If the thought of a job fair conjures up visions of a campus gymnasium filled with booths of recruiters lining the walls, you've got the right idea. These events vary in focus and format, but they all provide an opportunity for employers and students to meet in an informal setting to exchange information. Employer representatives will offer company literature, assess your qualifications, and attempt to convince you that their organization is an excellent place to work. While you will most likely have only a few minutes with each representative, some job fairs provide an opportunity for you to have more in-depth interviews with the employers during or after the fair.

Your purpose at a job fair is to present your qualifications, and learn what opportunities, environment, and compensation the employers are likely to offer. Many job fairs include a mix of business, technical, research, non-profit and governmental organizations. That is why it is important to learn whether they are hiring for the position that is most suitable for your education, skills and areas interest.

Your approach to a job fair should be similar to that of an interview. This means dressing appropriately as well as being prepared to answer and ask relevant questions (See Career Brief entitled "Interviews"). Remember to bring plenty of copies of your resume. For additional preparation, you may want to review the videotapes, books or other resources on navigating a job fair, located in the Career Center Library.

1. Before You Arrive at the Job Fair:

• Research Yourself! This means reviewing your resume, experiences, and career goals and being able to successfully discuss your qualifications.
  
• Research the Employers! Many job fairs will have a website where you can obtain a list of employers and their available positions (you can access the following website http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/employ/jobfairs.html to learn more about the upcoming job fairs). Identify employers you would like to meet and visit their websites to learn more about their organization. Take notes about target employers and review comments the day of the fair.

2. When You Arrive at the Job Fair:

• Obtain an updated list of employers and job fair literature that may contain specific information about the employers and their available positions.
  
• Explore the layout of the job fair and make note of where your employer targets are located. Some lines may be longer, so plan your strategy to make the best use of your time.

3. When You Meet With the Employer:

• Smile, offer a firm handshake and introduce yourself to the employer.
  
• Offer your resume and present a 30-60 second commercial about yourself.
  
• Ask questions to learn more about the position/s, organization and its hiring practices.
  
• Before leaving, inquire about suggested follow-up, request a business card and thank the employer for speaking with you.

4. After the Job Fair

• Write follow up thank you letters, being specific about where and when you met with the employer.
  
• Assess your interactions with each employer, deciding which positions may be of interest to you.
  
• Provide any follow up information the employer requested during the job fair visit. This may include a transcript, cover letter or letter of recommendation.

Whether or not you get the "perfect job" through a job fair, you will be able to gain knowledge about specific employers and career fields. A job fair also gives you the opportunity to practice your interviewing skills. The Career Center maintains detailed information on each of the job fairs, occurring both on and off campus.