Making Connections
It is your responsibility to approach the potential employers at a job fair. Many times, the potential employers or company representatives sit at a booth and are there to answer questions about their place of employment. They might also ask you questions about yourself. In some ways, it is like a mini-interview. In most cases, you will probably talk to each potential employer for no more than 5 minutes. 
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1. Make sure you have practiced what you will say ahead of time. |
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2. Walk towards the booth. |
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3. Smile and make eye contact as you walk over. |
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4. You might have to wait if the company representative is talking to someone else first. |
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5. Look at the person and smile again. |
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6. Say "hello" and introduce yourself ("My name is _____ ______"). |
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7. If they reach their hand out to shake yours, you need to shake hands with them. You can also reach your hand out first to shake hands.
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8. Be prepared to answer a few questions. They might ask you something like:
"Can you tell us about your previous work experience?"
"How many hours are you looking for?"
"What did you get your degree in?"
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9. Be prepared to ask a few questions about the position. You might ask:
"Can you tell me a little bit about what it would be like to work at _____?"
"What kinds of jobs are currently available at ____?"
"Your company looks very interesting. Can you tell me a little bit about it?"
"What types of positions are available at your company/office/work setting?"
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10. If you’re interested in the positions available, tell the person a little bit about yourself - make sure that the information you provide is relevant to the job. Explain why you would be a good fit for the job. You can do this by briefly describing a related past experience, a related skill set, or a related interest. For example, for a job in an office setting you could say:
"That seems like a great fit for me. I have worked in office settings before and have a lot of useful skills. In particular, I have lots of experience with filing and data entry."
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11. Give them a copy of your resume. |
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12. Make eye contact and smile. |
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13. Say something like "Thank you so much for talking with me. I hope to hear from you. Goodbye." |
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If you are overwhelmed by the stimulation in the job fair (the crowds, the noise, the social pressure), take breaks. Visit 2 booths, then take a 15 minute break outside. Do something relaxing, like read a book or take a walk. Then go back to the job fair and visit a few more booths if you are up for it. Remember, you are trying to make a good impression at a job fair, so if you are not feeling up to it, take breaks or leave early if you need to. |
What to bring with you to the job fair:
- 15-20 copies of your resume so you can hand it out to employers you may be interested in. You may not hand out all of your resumes, but it is better to have too many than not enough.
 A folder or portfolio (leather folder) to store your resumes.
- A small notepad and pen to jot down notes.
- A smile! Being friendly and personable is important.
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