Central Florida Employment Council

How to Participate in a Job Fair

Career Fairs are an excellent way to meet, network, and interview with multiple recruiters in a short period of time. Fairs can land you jobs, enhance your search, and improve your interviewing skills.

Difficulty Level: Average
Time Required: An hour or longer

Tips for participating in a Career or Job Fair:

Here's How:

1. Dress professionally - wear a suit, handle this as you would a regular interview
2. Wear comfortable shoes - lines are frequently long and you should expect to wait
3. Resumes - bring a supply of resumes to hand out to the companies
4. Take a portfolio/briefcase to hold resumes and corporate literature
5. Prepare a "one minute commercial" - Think about your strong points, your goals, and the company
6. Be prepared to discuss where you want to work geographically
7. Be prepared to discuss what you like doing, what you’re looking for in a job, what your most relevant skills are
8. Arrive early - plan on extra time for checking in
9. Network - while you are waiting in line, talk to others
10. Be assertive and show initiative - shake hands and introduce yourself to recruiters when you reach the table
11. Be enthusiastic
12. There will be many applicants approaching employers at the same time you are so don't be overwhelmed
13. Keep a positive attitude and concentrate on the benefits of the experience
14. Indulge your curiosity - talk to companies you normally wouldn't be interested in