Wouldn’t it be great to walk into a room filled with job opportunities, pick out the one you want, and be done with this whole job search thing? Nope, that’s not going to happen.
What will happen is you’ll likely talk to a bunch of people, hear lots of industry buzz words, get just a few minutes to talk about yourself, and….maybe….find out about an interesting opportunity you didn’t know about.
Career fairs are just one part of the job search process. But they’re worthwhile (check out Part 1of this series if you’re wondering why). From a strictly logical point of view, the relatively small amount of effort and time involved in participating is a great investment for you in terms of the potential opportunities and insights you can uncover.
But it helps to know what to expect.
First, it’s not a job interview. It’s a much less intensive conversation. But, you should plan to put your best foot forward by dressing neatly and appropriately, preparing a couple of generic questions and having a brief statement about yourself in mind.
Second, the recruiter may seem enthusiastic, but they are unlikely to reach out to you after the event. It will be up to you to follow up afterwards. It’s OK—this is normal. Occasionally, you have a real connection with a great recruiter. If they do follow up, ensure your response is prompt and professional.
Third, you may need to wait in line to meet certain employers. Take that opportunity to keep your ears open. Listen to what other job-seekers are saying. Is there anything you can learn from them or from the other conversations around you? If you’re not actually getting a job at a career fair, why is everyone there?
The goal of a college-sponsored career fair is to connect students and employers, helping both parties explore job and internship opportunities. But the event serves multiple purposes, benefiting students, employers, and the university itself.
We’ve already talked about how these events benefit students in our prior post, but why do employers and universities invest in career fairs?
Talent Recruitment — This is an efficient way for employers to meet a bunch of motivated students ready for internships or full-time roles.
Employer Branding — By appearing to be sought after by lots of job-seekers, some companies try to attract top-tier candidates who may not have considered the company.
Talent Pipeline — Local companies may participate in a career fair even if they don’t have immediate openings to establish relationships with students for future hiring needs.
Market Insights — Talking to students help recruiters understand trends in student interests, skills, and career aspirations.
Enhanced Student Outcomes – Ultimately, most grads (and their parents) hope their investment in education leads to good employment. Schools work hard to help students find jobs and internships, boosting post-grad employment rates.
Employer Partnerships – Many schools seek to build long-term relationships with select companies to create more opportunities for students in the future.
Alumni Engagement – Many career fairs involve alumni who recruit for their companies and tend to give unofficial preference to graduates of their alma mater.
Showcase Programs & Majors – Help employers see the value of different academic programs and student skill sets.
Typically, at an in-person career fair, events are hosted on campus in a large meeting space where employers set up tables or booths for students and alumni to visit. The goal of the employers is to identify potential job candidates and get them excited about the organization.
Depending on your school or major, a career fair can include a small handful of local employers or 100+ national and local organizations. The event might be sparsely attended or may have longlines to talk to specific employers.
You may need to register beforehand, and your school career office will probably have a list of participating employers to review before the event.
The recruiters will likely be dressed professionally and many of the other attendees will be dressed in “business casual” or even more professionally.
Some career fairs encourage participants to bring copies of their resumes, while others use automated information-sharing processes.
When you meet the recruiter, you’ll have a conversation where you’ll introduce yourselves and the employer may ask you questions about your background and qualifications. This is a great time to share a (short) elevator pitch, express your interest in working for the employer, and ask questions about the organization and available opportunities.
Don’t worry if it’s only a brief conversation—these interactions typically only last a couple of minutes, though they may be longer if the recruiter has the availability. Once the employer indicates your time at their booth is over, they may suggest a next step. This could include applying to the open role online or reaching out to their email for more information. If they don’t provide this info, feel free to ask about next steps.
Just like an in-person career fair, a virtual career fair (VCF) is a connection opportunity for employers who have open roles and job-seeking students. VCFs are hosted on an online platform. One of the more common platforms is Handshake but some schools use Symplicity, WayUp, or even Zoom.
Typically, a VCF includes larger group sessions (it could be as few as 10 or 100+) where participants can learn about multiple companies and/or roles along with pre-arranged short one-one-one meetings that allow students a chance to meet with a company representative. Similar to the more traditional in-person career fair, students should be prepared to share a short elevator pitch and ask questions about the company and opportunities.
Of course, because you’ll be on camera for this meeting, you should ensure you look professional on-screen and be aware of your setting/background.
It’s not that scary or hard. The effort for you to attend a career fair is relatively minimal in terms of time and stress, while the upside is that you could uncover a opportunity you otherwise wouldn’t know about. So sign up for the next career fair at your school and watch for our post with tips about how to stand out in the sea of other job seekers.
Worried about your job search? With persistence and a strategic approach, you’ll not only land your first job but also lay the foundation for a fulfilling and successful career. The Career Coaches at The Launchpad Collective are here to help! We specialize in career counseling for new college graduates.
If you’d like to get more creative ideas and pragmatic advice about how to land your first job, contact us at info@thelaunchpadcollective.com. Your career is our mission.
