CAREER FAIRS
Whether you are a seasoned career fair attendee or attending for the first time, consider these tips and guidelines to prepare before, during, and after the fair.
BEFORE
Visit the Engineering Career Events page to locate the fair you plan to attend and see the full list of employers recruiting at the fair.
Identify employers attending
- Research employers attending through Handshake, LinkedIn, and company websites
- Create a list of your 5-10 top employers
Prepare for employer interactions
- Research and tailor your approach!
Think about the company’s
- Products and services
- Company culture
- Recent news such as acquisitions, name changes, or any interesting projects
- Prepare 3-5 questions for each company
- Create and/or revise your resume and print enough copies to give to recruiters
- Prepare and practice your personal introduction or elevator pitch
- 30 second – 1 minute personal introduction
- Plan out your arrival to the career fair including travel time. Give yourself enough time to arrive with time to spare and collect your thoughts upon arrival.
DRESS FOR SUCCESS
- Dress professionally. You can find guidance on the differences between business casual and professional in Auburn’s Job Search Guide .
- Expanding your professional wardrobe? Schedule an appointment Campus Career Closet through the University Career Center.
- Pack your pad folio, pen, resume copies, and confidence.
DURING OR DAY-OF
As you approach the beginning of the career fair, remember to take a deep breath. Review your resume, notes you prepared about companies you hope to interact with. Most importantly, be yourself!
- Check-in and familiarize yourself with the event map.
- Develop your career fair game plan. Create your list of employers in the order which you plan to approach them.
- As you greet the company representative:
- Offer a strong handshake or another form of greeting. Be attentive to event greeting guidelines based on community health conditions and best practices.
- Make eye contact when greeting and speaking with recruiters.
- Be mindful of your body language and movements such as posture, fidgeting hands, proximity to others.
- Begin with personal introduction. Project your voice, as the space may be loud.
- Ask prepared questions.
- Discuss any next steps for applying to opportunities that will occur after the fair.
- Take notes after each interaction before moving on to the next employer.
AFTER
Follow up
- Send an email thank-you note within 24-48 hours.
- Personalize the note to each company or recruiter.
Include in your thank-you note:
- Appreciation for taking the time to speak with you
- Something you enjoyed or learned from the conversation
- The action you plan to take or completed based on your conversations
Keep your message short -- under 100 words. Attach your resume for reference.
Hint: Keep contact information you collected from the company representative in an organized place so you can refer back to it in the future.
Take Action
- Follow the recruiter’s instruction about applying for positions within a few days.
- Consider asking recruiter for follow-up call, virtual chat, or informational interview connection.
- Attend any follow-up recruitment events with companies you are most attracted to. You can find them on the Auburn Engineering Career Events page, the company website or LinkedIn page.
