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Benefits of attending a job fair

• Learn about the variety of positions available to a student or college graduate.
• Talk to someone working in your field of interest.
• Gain networking and interviewing experience.
• Learn about internship and/or employment opportunities.
• Establish employment contacts and obtain referrals for job leads.
• Obtain employment. Employers indicate that career fairs and on-campus interviewing are among the top five ways they find new hires.

Before the fair

• Know your objective. Decide whether you are seeking full-time employment, co-op, internship, or networking contacts.
• Create a personal commercial to introduce yourself and present your qualifications.
• Review the list of employers coming to the fair.
• Select the top five employers you are interested in and visit them first.
• Research employers before visiting their tables
• Develop a short list of questions to ask recruiters.
• Prepare at least 20 copies of your resume on resume paper to leave with recruiters.
• Be prepared to interview on the spot, but do not expect an individual interview.
• Pack a pen, a notepad, and small breath mints (no chewing gum).
• Plan to arrive early while employers are fresh.
• Dress professionally.

During the fair

• Behave professionally, even in elevators, corridors, parking lots, and restrooms.
• If you come with a friend, separate at the door and approach each employer by yourself.
• Be organized – carry a portfolio or briefcase; avoid digging in a backpack for your resume.
• Wait until the employer asks for your resume.
• Maintain professional space and behavior when approaching the employer’s table. Avoid taking “freebies” until after your conversation.
• Use good eye contact, a strong handshake, and body language that projects confidence.
• Speak naturally – avoid presenting your personal commercial like a speech.
• Ask open-ended questions; avoid obvious questions or questions about salary/benefits.
• Collect business cards and organizational literature.
• Ask the preferred way for you to follow up and thank the recruiter by name.
• Immediately after speaking with employers that interest you, document what you have learned to follow up appropriately.

After the fair

• Send a thank you letter or email to employers you have a high level of interest in, not necessarily everyone you met.
• Follow up with a cover letter and resume to employers you are interested in. Mention you met their representative at 51������.
• File away the literature you have collected.  It can be helpful later in writing cover letters or preparing for interviews.
• Improve your resume if you learned something that better reflects your qualifications or focus.
• Maintain contact with employers  –  perseverance pays off.