Skip to main content

How to Get Noticed at Your College Career Fair

Career Fair Etiquette 

Employers send representatives to career fairs to find the most qualified job applicants. It is a pre-screening activity.  Recruiters may travel all over the country looking for the right person for the job or internship.

That said, a career fair is a perfect place to meet representatives from companies of interest who could assist you in opening the door to opportunities. Moreover, statistics indicate that an internship assists in becoming more hirable.  So, taking the career fair seriously and knowing how to prepare is vital. In fact, preparing for a career fair is remarkably similar to preparing for an interview.   

Please note:   

Dress more casual than you would be for a formal interview but show them that you are serious!  And always remember, when in doubt, go for the conservative look. 

No 

  • Flip flops or sandals
  • Shorts or beachwear
  • Bellies or underwear exposed
  • Tattoos or piercings exposed
  • Too short, too tight, or too revealing
  • Backpacks
  • Interrupting or slumping

Do 

  • Stand tall
  • Speak confidently
  • Make good eye contact
  • Shake hands when the representative offers his/her hand

 Remember to take with you

  • Copies of your resume in all versions tailored to different career choices
  • A few pens and pencils
  • A folder or portfolio for collecting material
  • Paper, tablet, or cellphone app for taking notes
  • Know your strengths and practice relating them to the organization’s needs  

Be ready to relate your background to the organization's needs. Practice introducing yourself, research the company, and relate how your background and education can benefit the company.

Final note:  

Take good notes!  Handwritten, pertinent follow-up and thank-you notes are essential.  Email can be used in more progressive companies.  In addition, you want to be able to remember with whom you interviewed and had discussions.

More Articles by Rebecca Black

What is an Elevator Speech?

How-To Become a Valuable Employee and Wow the Boss

Focus: College Students & Good Manners



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Job Searching Tools

You lost your job?  Unfortunately, you are in good company.  To help you on your reemployment journey, check out a few free resources to help you prepare for the job search and connect with employers like:  monster.com ,  careerbuilder.com , and   usa.gov/job-search . In mining the Internet, you can find even more than just print advice.  Many sites include videos detailing advice for preparing for the interview.  All of this is free advice and available to all who have the time to search.   However, don’t just lock yourself up in your home office. Get out and meet others in our business/career of interest.  Call companies of interest to request a meeting. Visit career centers, especially from your alma mater. And don’t forget your friends and family.  Let them know about your job search and ask for job leads.   When laid off try to view it as an opportunity to reach for the job you might not have consid...
Post a Comment
Read more

Follow These Steps to Get the Job You Want

  Preparing for the Interview For over twenty years as an etiquette professional, I’ve trained countless job seekers.  Not much has changed in those decades, except our expanded use of technology.   Today, we can apply for a job using Social networking sites, such as LinkedIn.  We commonly use an email program to contact an organization’s HR department.  Additionally, we live on our cellphones.  Many times, we use these electronic appendages to reply to those HR departments and recruiters.  Some of those calls and emails could be the difference between a future job and a trip to the unemployment office.    Consequently, it would benefit all job seekers to follow a few of my suggestions.    Consider Your Use of a Cellphone Sure, texting is fast and convenient.  However, it’s not the best method to use for answering emails from a recruiter or anyone else who may be trying to a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Internships Can Lead You to Your Dream Job

  How to Get the Job You Want Let’s face it, even with the best education, the job market is a tough place to be.  It is incredibly tight and expectations of the newly hired are high. So, what is someone with little work experience to do?  As an etiquette consultant who trains job seekers, I always suggest internships for those who are still in high school and college.  Still, all can benefit from what a good internship can provide. What are the advantages and benefits of an internship? As your coworkers and supervisors evaluate you and your work habits, you are best able to evaluate how it would be to work in that business and for that particular company full time.   The internship also provides an opportunity to develop a work ethic and polish your people skills. Dealing with the scary people and learning new skills. More than likely, you will be learning new skills, as the work required may be a new experience for you.  The busine...
Post a Comment
Read more