In Person Career Fair Tips

What is an In-Person Career Fair?

An in-person career fair is an opportunity for graduate students to meet face to face with recruiters and other employees from different organizations. Organizations that might attend an in-person career fair could include industries, non-profits, and corporations as well as government agencies, etc.

At an in-person career fair, each organization will have a table with signage. They also will have various information materials/handouts. Organizations that have job openings will also have job information(s). They also will have gifts such as pens, key chains, etc.

In-person career fairs are an opportunity for graduate students to find out about the organization, and to introduce themselves to an organization that the graduate student is interested in and that might have a position opening. It is also an opportunity for employers to attend the fair so that they can meet and recruit an excellent Ohio State University graduate student(s) for their organization.

For graduate students, it is also a time to build a relationship with the organization when they are not ready to look for a job. It might be an opportunity to see if the organization has internship opportunities.

Should I go to a Career Fair?

Graduate students might see announcements of upcoming in-person career fairs and wonder if they should attend. An in-person career fair is an opportunity to learn more about different organizations and career options, as well as career advancement. For students not quite ready to graduate, it is an opportunity to make an initial contact, to network, and explore possible future internship and career options within an organization.

For the more advanced graduate student, attending an in-person career fair is an opportunity to connect with specific organizations and exploring job opening and career advancement. It is also a time to learn more about the application process.

In-Person Interview Question You Might Ask the Employer

• Will you come on campus again and provide more information?
• Will you come back on campus to interview?
• Whom should I follow up with?
• What kind of technology does your company use internally?
• What was most surprising when you started working at (company)
• I read (on Google, Linked-In, an article) that. (??). can you tell me more about it?
• What is the tenure of people in your company?
• Does your company have plans to expand?
• Do you have any job openings in (your major)?
• Do you expect a job opening to come up in the (your major) area?
• Is it possible to move to different office locations of your company?
• What opportunities does your company provide for someone with my education? How do you advance in your company?
• Do you offer internships for graduate students?
• Can you tell me what your hiring process entails?

Remember not to ask questions such as what the company is doing, or positions they might have. Remember that this lets the recruiter know that you have not prepared well for meeting with the company.

How Long Will I Stay at a Career Fair?

Ideally, 1-2 hours is a good amount of time to budget for the entire event, depending on your priorities.

Things to Remember If You Are Attending an In-Person Career Fair

• Arrive early on the day of the in-person career fair, to avoid lines. Also, if you arrive early, you have a better chance to meet with the organizations you are most interested in without waiting/long lines.
• Research the companies that will attend, so that you can determine which employers you want to connect with during the fair. Check who is hosting the virtual fair. Contact them and see if you can get a list of companies that will be at the fair. You can check out each of the companies on LinkedIn and Google so that you can determine which ones you are most interested in. Other resources to check out are company lists that provide information such as top places to work, rankings, etc. (e.g. Glassdoor Career Guide, Crain’s New York Business, Working Mother, and Forbes, etc.). Check out the company’s website and social media.
• Reviewing the companies is a way to demonstrate interest and your commitment to the company:
  • How big is the organization?
  • What is the location of the organization?
  • Does the organization have one or more offices, locally, across the US or internationally?
  • How is the organization structured?
  • What departments do they have?
  • What are typical job titles and roles; professional and educational background of people in those roles?
  • What are their recruitment practices?
  • What is their workplace culture?
  • What makes this organization unique?
•  After you identify your top companies, be sure to connect with them during the fair. Check out companies you might be interested in or when you are applying for a job.  Remember that during your meetings with these companies, you should make a good impression when you are sharing some knowledge about what you learned from researching the company. Also make sure you can talk about how your skills are a fit for that company
• Remember that you have 3-5 minutes with each company.
• Update your resume and LinkedIn profile (do a spell check!) You might have one resume per company, as you made it company specific. Also have a generic resume, just in case.
  • You can seek out help from the Career Service Center on campus
• Practice how you want to introduce yourself. What will be important for you to communicate to the recruiter? How is your education and/or work experience a good fit for this company/job opening? You can develop an elevator speech. You will have little time (30 seconds to a minute). Practice what you want to say.
• You should confidently approach the recruiter or employee. Smile and have eye contact when you talk.
• Dress professionally in business attire/dress for success - remember that this initial contact with a recruiter or other employee might be part of their interview process. Casual wear should not be worn.
• Be professional.
• Remember to shake hands, firm but not too firm (be aware of COVID guidelines).
• Bring a briefcase or portfolio (a backpack or computer bag might be too bulky) as part of your professional presentation.
• Things to remember during the meeting with the company:
  • have eye contact with the recruiter (or employee)
  • be gracious, even if the recruiter or employee is spending more
  • time with the person in front of you
  • be engaging
  • be confident
  • use good communication skills - remember that the (recruiters)
  • interview you and you interview them (the company)
  • ask questions that are organization-specific
  • after you talk with the recruiter or employee, hand them your vita
  • ask what contact info to use to stay connected with the company
  • thank the recruiter and/or other employees for the opportunity to connect and learn more
• Prepare an elevator speech about your education, experience, volunteer experiences, internship(s), special skills and your transferrable skills (e.g., leadership, communication, etc.) as well as your goals. The speech should be no more than 3 minutes
• At the end of your 3-5 minutes, thank the recruiter or employee.
  • Give them a copy of your resume
  • Thank the recruiter or employee for meeting with you, ask them for their contact information
  • Find out if the recruiter would like to have a more extended meeting in their office
  • IMPORTANT: Make sure your vita has no spelling errors
• Remember to send thank you notes to each recruiter and employee you met. Thank them for their time and the info they provided and communicate your continuous interest in the company. This should be done within 24-48 hours after the fair. You can do it electronically or handwritten. Make each note unique for each company.
• Apply for the positions you made a commitment to (this is important).
  • Remember to be flexible in your job search, location, title, etc.
• Stay connected with the recruiter or other employee. It is fine to periodically (every 4-6 months) check in with them and see if there are job opportunities.

Additional Tips to Remember

• Be respective of the recruiter or employee’s time (do not spend more than 3-5 minutes at each company table)

• Do not chew gum

• Bring enthusiasm to each recruiter you are meeting

• Remember that recruiters or employees might ask you questions (be prepared to talk about all things listed on your resume)

• Be enthusiastic and positive