Career Fairs are not events that should be attended only by those students approaching graduation.  You need to begin as early in your academic career as possible to take advantage of the experience gained through attending seasonal career fairs. 

     By attending campus and local fairs several times annually throughout your early academic career, you will gain the practical interviewing experience needed to serve you successfully when talking with recruiters nearer the time of your graduation.  Not only will you do better in the one-on-one interviewing sessions before the fair, but you will gain the confidence necessary to navigate the scores of representatives who have set up tables at the actual event.

     Persistent practice through the years will give you an edge over those "first-time attendees."  You may begin to recognize familiar faces and be able to connect them to the names on the business cards you have been collecting at each fair.   Just as important, you may begin to be recognized by the returning recruiters. Networking is necessary to your future, and it definitely takes place at a career fair!

     By beginning early, before you actually seek full-time employment, you may hear about summer internships or part-time jobs available before graduation.  These are the experiences which can provide you with the hands-on preparation necessary for entry-level employment. So, start your future now!
 

• Block out time to attend as many fairs [both on- and off-campus] during a semester as possible.

• Make a serious attempt to secure a listing of recruiting companies before the event.

• Make a more serious attempt to personally uncover additional company information.

• If interested in a particular company, forward them a letter with focused resume/cv stating an intent to contact their representative during fair.

• Plan to attend dressed and groomed appropriately.

• Bring fresh copies of résumé, a pleasant personality, a firm handshake, and questions.

• Understand that you are expected to ask questions just as the recruiters will. 

• Be prepared to answer the recruiter's questions clearly and concisely.

• If you like the company, ask about a second interview--even about summer work!

• Take home any and all hand-outs from companies of interest.

• Always, always, always ask for recruiter's card, making notes on reverse side.

• If you have had a substantial conversations with representatives, send "thank you for your time" cards and include relevant personal information as a reminder to them.

File this information away for future networking!  Graduation is not that far away!!