7 Career Fair Tips for College Students!

We have all gone through it. As a college student, you come across a flyer about an upcoming career fair, and you know the last four years of college have flown by, so now it's time to prepare for life after college.

But how do you ensure you make the most of that career fair and stand out amongst the dozens and even hundreds of other students in attendance as well? Hopefully, the tips I provide below will help you prepare for your next career fair and ease the nerves as you attend it.

1.?Research the companies that are attending the career fair:

I can not stress this one enough! Know which companies are attending the career fair ahead of time. Take time to narrow down which companies you want to target while at the fair, so you can be fully prepared when you visit their booth. Have an understanding of any new products that have been launched or will be launched at these companies, gain insight into any new acquisitions underway, and even research where the company has its home and satellite locations. You will be surprised how often recruiters get the "where are you located" or "what does your company do" question during a career fair. Questions like these show you have not done your research ahead of time, and competing against the various other conference attendees can impact your chances of landing an internship or job with that company.

2.?Research what jobs are available at the companies you are interested in:

Have you ever had a significant other say they are hungry, and when you ask what they are interested in eating, they say, I don't know, you pick? Then you pick, and it's not the food item they were looking for? This is the same predicament that many attendees put booth personnel in during career fairs.

Recruiters hate the vast "I am interested in everything" response when we interact with potential prospects. Using this as an example since I primarily recruit for production-based roles, but I often hear, "I have a passion for editing, filming, writing, producing, directing, and audio engineering; what opportunities do you have for me?" This is a loaded question that no one can truly answer but yourself! Narrow your focus, and ensure that you pursue roles aligning with your purpose. As a recruiter, I may have ten roles that are in the production field, but that doesn't mean these ten align with your career goals. ?

This is where research comes into play when attending a career fair. In researching the companies, take note of any openings that you are interested in and qualified for. The latter half of that statement is key! You will have a better chance of getting an interview and furthering the relationship with the recruiters/managers at the booth if you are qualified for the role you are interested in.

We often hear from a candidate that they have all the skills necessary to do the job. However, just because you can post a tweet on your personal Twitter account, that does not mean you are a social media manager. Read through the qualifications for the position, and be honest with your experience as it relates to the role.

Having a list of which roles you are interested in and qualified for will make your interaction with the booth personnel flow even better. You will be able to speak directly with the team about why you are interested in the role, how your experience fits the position, and gain insight into the potential next steps for you to keep the conversation going for that role.

3.?Research the booth personnel attending the career fair:

In sports, players and coaches would never enter a game without watching film and researching their opponent. Similarly, when attending a career fair, you should research who will be there and gain an understanding of their background. You may find a commonality between yourself and booth personnel or share a mutual connection, which may help break the ice as you enter the booth or stand out amongst the various attendees at the session. Use this information as an opportunity to build on that connection during your elevator pitch!

4.?Work on your elevator pitch!

Practice makes perfect, and so does having a strong elevator pitch! Have you ever met someone, and after the short introduction, the conversation becomes very awkward as both parties don't know where to go after the "hey, how are you?" introduction? Don't let this happen! There are various resources available to help you hone in on this pitch here are a few essential points you want to consider when delivering your pitch.

• Keep it short – Your elevator pitch should be roughly 30-45 seconds long. You aren't here to tell your whole life story, and you only have a few minutes with the personnel in the booth, so ensure you capitalize on the time that you do have.
• Keep it memorable – share a story of what makes you interested in the role you have researched or in the company. Was a product you used as a kid that made you a fan of the brand, or do you share the same passion as the company's mission statement? What is drawing you to this company?
• Close properly – Ensure that you close your elevator pitch with an action item. That can be asking the booth personnel to tell you about the new product initiative the company is launching that you read up on, or how their education/work experience prepared them for a role at the company, or even for them to review your resume. Ensure there is an action item when you close your elevator pitch. This helps keep the conversation going!

5.?Update your resume and LinkedIn account

Prior to attending the career fair, work with your career services team to have your resume and LinkedIn account updated. First impressions are critical, and being able to highlight your experience in a visual form to the booth personnel will help drive the conversations. It'll allow them to understand what you have done and how that relates to positions they may be hiring for. Recruiters and hiring managers will often connect with attendees on LinkedIn during a conference. Be prepared to share your username and resume with the team, so you can keep the relationship going once the career fair is over!

6.?Dress appropriately and be confident in your interactions!

We understand the career fair may be at the building across from your dorm, but don't show up as if you left your 8 a.m. class on a Friday! Be sure you are dressed appropriately and have your materials (resume/cover letter/demo reels, etc.) in a professional portfolio.

As you approach the booth, be confident in your approach, and ensure you are speaking loudly and clearly, so that the booth personnel can hear your elevator pitch!

7.?Follow up!

If you found the love of your life on a train ride to the city, you wouldn't let the train leave without getting their contact information. Similarly, once the career fair is over, do not let the interactions stop there!

Be sure to send a thank you note to the people you met and remind them of who you are. Remember, the booth personnel probably spoke to dozens, if not hundreds, of prospects at the career fair. Share a reminder from your elevator pitch or a connection point you made during the session, so they can remember who you were and so you can keep the relationship going.

Some interactions from the career fair may not turn into a job at that very moment, but it could open up doors to that company's network and even form a mentoring relationship with the personnel you may meet. Be open-minded in how you handle these interactions!?