Why Attend Career Fairs?
Career fairs are great ways to meet employers from a wide range of industries and geographic locations. Career fairs are typically offered on college campuses but also may be hosted by a community organization or a specific employer. They all give you the opportunity to showcase your brand and build strong connections.
What Should I Expect at a Career Fair?
Career fairs are generally booths with employer displays. You likely will check in and get a name tag (place this on your right side lapel). You may be able to access a layout map to plot your strategy. Some employers will take a paper copy of your resume while others will give you information about how to apply online. You might receive business cards, informational flyers, or promotional swag so it’s nice to have something to carry these items in.
Career fairs can be overwhelming with large numbers of participants. You will need to figure out how to strategically wait to talk to employers of interest. This is also a great opportunity to learn more about employers that you may not be as familiar with. Allot as much time as possible to make the most of the experience.
How to prepare to attend?
Your preparation should include researching participating organizations, developing your pitch, and planning what to wear. Conversations are easier with research, especially when you are trying to build a solid connection. Familiarize yourself with the list of employers and the layout map so you can be sure to stop by their booth. Use search filters to identify employers by industry, types of roles they hire for, and typical majors. You are always welcome to visit with an employer that is of interest but may not specifically identify your major.
What should I say?
In your pitch, you are trying to build a relationship with the employer quickly. Develop a three-part pitch that includes your name, year, and major because employers may be targeting specific students based on their internship or full-time opportunities. Then, tell them a little bit about yourself and mention key skills or experiences that you think the employer would be interested in learning more about. This only needs to be 2-3 sentences. Finally, follow up with a question to show interest and build a relationship.
Example pitches:
- Hi, my name ______. I am a freshman Business Administration major. I am excited about business and believe my strengths in communication and problem-solving will allow me to be a strong candidate in the future. I am interested in learning more about your organization.
- Hi, my name is _______. I am a junior Actuarial Science major and am looking for an internship in the consulting side of Actuarial Science since I want to build and maintain strong relationships with clients. Communication and problem-solving are major strengths that will allow me to be effective in this type of role. I am particularly interested in your organization because of your expertise in health care reform which became an interest of mine after my internship this summer.
What should I wear?
Whether you are just exploring or actively searching for a position, you are making a first impression. You shouldn’t wear your normal daily attire for classes, as this is too casual. Employers will be dressed business casual, business professional or according to their organization’s dress code. We recommend that you dress business professional or business casual to stand out. Business professional typically means a suit, which includes a jacket or blazer. Business casual is dressing down professional clothing by adding a casual component, such as wearing dress slacks, removing the blazer, or choosing a sweater or polo instead of a button-down shirt. Make sure that clothes are not wrinkled and that they fit correctly (not too short, low-cut, or baggy).
If you don't have business professional clothing, the Career Closet in Hawks Hall provides free professional dress items for UNL students.
How should I follow-up?
As your conversation at the fair comes to a close, thank the employer for their time and get contact information. Take notes about your conversation before you talk to your next employer. In the days after the fair, you may choose to email the employer or connect on LinkedIn. Your follow-up can be brief, but highlight something from the conversation to make yourself memorable among the many people the employer met.