Visiting the Fair
3. Make a good first impression
Treat the Careers Fair as an initial meeting with potential employers. Dress smartly, ideally as if you were attending a formal interview with the employer. Business dress will also boost your confidence and show that you have prepared for the day in advance.
4. Get there on time
Where possible, try and visit the stands at the earliest part of your allocated session. Remember that by the end of the day exhibitors will have aching feet and croaky voices from standing and talking all day. Impress employers with your ability to get up and see them at their freshest!
5. Target the employers
When you arrive you may be feeling nervous about approaching the exhibitors. ‘Practise’ your approach by starting with the companies you are less interested in to try and overcome any nerves. However, treat each visit to a stand as a chance to show your skills off, and the chance to change any preconceived ideas you have about companies and what they can offer. You may be surprised by what you learn and feel excited about a company you had never considered before after meeting their team.
6. Prepare a short intro about yourself
There is nothing worse for an exhibitor than a visitor who walks up to their stand and asks “What do you do?”, or, ‘What graduate opportunities do you have?’ as an ice-breaker.
Engage the exhibitor instead with a short introduction to yourself – name, current situation, what you are looking for, what skills you can offer, and why you have come to this particular stand.
Be prepared to answer ‘interview-style’ questions rightaway and have some pertinent questions ready to ask the exhibitor – again some prior research about the company will help. Some exhibitors will even be looking to carry out a 1-2-1 with interested candidates on the day. If they are working in the same type of position that you are looking for, or working towards, ask them what they enjoy about the role, how they got it and any tips they could offer to applicants! Ask for their name. Then, when you apply to the for a role, you can mention the name of the person you spoke to, and where in your application to demonstrate your motivation by the extra research you have done through attending the event and taking the opportunity to network.
7. Make time to visit stands and hear the presentations
You will find lots of useful information at Careers events. Many other organisations are there to help you. Institutions like the Royal Aeronautical Society are often there to hand out useful job-hunting and company information on the industries they represent, and to provide you with impartial advice and guidance.
There are often CV and applications workshops where you can get tailored advice on how to write a good CV, complete an online application form. Company presentations will provide you even more in-depth information about what the organisation does and how to make the most of their recruitment processes. Balance your visit between taking advantage of these activities and talking with employers at their stands.
