This is aimed at students and graduates of all disciplines. The advice contained within is focused on making the most of careers/recruitment fairs.

1. How to Prepare Effectively for
Recruitment Fairs
Tahira Majothi
Careers consultant
www.careers.salford.ac.uk
0161 295 5088

2. Aims
 Better understand the value of attending
recruitment fairs.
 How to effectively plan ahead, to get the
most out of a recruitment fair.
 Tips on how to research and confidently
engage with employers.

3. Why attend a Recruitment
Fair?
 Opportunity to meet private, public sector and SME employers
face-to-face.
 Find out first-hand about opportunities directly and laterally linked
to your studies.
 Speak to recent graduates employed by the company.
 Attend employer or careers presentations to familiarise
yourself with current recruitment practices.

4. How to plan ahead
 Make a note of campus, regional and national careers fairs:
-Salford Recruitment Fairs on Campus
-Manchester Recruitment Fairs
-Prospects Careers Fairs across the UK
 Find out which companies are expected to attend and make a list of at least 10
you would like to speak to on the day.
 Research the company . Visit their website, use the Careers and Employability
Service resources, read news websites, company social media sites e.g.
LinkedIn, set up company Google Alerts or check out company profiles on
www.glassdoor.com .
 Impress the employer by preparing some targeted questions around your
employer research i.e. key projects, successes, opportunities and challenges.

5. Consider whether your CV:
Is well presented, clearly formatted and easy-to-read?
Has been proof-read to avoid grammar, spelling and
punctuation mistakes?
Is targeted to the company or role?
 Not all employers will accept CVs, some may ask you to
complete online forms. Ask for application form tips!
 Download our CV Guide or attend a CV Clinic before the
actual fair!

6. On the Day of the Recruitment Fair
 Dress smartly and arrive in good time.
 Smile, make eye contact, shake hands, positive body
language!
 Introduce yourself and ask for their name in return.
 Have a notepad or business cards to exchange
contact details.
 Keep an open mind about opportunities by speaking
to employers from different industries.
 Be enthusiastic and enjoy the day!

7. Stand out amongst the Crowd
How will you best convey:
 Who you are
 What you do/have done
 Why you chose to meet that employer
 Why they should care about meeting you
(Think transferable knowledge, experience, skills and attributes)
Flickr: Simon Giddings, Up
https://www.flickr.com/photos/simongiddings/13926062007/in/explore-2014-05-05

8. How to connect with a recruiter
 Remember to evidence your employer research,
mention key projects, awards, successes, new staff,
new markets and/or technologies they have invested in
recently etc.
 If recently employed graduates are there, ask them for
application tips, details of day-to-day role
responsibilities and training opportunities etc.
 Thank them for their time. Leave a business card, take
their email or ask if you can connect via LinkedIn.

9. Possible questions to ask
 Could you describe a day in the life of someone working in this
role?
 What sort of work experience would make me a good candidate
for this role?
 What attributes and key skills are you looking for in a candidate?
 What makes an application/CV stand out?
 What future opportunities or challenges do you see for your
industry/company?
 Tell me a little about your background and how you came to work
for …
 If you were graduating now, what 3 tips would you have, to help
navigate the jobs market successfully?
http://qmjobsblog.wordpress.com/tag/networking/

10. Follow up!
 Always thank an employer/recruiter for their
time and advice.
 Send a thank you tweet/ email after the
recruitment fair, reminding the employer of
who you are, what you discussed and how
helpful they were.
 Remember to personalise LinkedIn connection
requests.
 Speak to a careers consultant to further
discuss options or for application tips.

11. Useful Links
 How to prepare for a recruitment fair blog post:
http://careersatsalford.wordpress.com/2011/06/06/preparing-effectively-for-recruitment-fairs/
 Videos on how to prepare for recruitment events:
http://www.careers.salford.ac.uk/page/workfairhowtoprepare
 How to get the most out of graduate jobs fairs:
http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/career-planning/329701-how-to-make-the-most-of-graduate-job-fairs
http://www.careers.salford.ac.uk/page/lawhowtoprepare

12. Manchester Graduate
Recruitment Fair 2014
Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th June
The Armitage Centre, Fallowfield,
Manchester
http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/events/graduaterecruitmentfair/

13. Salford Campus
Recruitment Fairs 2014/2015
Semester 1
Part Time Jobs and Volunteering Fair - Wednesday 8th October 2014
Teaching Futures - Wednesday 15th October 2014
Business, IT & Law Fair - Wednesday 29th November 2014
School of the Built Environment Recruitment Fair - Wednesday 12th November 2014
Computing, Science & Engineering Fair - Wednesday 19th November 2014
Semester 2
School of Health Sciences Careers Fair - 5th February 2015
Acoustics, Audio & Video Engineering Recruitment Event - Wednesday 11th February 2015
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work Careers Event - Wednesday 11th February 2015
Language Futures - Wednesday 18th February 2015
Built Environment Industry Insight Event - Wednesday 4th March 2015