Select your career fair attire at least a week before the event.
Don’t let anything pull a recruiter’s focus or attention from you and your skills and experience. You may want to cover tattoos, and if you choose to wear earrings, make sure they are not distracting.
Hair should be pulled away from the face. It is important for recruiters to be able to see your eyes.
Dark suits with light shirts are standard, but what’s most important is that you look professional.
Make sure your clothes are ironed and neat. If you don't have access to an iron, covering a wrinkled shirt with a sweater is a good option.
Wear the right shoes—the fair is big and you might do a lot of walking and standing! Additionally, make sure your hem is the appropriate length for the shoe you plan on wearing.
If you wear a tie, practice tying using an online video. If no tie, button your shirt to at least second to top button.
Research the companies attending the fair. See the list in Handshake.
Don't forget a padfolio to carry your resumes, business cards, and note paper.
Don't wait until the last hour. Ensure you have time to meet with your ideal company. Remember: Not all companies will be attending the entire day, so be sure you're ready to talk to specific employers while they're at the fair.
While teamwork is a great skill, you'll want to navigate the fair alone. Gather with friends in the student prep area, but speak to companies by yourself.
Bring 10 to 20 copies of your resume if you're attending in person, and be prepared to submit your resume as an electronic copy for either fair.
Being personable will go a long way!
Show the recruiters you did your research. Talk about their company websites or something positive you learned about the company.
Write down the names of recruiters from the companies you speak with.
Create a file of the companies and contacts you spoke with and of the potential opportunities you learned about at the fair. Maintain it.
Connect with new contacts on LinkedIn.
Send thank-you messages.
Favorite companies in Handshake and get notified when they post opportunities or come back to campus.
