Do you like being shoulder-to-shoulder with a ton of people in a crowded space?

How about standing in line for hours at a time?

What do you think about wasting an entire afternoon with no hopes of a job?

​
I don’t know about you, but that does not sound like a good time to me. Many people have these experiences at a job fair because they fail to do the preparation beforehand. If you fail to prepare and just show up to a job fair with the idea that you will be handed a job, then, no, going to a job fair is not worth it.
​

Job fairs can be your best friend or your greatest enemy. What is going to make the difference is how you prepare beforehand.
​

Are job fairs worth it?

If you follow these 7 ways to make the most of your next job fair, then I believe they are absolutely worth it!

​
​1. Research the Companies You Are Interested In

I’d recommend having a list of your top 3 companies in mind. Before you go to the job fair, do all the research you can so that you can present yourself as an informed and educated applicant. What roles are they looking for? Have you connected with the recruiters on LinkedIn to let them know that you will be visiting their table? Have a clear objective in mind before you show up to the job fair or else you’ll spend the afternoon wandering around.

2. Apply to Positions Before You Go

If you walk up to a recruiter and ask, “So, what positions do you have open?” You will be viewed as lazy. Instead of asking a question like this, imagine being able to say, “I saw that you are hiring for X position. I just applied and have some questions regarding the application process. Would you have a few moments to answer some of my questions?” Boom! See how much more powerful that is when you come from a position of strength and initiative?

3. Prepare a List of Questions

If you can find the answer to your question with a quick Google search, don’t ask the question. This is why researching beforehand is so important. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go right to the source - don’t waste it! Ask genuine questions that you have about the company and available roles. Even better, ask questions about the recruiter themselves and get to know them so that you can build a real relationship. Read #4 to learn more about this!

4. Focus on Relationships

If you haven’t learned this lesson already, in America, friends hire friends. A job fair is not a time to pitch yourself, but to learn about other people. I know it can feel intimidating when there are so many people to get to know. Think of it this way - get to know one person really well. You will never know where that relationship will take you!

​5. Be Ready to Wait

This is a tough reality - many job fairs have long lines where you could be waiting for 1-2 hours just for a 2-3 minute conversation. And spoiler alert, most of the time, a recruiter will take your resume, throw it in a pile, and tell you to apply online. By doing the research beforehand, applying online, and asking relevant questions, you can make the most of that 2-3 minute conversation.

6. Network with Americans

The likelihood of you getting a job in America is directly proportional to the number of American friends that you have. I see it all the time - my friends who get jobs fast in America are the ones who have real friendships with Americans. You are going to need to step out of your cultural bubble. At a job fair, don’t just focus on getting time with a recruiter, but get to know other American students and professors.

​
​7. Be Different and Stand Out

The way to get a job in America is to stand out from everyone else. If everyone else is standing in line for an hour only to hand someone a resume, do something different. The first step to standing out is first learning to be yourself.

Be creative, build relationships, and stand out!

Looking for some more job fair tips? Check out this post from Texas A&M!

Follow these 7 tips and I know that you will rock your next job fair!