Two days ago, I went back to my alma mater to represent my company at the career fair.  Now that I am on the other side of the table, I can see all the things I had done wrong, the things I had done right, and the little things that I wish I had thought about.  Here is some advice for anyone who is at a career fair:

1. Do your homework – Career fairs are short and they tend to fly by.  You only have a few hours to go to every company that you are interested.  The night before, review the list of companies that will be attending and do some research about each one.  This will save you time so when you get to the career fair, all you have to do is look at the map and see where each company’s table is located.  Start with the companies that you don’t care as much about and end with the ones in which you are most interested.

2. Have questions – I was impressed with students who approached me with questions showing that they already researched the company.  The most awkward and annoying thing is when a job candidate comes up to you, introduces himself or herself, and then stand there (as if I am supposed to start the conversation).  Ultimately, you are the one looking for a job – show that you are interested with a set of questions.

3. Dress to Impress – Dress as if you are attending the interview.  The recruiter’s first impression of you in critical.  They will probably form an opinion of you within the first 10 seconds of talking to you.  Make sure your attire is appropriate.

4. Practice your handshake – I experienced some awful handshakes.  Some people had sweaty palms, shook too vigorously or did the princess shake (wrist bent, fingers pointed down, and no grip).  Those shakes did not give me a good first impression.  Give a firm shake and look the other person in the eyes as you introduce yourself.

5. Approach the table with confidence and without hesitation - This is something I didn’t know as a student.  I used to walk around looking for a table to approach and sometimes walk past a table before coming back to introduce myself.  The people at the tables see you do this.  It shows that you are not sure if you want to talk to that company and are unsure of yourself.  Know where the companies you want to talk to are located and go straight to them.

6. Always ask for a business card – Always ask for a business card and remember what you talked about.  Take the business card and jot down notes about what you talked about so you can email the recruiter/employee later to follow up.  You should mention something you talked about so that they will remember you.  Also, try to leave your resume or sign up on any sign-in sheet to show that you had visited the table.

Any other tips you would give to people attending a career fair?

1. Learn about the position, company, and industry.

Before an interview, it is imperative to be knowledgeable about the position, company, and the industry for which you are interviewing. It is important to show the interviewers that you know what you are interviewing for and that you are interested enough in the position that you have looked into it yourself. Spend time on the firm’s website, understand what they do, how they are structured, what qualities they are looking for, and how this relates to you. Use the website and other news sources to find out what the firm has been up to recently. It also helps to talk to peers and alumni who work or have worked for the firm.

2. Know your resume.

Be prepared to talk about your resume. The only thing that recruiters know about you is on your resume. Anything on your resume is fair game. You must be able to intelligently describe any line on your resume. It is helpful to think over how points on your resume correlate to the skills and qualities that the firm is looking for. Using your resume to display how you are a good fit for the company will help to highlight your strengths.

3. Know your strengths, weaknesses, and reasons for being at the interview.

You have to be able to talk about yourself in a way that clearly shows your positive qualities, why you want the job, and why you are qualified. Know the key personal qualities that will resonate with the interviewer and the industry. Be able to describe why you want to work in the industry and for that firm in particular. Convey that the firm matches with your skills and interests.

4. Remember to be confident and friendly

No matter how nervous or unsure you feel inside, you have to walk into the interview with confidence and show the interviewer what a great fit you would be for the job. During the interview show poise, assertiveness (not to the point where you appear arrogant), look the interviewer in the eyes, and remain calm and confident in yourself. Be friendly and relaxed. Although you should be professional and polite, you can still show your personality.

5. Practice

Practice by yourself in front of a mirror or with a friend. While you may feel confident with the information, it takes practice to be able to clearly and concisely articulate it.