Three Tips for Career Fair Success In Your Job Search

Career fairs are a fabulous way to meet employers in person. With the right preparation, you can demonstrate to an employer just how effective your skills and abilities are. Career fairs, however, can be pretty scary for jobseekers who don’t know what to expect. If someone has never attended a career fair before, this can cause uncertainty and worry. The truth is though, career fairs do not have to be scary. They are a great way to learn about new organizations, increase connections, and explore diverse industries and careers. So how does someone effectively prepare for a career fair?

Do Your Research

• It is vital for you to do your “homework” and conduct research on the list of organizations that are going to be at the fair. You should take the time to target the organizations you want to speak with. Employers can tell when a jobseeker has conducted research on their company, and it makes you look well-prepared and informed. Conducting research will also allow you to have a valuable conversation with the employer.
• Check the company website, browse open positions, learn about mission and values, and better understand the services provided or the clients/industries that the company serves.
• Think about a list of topics for discussion. Some examples: academic or professional projects you have worked on, how the mission and value of the company aligns with your interests, and how previous work experience can fit open roles at the company.

Lock Down Your Elevator Pitch

An Elevator Pitch is key when you are introducing yourself to an employer. An Elevator Pitch is a 20-second introduction that gives the employer more detail about you. For a student this includes your name, academic major and degree, graduation date, (brief) comment regarding previous work experience, and what you are looking for at this career fair. Check out an example below:

“Hello. My name is Tiffany Shamoon, a Chemistry major here at XYZ University. I am graduating in December of 2025 and looking to secure a full-time position. I have a passion for pharmaceutical research and upon research of your organization, I learned that this is one of the main areas your team focuses on. Currently, I work as a Lab Assistant for the university and have the privilege of working alongside faculty to research topics A, B, and C. It’s great to have the chance to meet you today!”

As we all know, practice makes perfect! Students and jobseekers alike are encouraged to attend a future career fair to practice your elevator pitch out loud. Several times! You may even record the Elevator Pitch and play it back. This will allow you to listen to your communication skills and adjust anything that will make the pitch sound better. Better yet, try to find a friend or family member that you can practice the pitch with. Remember: an elevator pitch will change depending on the company and industry that you are speaking with.

Send Thank You Emails

Lastly, thank you emails are a small yet impactful gesture! You should be sending thank you emails the same day that the career fair took place. I tell my students to make notes of the conversation they had with each employer. Write down what stood out to you or just a couple things that made the conversation valuable. When a student or jobseeker sends a thank you note to an employer, they can add these comments. Sending thank you notes shows your appreciation for the time the company took out of their schedule to visit your campus and meet with you or participate in a community career fair.  Remember that companies/organizations are probably recruiting at several different colleges and universities as well as across geographies. This means that they are meeting with hundreds of different potential candidates. Sending a thank you note will help set you apart. 

These three tips are important to make sure you make the most of your time at a career fair and will make the best impression on recruiters. Schedule your time ahead of the event to prepare, and after to follow up, and you will create a great impression that can move your resume to the top of the applicant list.

Tiffany Shamoon was born and raised in Michigan. She has been employed at Lawrence Technological University (LTU) for the last 3.5 years as a Career Services Advisor. Tiffany focuses on equipping students with the tools and strategies they need to thrive in a competitive job market. This includes resume reviews, cover letter reviews, career fair prep, mock interview practice, and more. Tiffany also collaborates with employers from a diverse range of industries to help build brand awareness on campus and increase the recruitment pipeline for LTU students.