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A job and internship fair is a networking opportunity to meet with potential employers to learn more about their organization and culture, to secure an interview, and to gain more information about a specific industry or career path.
Before you go
- Register in advance. View each career fair website and read about the attending employers, majors sought and if they are hiring. Don't assume employers at job fairs are just seeking business or technical majors. More than half of employers at job fairs have at least one position for which they will consider any major.
- Prepare yourself. Students have the most success by being prepared.
- Have your résumé reviewed.
- Do practice or mock interviews.
- Prepare a 20-30 second personal introduction to use with employers.
- Example: “Hello, my name is Jane Doe, and I am a junior marketing student at St. Cloud State University. I am looking for an internship for this summer, and I read on the website that “company’s name” has an internship program and I would like to ... .”
- Research each employer.
- Identify companies that interest you on the fair’s website and see who is accepting résumés before the fair or doing interviews at the fair. Contact employers before the fair to request interviews, the earlier the better.
- Be able to tell the employer what you are looking for and why you want to work for them.
- Explore each employer’s website. To impress employers, you should know:
- What do they do? What are their main products or services?
- What jobs do they have available?
- What are the key skills and qualifications sought?
- What is their mission statement?
- What is currently going on at the company? What is the latest company news?
- It is OK to make notes about the company or the position and bring questions to ask the company’s representative.
Getting there
- Sleep. Being well rested will allow you to go to the fair with the necessary energy and enthusiasm.
- What to wear: Professional attire is a must. Always dress for the job you want, not the one you have. You need to dress professionally for every job fair or interview even if the company has a casual dress policy.
- What to bring:
- At least 20 copies of your résumé, in a portfolio or briefcase.
- A list of booth locations and employers.
- Print map and directions to the fair.
- Research parking options.
- Bring cash for parking lots and ramps.
- Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early. Allow time for traffic, finding the check-in and registration booth.
- Stay late. Plan to stay as long as possible. Employers usually have more time to spend with you in the afternoon as it is usually less busy.
During the fair
- Visit as many booths as possible: When meeting a recruiter, be direct. Introduce yourself with a smile and a firm handshake. Remember what you prepared.
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- Your goal is to get an interview. Let them know that you're interested.
- If they don't ask for it, leave your résumé with the employer before leaving the booth.
- Always get a business card from the employer.
- If they are not currently hiring:
- Find out when they anticipate having openings. If they don't know when they will have any, ask if they would take your résumé, and follow up once a month.
- Follow up.
- If applications are only accepted online: Use it as a chance to explore opportunities and promote yourself. Employers are much more likely to go through a database and pull your résumé if you have spoken to them in person at a job fair.
- Find out about positions that fit your background.
- Get a business card from the person you spoke to.
- After the fair, update your résumé to better fit the qualifications and skills sought.
- Submit your résumé online within a day or two of the fair.
- E-mail the employer you spoke to once your résumé is posted, letting them know that you have applied online.
- If you have an interview: Check in 10 minutes early.
- Don't forget to network with the other participants.
After the fair
- Send a thank you note or email to:
- Each employer who you interviewed with. This is a must!
- Companies you spoke to but did not interview with. It will help you stand out from the crowd.
- Follow up! Many candidates get job offers months after the fair because they kept in touch with the employer representative. Be sure to follow up if ...
- They said they would be in touch within two weeks and you haven't heard from them.
- A company told you to apply online, do so, then send the reminder e-mail to the person who you spoke to at the fair letting them know that you have applied.
- They said that they weren't hiring, follow up once a month.
- Learn from your experience:
- Analyze what you learned, make a plan of action and act on it.
- Update your résumé.
Students needing to complete a Mock Interview, LinkedIn Review or Resume Review for their class or professional development are encouraged to attend a Walk-In Wednesday. If your professor scheduled a separate date, reach out to them for instructions and dates.
Walk-In Wednesdays are from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. most weeks during fall and spring semesters. They are held in the Career Center in Centennial Hall 215. If you need a virtual option, please contact us at careercenter@stcloudstate.edu. They are a first come, first served type of event and there is no prior registration.
Reminders:
- Show up early to ensure you have time to meet with an employer.
- Bring a copy of your résumé.
- Dress professionally.
- Have your LinkedIn profile link ready to give to the employer.
The dates are listed above, and can also be found in Handshake as well as more details about employers attending.
On-campus interviews with employers are scheduled during fall and spring in Centennial Hall 215.
You must complete your profile in Handshake and have a résumé uploaded to apply for the interviews.
How do you sign up for an interview?
- You can view all schedules under Events and then On-Campus Interviews.
- Fill in the search criteria to narrow your search.
- Click on the position you would like to apply and interview for.
- After you apply, you will receive a notification informing you to sign up if the employer has chosen you to do so. Remember to have your interviewing notifications turned on in your preferences.
Help is available at Career Center or 320-308-2151.
