Career Fair Tips for Students

Define Your Goals

• To find a job or internship?
• To seek information about organizations and types of employment?
• To make initial contacts for networking?
• To practice speaking to professionals?

• Update your resume and print out multiple copies on a laser printer using good quality resume paper. (resumes are not required if you are simply seeking information from the employer).
• Research the employers by checking the descriptions on the Unity College CRC website and the employer's website.
• Create a prioritized list of the employers you want to speak to at the fair.
• Plan to be neatly attired—remember--1st impressions count!
• Practice a 1-minute description of your education, skills and career goals to use when introducing yourself to employers (include your major, graduation date, and career interests).
• Practice discussing your skills, interests, background and career goals.
• Prepare questions to ask employers (see sample questions below).
• Who will be at the Career Fair?

• Use your prioritized list to approach employers (some people start by speaking to a few lower priority employers to warm up).
• Plan to take the lead in your conversation with recruiters. Be positive, enthusiastic and self-confident!
• Use your 1-minute introduction to address employers. Ask your prepared questions. Remember to smile and show interest and enthusiasm!
• Be ready to discuss your skills, interests, background and career goals.
• Remember to thank the employers for their time and ask for a business card so you can follow-up.
• Pause periodically to jot down notes about what you have learned.

• Speak with organizations that you had not considered before.
• Take the initiative and engage in meaningful conversations with representatives.
• Representatives will be attending to provide information about their organizations and career fields
• Representatives are excellent resources in your career search and decision-making process.

 Use the business cards you collected to write thank-you notes and make follow-up calls to representatives of companies that interest you.

These questions are examples only. Make sure your questions reflect your own personality and style and don't sound memorized.

About the Organization/Agency

• Could you tell me the types of skills and experience you are seeking?
• What challenges do you see for your agency?
• What are the areas of greatest growth in your organization?
• Would you describe the usual college graduate entry-level position in your organization?
• What do you like most about your agency?
• Are there immediate openings in your organization? If not, what do you anticipate to be the future opportunities?
• Do you have internships or summer jobs?
• Considering my particular career/internship interest, are there additional people in the organization whom I should contact?

• What are the areas of growth?
• How do you think the field is changing?
• What professional associations or periodicals should I become familiar with in order to acquaint myself with the status of the field? 

• What are the entry-level opportunities?
• What are the skills that are most important for a position in this field?
• Could you describe the usual career path in your organization?
• What type of training is given to people entering this field?
• What qualities are necessary to be successful in the field?
• Need help preparing to get the most out of the Career fair?
  Stop by the CRC and talk with us, we are here to help!