A job fair, also known as a career fair, meet & greet, or recruitment fair, is a resource for candidates to find out about potential employers. They are typically organized in a large hall where employers will set up booths with members from their team to tell fair attendees about their company and jobs and internships they have available.
The main reason: research. Asking representatives for details of a profession or a certain company will allow you to get a bigger picture of what it is like to work in that area, allowing you to make an informed choice about your career path.
A career fair is also useful for networking with employer representatives. When you do apply to a particular employer, it can be a great advantage to know someone there who can help guide you through the application process.
Our Career Development department hosts on-campus career events and supports other job fairs throughout the year. You can check out those sponsored events here. For more options, you can check out MN CareerForce’s event page to learn about job fairs across the state. Check out Eventbrite for general careers or USAjobs for federal government careers to learn about job fairs across the nation.
Plan Your Elevator Pitch
When you first meet a recruiter or employer, it is important to make a good first impression. It’s helpful to feel comfortable talking about yourself and your experiences. One way you can do this is by preparing an elevator pitch: a quick introduction that you can give to someone in the amount of time you would spend on an elevator with them (about 30 seconds). Try the format outlined in the image on the left!
Hello, my name is Lucy. I am a freshman at St. Kate’s and anticipate majoring in Sociology. I have two summers of experience with babysitting and lifeguarding and am excited to learn about new job opportunities related to Social Science. I’ve been really enjoying my Statistical Analysis course. I’m curious: what kind of research or data analysis is involved in your organization’s work?
Hello, my name is Mai. I am a junior at St. Kate’s majoring in Marketing and Digital Strategy. I have three summers of experience in retail customer service and two years of part-time, on-campus experience with managing social media for our Career Development department. I am skilled in creating Mailchimp e-newsletters, Instagram content, and Canva graphics. I am searching for a marketing internship. Can you tell me about any opportunities available with your organization?
Hello, my name is Ahmed. This spring, I will graduate from St. Kate’s with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I will take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam in July and anticipate becoming an RN by August. I have two summers of experience in healthcare and over 600 hours of clinical experience. I am also certified in Basic Life Support, First Aid, and CPR. I am skilled in de-escalation, adaptable problem-solving, and quality patient care. I specialized in trauma centers in clinicals. Can you tell me about any nurse opportunities you have in that specialty?
For additional preparation resources, check out our Resumes page and career resources below!
Frequently Asked Questions
While different industries will have different expectations for workplace attire, it is generally recommended to stay within these options:
- Dress pants or skirts
- Professional dresses
- Professional shirts and sweaters (button up shirts, blouses, etc.)
- Nice shoes or loafers
- Neckties usually optional
- Bag, briefcase, or folder: Make your life easier and maintain your professional look by using something to carry your materials in.
- Pen & paper: Jot down things you want to remember for when you follow up with potential employers.
- Resume copies. Bring the amount equal to the employers you’re interested in, and then some more!
If you are networking for positions not posted at the fair, follow the above suggestions. After introducing yourself, tell the employer about your career areas of interest (i.e. communications, human resources, business analysis, project management) and ask the recruiter if they have:
- Suggestions of people to contact in the organization who may be hiring in your area of interest
- Tips for finding positions in those areas
- Other ideas that would help you gain visibility within their organization
If the employer is not collecting resumes and tells you to “apply online,” ask for:
- Tips on how you can format your resume to scan well electronically
- What skills they are looking for in good candidates
- Any other steps you can take to get an interview
