Attending a career fair can be a great asset in your job search. The emphasis of a career fair is to network - you can gather information about potential employers and make contacts that can lead to landing a part-time job, internship, Co-Op, or full-time position. Here's some quick advice on how to make the most of your time.

Be Prepared

Prepare to sell yourself. Remember: you are the product - employers are the customers. Here's how:

• Know the attending employers. Check with Career Services to view a list of employers expected at the career fair and focus your research on the three or four employers that interest you most. Go to the fair knowing something about each of these companies. Good research will allow you to show your desire to be a part of the industry and the organization.  Do check out their website, but going beyond this resource is optimal.
• Know what you want. A common question posed by recruiters is, “What types of positions are you interested in?” Saying, "I'll take anything," or "I don't know," to a recruiter can show a desperate candidate or a candidate that has done little or no research.
• Dress professionally. A career fair is like a mini-interview, so attend a career fair as if you were interviewing. This is your first impression on the employer—you want to look like you are serious. Employers share with us that a common mistake students make is not being dressed professionally.
• Pack the essentials. Be able to supply employers with a resume. If you are looking at several career options, you may want to have two or more targeted resumes with different career objectives!  Students may also bring reference lists, their professional portfolios, transcripts, and completed job applications depending on their career area. Completing applications online ahead of time, if the employer has the capability, is always suggested.

Manners Matter

• Pack credentials in a professional way. Don't carry your backpack, large purse, or other workout bag with you. Carrying your resume in a professional-looking portfolio or small briefcase is a good idea. It will keep your resume neat and handy, and gives you a place to file business cards of recruiters that you meet.
• Come early. Don't arrive 30 minutes before the end of the event and expect to talk to employers. Some will have planes to catch; others will be tired and ready to wind up a long day of chatting with students. Come early while employers are less likely to be tired—and hit the booths of employers you are most interested in working for first.
• Have a strong handshake and a positive attitude. Greet each employer with a smile and an enthusiastic 1 minute “commercial”—your name, your major, and your career interests as they relate to the organization.
• Collect the cards. Collect business cards from recruiters that you meet. Take notes on the recruiter and the organization on the back of the card. Use these notes—and the information on the front of the card—to personalize your thank-you letters.
• Don't forget to ask for the next step. At the end of a conversation with a recruiter, ask what the next step is in the hiring process.

Follow-up

• Write a thank-you note. Send a thank-you note to every employer you speak to at the career fair. For more information on writing than you notes visit Correspondence with an Employer.