The document provides 15 tips for students attending career fairs from the perspective of recruiters. Some key tips include: (1) attend early in the career fair when recruiters have more energy; (2) approach recruiters one at a time rather than in groups; (3) dress professionally and be prepared with an introduction and research on potential employers; (4) keep interactions brief and move on when the conversation starts to die down. The overall message is to be professional, prepared and enthusiastic when speaking with recruiters at career fairs.

1. 15 Insider
Career Fair Tips
What Recruiters
Wish You Knew
About Career Fairs
Presentation adapted from: http://www.vocationvillage.com/career-fair-tips/

2. #1 Attend Early!
Try to attend the career fair during the earlier
part of the event rather than the later part.
Toward the end, recruiters start to lose their
voices and enthusiasm.

3. #2 Approach recruiters
one person at a time.
If you are attending the fair with a friend or
two, separate to make the rounds of
employers. It is overwhelming for employers
to interview two or more people at the same
time, so be brave and approach them alone.

4. #3 Dress for Success
You start making a first impression the
moment you walk up to a recruiter. Wear
mainstream business attire, but it is OK if
your outfit has a bit of individuality and color.

5. #4 Don’t chew gum.
Don’t chew gum, suck on mints, or eat or
drink anything in front of the recruiter. If you
are worried about your breath, take care of it
before you approach the table.

6. #5 Do your research
before the fair.
The absolute worst way to greet a recruiter is
to ask, “So what does your company do?” or,
“What jobs do you have open?” Find out who
is coming in advance and research what each
employer does and what types of job
openings they have. Using this info, create an
introduction for yourself.
Note: Use BuckyNet to learn who’s coming to the fair!

7. #6 Have your intro. ready!
Approach each recruiter with fresh enthusiasm
and energy. Make eye contact and smile. Some
recruiters expect to shake hands but others will
have their hands full with a clipboard or other
info and in that case, don’t worry about the
handshake. Say an intro that includes your name,
something about your background and/or skills,
and what you want to do.

8. #7 Practice First!
Practice your pitch on a few of your second
choice employers before approaching your
top choices. This way, your favorite prospects
will be able to see you at your best. Don’t
wait too long, though…remember Tip #1.

9. #8 Move along
when it’s time.
Don’t wear out your welcome. After a
pleasant and short conversation, say, “It was
nice to meet you,” and start to walk away. If
the recruiter wants to know something else,
he or she will stop you from leaving. It is
better to end a conversation a bit early than to
create an awkward situation where the
recruiter is looking over your shoulder at the
long line of job seekers forming and
wondering how to get you to move on.

10. #9 Say what you are
looking for on your resume.
Be prepared with a targeted resume. You probably
can’t be equally prepared for all employers at the
Fair, just the ones that are the best fit for your
interests, background, and skills. Recruiters are not
impressed with “one size fits all” resumes that have
no focus and seem irrelevant to the job opportunities
being sought. Don’t be afraid to be specific about
what you want as it will increase your marketability
for the best career options for you.

11. #10 Only if you had a
great conversation, get
their business card.
Ask each recruiter for a business card but don’t take
it personally if any recruiter doesn’t want to give you
one. Recruiters have told me that they received
literally 1000 emails after some career fairs so they
stopped giving out their contact info. They just don’t
have time to respond to that many people.

12. #11 Some recruiters may
not be open to discussion.
Career fair organizers are as annoyed as you are
when a lazy recruiter seems like they have no
interest in having a discussion and they just want to
tell job seekers to go to the company website and
apply online, but I have seen lots of recruiters do
this. It isn’t worth fighting with the recruiter about
it…just seek out a more motivated recruiter.

13. #12 Some recruiters may
not take your resume.
A recruiter may ask you some questions about your
resume, or he/she may not. If a recruiter doesn’t seem
interested, say, “It was nice to meet you,” and walk away.
Don’t gauge an employer’s interest in whether or not they
will physically take your resume. Many companies want all
applications to be done electronically and if you make a
good impression, the recruiter has noted your name in
some way to look you up later.

14. #13 Remember, you’re
NOT there just for the swag.
Many recruiters bring small gifts (SWAG aka “stuff we all
get”) to career fairs. Feel free to ask to take one from each
table, but don’t grab more than one and don’t ask if you can
take one for your family member or friend. It is fine to
carry a professional looking bag to carry these items, but
don’t take so many things and stuff them all into such a
huge bag that you look like you are a shopping adventure.

15. #14 Send a thank you note.
If you are given contact info by a recruiter, send a
brief thank you note (or email) after the event. This
is your opportunity to demonstrate excellent writing
skills and to again call attention to the reasons why
the company might want to interview you.

16. #15 There ARE other ways
to land internships/jobs.
If you would rather have a root canal than attend a
career fair, don’t despair! There are many other
ways to land a job.