with the intent on learning something new! When you have a lull in between speaking with target employers, visit an employer that you don’t know. Who knows? Maybe one of them could be a great fit!

  
  

• Follow up! Once you’ve left the job fair, it is important to follow up. For each business card you got, or name and email address you jotted down, send a follow up email. You can re-introduce yourself with a reminder you met at the job fair, express gratitude for the conversation, and then mention what you plan to do as a follow up. This could be applying to a certain job online, stopping by to meet with one of their colleagues, checking their job sites – whatever the two of you talked about as far as how to proceed with a job search with that company.

Can you think of any other pieces of advice? Share below in comments!