Making the most of careers fairs

Careers fairs offer much more than the chance to find jobs. They are an opportunity to network with potential employers, make a positive impression and get answers to your questions about career options from industry insiders.

Making sure you are well prepared will enable you to make the most of this opportunity.

Want help with your preparation? Get in touch.

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Be Prepared

Decide what you want

What do you hope to get from the event?

  • More information about specific opportunities?
  • Inside knowledge about a profession?
  • Contacts in your sector to network with?
  • Tips on graduate scheme applications from people who have been through it themselves?
  • An employer’s opinion on your CV?

Do your research

  • Look at available information on employers attending the event. We publish profiles of all attendees and information on the types of roles they are recruiting for.
  • Identify employers of interest, both in your preferred industry and those in other sectors with relevant opportunities. For example, all organisations have staff in roles like marketing, finance, IT and human resources, so be prepared to look outside your particular sector.
  • Look at their websites and social media. Find out what they are doing to attract student and graduate recruits, and what they want from you.
  • Find out what recruits think about working for the organisation.
    > Glassdoor
    Company reviews written by employees.
    The Job Crowd
    100s of employers reviewed by employees.
    Rate my Placement
    Reviews of undergraduate placements and internships.
    The Student Room
    Profiles of UK employers and professional qualification providers.
    Target jobs Inside Buzz
    Recent graduate employees give their view on employer culture, training, salary and benefits, and their overall satisfaction.

Prepare your CV

  • Tailor your CV to highlight the education, skills and experience that are most relevant to your targeted companies.
  • Prepare different versions for different employers, if this is appropriate.
  • First impressions count, so make sure your CV is visually attractive and stands out.
  • Some companies prefer not to accept CVs at events, so consider taking business cards, stating your contact details and a brief description of which area of work you are particularly interested in.
  • Get feedback from the Careers Service on your CV. Get in touch well in advance of the event to book an appointment, otherwise you may be disappointed.

Get tips on writing your CV

Prepare your questions

  • Your questions should show that you researched the company beforehand and are enthusiastic to know more about them.
  • Do not ask questions which could easily be answered by reading company literature. This will create a negative impression.
  • Many employers ask recent graduate recruits to represent them at careers fairs. Ask them how they got into the company, what they enjoy about working in the industry and possible next steps in their career.

Practice an elevator pitch

An elevator pitch is a brief introduction about your knowledge, skills and abilities. This will help you when companies ask you questions about yourself.

In an elevator pitch you have around 60 seconds to get across:
  • your name
  • anything that is special and different about you
  • what you offer and the benefits (in a couple of sentences)
  • what you are looking for (in a couple of sentences)
  • your sign off.

Download our Elevator Pitch Factsheet (pdf)

At the event

Dress the part

  • Although there is no formal dress code, you are there to meet potential employers and first impressions count. Dressing appropriately will help to make the right impression.

Be professional

  • Approach employers alone, rather than with a group of friends. This will appear more professional and allow you to engage with the employer without distractions.

Use your research

  • Use your knowledge of the company, and your prepared questions to ease yourself into a conversation.
  • Listen carefully to their responses in order ask more in depth questions and clarify what you would like to know.
  • They may then ask you what you are looking for. At this point you can make use of your elevator pitch.Get your message across but remember to sound natural and interested.

End on a positive note

  • Thank the person for their time and for the information they have given you. Let them know what you found interesting/valuable i.e. how you might use it in your job search/career planning.
  • You can give them your CV/business card, if appropriate and reaffirm that you will be in touch.

Support from your Careers Service

  • Careers Service staff are in attendance at all our fairs.
  • If you are unsure about which organisations to target, or feel your approach is not paying off, speak to us. We can offer advice and encouragement.

After the event

  • Make a note of any action points, e.g. specific people to contact, LinkedIn connections to follow up, CVs/application forms to submit or further research.
  • Reflect on what you have learned from talking to professionals in your sector about their experience. What do you know now that you did not know before? How is this useful to your career plans?

Unsure what to do next? Get in touch