Career fair preparation guide
Head to our events page or Handshake to view a list of all upcoming UAF career fairs, and follow us on Instagram for more career fair tips and tricks!
Whether you know what kind of job or internship you want or are still exploring your options, attending a career fair is a great way to prepare for your post-college path. At a career fair, you can discover potential career paths, network with employers and learn more about available opportunities. Read on to learn how to get ready for a career fair and stand out from the crowd!
Register for any upcoming fairs on Handshake, UAF’s job board and career resource portal. If you’re new to Handshake and looking
to get started, visit our jobs and internships page.
UAF career fair attendees are not required to bring a resume. However, many employers
collect resumes at our fairs. If you’re actively seeking a position, you should bring
a few copies of your resume to hand out to employers you’re interested in. To write
or update your resume:
- Check out our resume guide and template.
- Make an appointment with Career Services, where a career advisor will work with you one-on-one to build and refine your resume.
- Don’t have time to schedule an appointment? Drop by our office in the Student Success Center on the 6th floor of the Rasmuson Library during our walk-in hours for a quick resume review, no appointment required.
- Attend an upcoming resume writing workshop.
You’ll want to sound confident and polished when you meet employers, answer their
questions, and ask some of your own. Create and practice your elevator pitch, a 30-60
second overview of your background, accomplishments, and goals, to introduce yourself
and make a great first impression. To prepare to speak with employers at the fair:
- Check out our networking guide and this helpful video for tips on how to write your elevator pitch.
- Attend an upcoming career fair preparation workshop.
- Rehearse your pitch with friends or family members as often as you can — the more you use it, the more comfortable you’ll be. Remember to NOT memorize your answers, since this will make you sound robotic.
- Learn more about the organizations attending the fair. Employers are always impressed by attendees with some prior knowledge about where they work. Refer to the Handshake event page to see who is coming and what positions they’re hiring for, and make a list of organizations you’d like to target the day of the fair. Check back often on Handshake — the list of employers and open positions is constantly updating!
- Prepare some thoughtful questions to ask each employer you meet, and specific questions for your target organizations. Check out our informational interview guide for ideas on what to ask.
- Dress for success! Formal business attire is not required, but we recommend wearing a neat and clean button-down, sweater or graphic-free
shirt. Remember to bring comfortable shoes — you may be walking or standing for a
long time.
- Remember to bring a folder or a professional-looking bag to carry your resumes (at
least 10 copies) and anything else you’d like to have on you, like paper to take notes
or a water bottle. There isn’t usually a place to store your backpack or coat during
the fair, so be sure to plan ahead.
- Plan to speak with a representative from each of your target organizations, but also
try to visit every table you can, including ones from industries that students with
your major don’t typically consider. Some of the best opportunities can come from
places you’ve never heard of or thought about!
- As you visit each table, introduce yourself with your name, “it’s nice to meet you,”
a smile and a firm handshake if the employer extends their hand. If the employer asks
you to tell them more about yourself, share your elevator pitch. Positive body language
will make the best impression on employers, so be sure to stand up straight, maintain
eye contact and have a friendly, engaged attitude. For more advice, watch this video on how to introduce yourself at a networking event.
- As the conversation winds down, thank the employer for speaking with you. If you’re interested in applying for one of their positions, offer them your resume and ask for their business card or email.
- Send a follow-up message to any employers you’re interested in working with between
24 and 48 hours after the fair. You can write an email, connect with them on LinkedIn
or message them on Handshake. Restate your name and major, mention when and where you met them, thank them for
telling you about opportunities at their organization and say which position you intend
to apply for. Personalize the message by referencing something you learned during
the conversation. If the employer asked for a digital copy of your resume or any other
information, be sure to attach it.
- Apply to jobs and internships in Handshake. Head to the Handshake event page and select the companies you’re interested in to see all their open positions. If
you discussed a specific opportunity with an employer at the fair, get ready to send
your application soon!
- Follow an employer on Handshake to be notified when they post new positions, host events or attend UAF career fairs.
When the employer looks at your profile, they can see that you follow them!
- Make an appointment with Career Services for help with writing follow-up messages, polishing job or internship applications and preparing for post-fair interviews.