NAVIGATING A CAREER FAIR
BEFORE
View event details and participating employer lists, and determine which employers to target (Details and
employer lists for all CMU career fairs and events are available on Handshake.)
Review other sections of this Career Guide, especially the Elevator Pitch on page 37
Visit REACH Advising to polish your resume and get advice on tailoring it for your targeted employers
If you need a suit, seek out First Impressions, a program that provides free, professional attire
Practice talking about your experience and skills through the Mock Interview Program
Attend a prep event, such as Fire Up Your Career, or schedule an appointment with a career coach
Research your targeted employers and prepare specific questions to ask them
DURING
Dress professionally and bring a padfolio with your tailored and general resumes
Refer to the career fair’s registration packet, which usually includes a map of the fair’s layout, as well as each
employer’s desired majors and available positions
Use your elevator pitch to initiate a conversation about your experience/skills and how you are a good fit for
the employer and your desired position
Connect with employers by asking relevant questions
Exchange business cards or contact information
AFTER
Keep the employers’ contact information and your job/internship leads in one place, such as Handshake
Connect with and thank the recruiters via e-mail and LinkedIn
Follow up with any additional materials/information, such as a project write-up or updated resume
If you were interviewed, send a thank you note
Make notes about the experience and personal areas of growth for the next career fair
COMMON MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT CAREER FAIRS
Career fairs are only for graduating seniors to find jobs – MYTH!
It is NEVER too early to attend a career fair. We encourage students of all class standings and alumni, as well as all
majors, to attend. Seniors and alumni can seek out full-time jobs, and juniors typically look for
internships. Freshmen and sophomores can also go to get comfortable with the environment, gain
feedback on their resumes, learn more about which in-demand internships and jobs they are interested in for the
future, and get connected.
I should only go to a career fair when I need an internship/job very soon – MYTH!
While some employers will be looking to fill positions ASAP, a good majority of employers may be recruiting for
positions eight months or more in advance. Examples: Spring 2017 graduates should attend Fall 2016 career fairs to
find full time positions beginning in May/June 2017; Students interested in Summer 2017 internships should attend
Fall 2016 career fairs to be considered for internships beginning in May/June 2017.
When I go to a career fair, I need to visit every employer – MYTH!
Access the participating employer list for the career fair ahead of time and create your own, targeted list of
approximately 10 employers. Then, make sure to customize resumes for those 10, and make it a priority to visit
them. Don’t overwhelm yourself by feeling you need to visit each employer! At a career fair, it should be a matter
of quality not quantity.
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