Career Fair Prep Guide
for College Students
By Lasse Palomaki | © 2025 The Strategic Student LLC
What to Expect
Skip the guesswork and unlock a complete blueprint on career fair preparation through this comprehensive guide for college students. The advice covered is grounded in practical, real-world insights. (This guide is not major- or industry-specific.)
By the end of this guide, you should feel confident in your ability to:
✓ Prepare for career fairs through research and self-reflection
✓ Build a strategy that allows you to navigate the event with confidence
✓ Network and follow up with recruiters to build connections that lead to opportunities
No more guesswork. No more confusion. Just actionable tactics you can apply today.
What is a Career Fair
A career fair is an event designed to connect students looking for internships and full-time jobs with employers hiring for those roles. These events offer students a unique opportunity to explore roles and organizations, establish connections that can lead to offers, and build their confidence in a professional setting.
Career fairs can vary in format, from large multi-industry events to smaller, niche-focused ones, but their purpose remains the same: to give students the opportunity to build their brand and showcase their qualifications directly to employers, creating a more memorable interaction than a faceless online application.
(Note: Career fairs are often also attended by graduate school recruiters who engage with students interested in graduate programs. While this guide focuses on employer interactions, many of the same principles are applicable to conversations with graduate program representatives.)
Important: No matter your class year or major, attend every career fair. At best, you'll take the first step toward landing your target opportunity. At worst, you'll gain practice, build your confidence in a professional setting, and increase your visibility with employers.
Don't overlook career fairs even as a first-year student. First-year internships may be harder to find, but by attending you are building your confidence, network, and brand. If an employer remembers you from your first year and sees you again as a sophomore, it signals commitment and purpose which can set you apart.
Benefits of Career Fairs
When approached with thoughtful preparation and a proper strategy, career fairs can deliver significant benefits for students.
Career Exploration
Learn about a wide range of industries, roles, and organizations — all in one place. Talking to employers gives you insider insights into company cultures, expectations, and opportunities that go beyond what you can find online. This can help you clarify your career interests and target roles and organizations that align with your qualifications and interests.
Direct Access to Employers
Unlike the impersonal nature of online applications, career fairs unlock direct interaction with recruiters and hiring managers. These conversations allow you to ask questions, showcase your qualifications, and demonstrate your interest in a face-to-face setting. The connections you make during career fairs can lead to interviews, referrals, or even offers. In an era where most of our job searches take place online, career fairs provide a great opportunity to meet employers face-to-face and show them who you are beyond your application materials.
Networking Opportunities
Career fairs are an excellent opportunity to expand your professional network. Every interaction with a recruiter or company representative is a chance to leave a positive impression. Even if a specific role you’re seeking isn’t available now, maintaining connections with these professionals can lead to future opportunities as your career progresses.
Immediate Feedback
Speaking with employers at career fairs gives you immediate feedback on how you present yourself and what you can do to stand out in future applications. Recruiters often share insights into the qualities and skills they’re looking for, helping you adjust your approach and better align yourself with what employers value. This real-time feedback allows you to make adjustments that can set you apart in the application process.
Confidence-Building
Attending career fairs, especially multiple times, helps you build confidence in professional settings. Practicing your elevator pitch, asking questions, and navigating conversations with employers improves your ability to interact professionally. This confidence translates directly into stronger performance in interviews and networking situations.
A college career fair also gives students a place where they can safely make mistakes and recover. Delivering an elevator pitch and navigating a professional conversation with employers are new skills for many students. Mistakes can (and will) happen, but learning that you can start fresh at the next recruiting table takes away some of the sting.
Before the Career Fair
Career fairs are a fantastic opportunity to pitch yourself to dozens of employers in one day. But – you are competing with 100’s of other students for the recruiters’ attention. This means you have to prepare with purpose.
Follow the pre-career fair actions below to help you feel confident and prepared when you step into the event, and establish a strong impression on the employers you interact with.
