Five Steps To Help You Ace Your University's Next Career Fair

If you can believe it, Fall is already right around the corner. With the changing of the leaves comes the opportunity for a new stage in life for soon-to-be college graduates. Soon, students all across the country will be receiving flyers about their school's upcoming Fall Career Fair. So, with plenty of time to prepare, how do you make the most of this opportunity?

1) Do Your Research - This is something I wish I had done prior to my first career fair. Research is what will make you stand out far and away from the dozens, if not hundreds, of students that stop by each booth. Many colleges release a list well in advance of the companies that are signed up for their career fair (If that is not available yet, search for a list of which companies attended last year), so now is the perfect time to get started on your research. Pick out your target companies, look at their websites - particularly the "About Us" and "Careers" sections - and become familiar with what the companies do and what skills they seek. Do a Google News search for the company name and see if they have recently made any acquisitions, product releases, etc. This should give you a few great talking points.

While it is always good to ask plenty of questions, the last thing you want to do is to go up to a booth and ask, "So, what do you do?"

2) Dress for Success - This may sound like a no-brainer, but I have seen plenty of students show up to career fairs in t-shirts, hoodies, fedoras - you name it. For most students, the career fair will be their first interaction with a company, and first impressions are critical.

Treat your career fair like a first-round interview. That means wear a suit or, at the very least, an Oxford shirt with a tie, and make sure you are well-groomed. You may have a fantastic, unique and outgoing personality, but don't let your clothes do the talking for you! When in doubt, dress conservatively and let your personality shine through in your conversation.

3) Don't Come Empty Handed - Most colleges provide their students with a welcome packet at the registration table, but don't let that be the only thing you bring with you. Make sure to bring several copies of your resume and always, ALWAYS over-estimate how many you will need. Trust me, they will run out fast.

It is also a good idea to bring the notes that you took while researching your target companies. This way, you will be able to keep everything organized and add to those notes for future reference (more on that in step five). For an extra-professional image, keep everything in a leather-bound portfolio.

4) Don't Walk Away Empty Handed - No, I'm not talking about grabbing a pen or other tchotchke with the company's name on it (although I personally can never have enough pens). Business cards are the name of the game. If the company representative that you speak with doesn't have a card available, make sure you get their name and, ideally, their e-mail address. This will come in handy later.

5) Follow Up - After you have met everyone that you need to meet, don't just sit by your computer and wait for the interview offers to come in. Be proactive! Gather all of the business cards and e-mail addresses that you collected and start writing thank you notes.

The best notes are simple, yet personal. Avoid copying and pasting and instead include a few lines on what specifically interests you in each company. This is where your notes will come in handy. Finally, make sure to attach an electronic copy of your resume to the e-mail.

While these tips are not guaranteed to land you an interview, they will certainly go a long way towards getting you noticed. If you don't hear back from companies immediately, don't give up! Keep pounding the pavement and putting yourself out there and eventually, you will find an opportunity that is perfect for you.