Decide Your Priorities
The most important part of career fair prep is asking yourself, “What do I hope to get out of the career fair and the interactions I will have?” Be intentional about your target outcomes.
For example, you might want to:
• Learn more about a company (e.g., “"What does the onboarding process look like for someone joining [specific role/department]?")
• Determine your fit and qualifications (e.g., "What qualities and skills do you look for that make a candidate stand out?”)
• Hand over your resume (e.g., "I understand you’re hiring for [specific position]. Could I leave my resume with you for consideration?")
• Build a connection for a follow-up (e.g., "Do you have a business card or preferred way I can reach out for follow-up questions?")
Having an objective helps you control the flow of the conversation and ensures that you walk away with the insights or outcomes you were seeking.
Before the career fair, review the list of attending employers and identify those you want to prioritize. To maximize your time and reduce stress, map out the booth locations of your target employers in advance. Consider also identifying a few “practice employers” to visit first, so you can ease into the event and build confidence before approaching your top choices. This approach helps you navigate the space efficiently while making the most of your interactions.
Research Your Target Employers
Looking into your target employers before the fair is an easy way to stand out from the crowd. It helps you narrow down your target employers, pitch qualifications relevant to their open roles, and ask thoughtful, research-based questions.
Below are some key items to research:
• The organization’s mission, purpose, and values
• Their products, services, and recent news headlines
• Open internships and full-time roles they are recruiting for
You can find all this through their website, social media accounts, and a simple Google search (check out the “News” tab on Google). Better yet, you can locate alumni from your institution who work at the company and try to connect with them on LinkedIn to get an insider scoop on the organization.
You can also leverage AI tools like Perplexity AI to support your research using prompts like the one below:
“Act as a research analyst. I need you to research [organization name] and provide me with the following details to help me prepare for a thoughtful interaction with their representatives at my university's upcoming career fair.
- The organization's mission, purpose, and values
- Their main products and services
- Recent headlines about major news related to the organization
- Any other information that will help my career fair preparation”
Arm yourself with this information, and you will be able to have a productive conversation with the employer’s representatives. The information you find will help you create a strong pitch and ask good questions from the employer.
When interacting with an employer, opening a sentence with “When doing my research, I found that…” immediately showcases the effort you put into preparing for the interaction (which is something employers love to see).
Most universities provide a list of attending employers to students ahead of the career fair (typically through the career services office). Make sure to review the list ahead of time so that you can narrow down a list of 5-10 target employers to research (you do not want to research every employer on the list).
Important: Want to learn how to fully leverage ChatGPT in your internship and job search? Check out our AI resources for college students:
ChatGPT Interview Prep Guide – this guide provides a detailed breakdown of how you can leverage ChatGPT at every stage of your interview preparation process
ChatGPT in Internship and Job Search Guide – this guide provides detailed information, step-by-step instructions, and templates for everything you need to know about leveraging AI in your internship and job search, from exploring careers to optimizing your resume to researching your target organizations
Craft a Relevant Pitch
In a typical career fair interaction, the first thing you will do is provide a brief explanation of your background. In other words, you will pitch yourself.
Your goal is to provide a strong first impression and make yourself appealing as a potential candidate. To do so, you want to showcase your research, highlight your qualifications, and have a clear call to action at the end (i.e., something the employer can easily respond to to continue the conversation).
An example pitch below:
“Hi, I’m Alex! I researched your current openings and noticed your firm is hiring entry-level M&A Analysts, and I’m excited about the opportunity — especially because your work in the renewable energy sector aligns with my values.
Now, a bit about me. I’m a senior finance major at State University and the treasurer of the Student Investment Club. Over the past two years, I’ve worked on two course projects and competed in a case competition, all focused on mergers and acquisitions. Last summer, I also interned as a Financial Analyst, where I evaluated targets and built models for M&A deals.
I’d love to learn more about your team and the entry-level M&A Analyst role!”
A few key takeaways from the example pitch:
• It is brief (~30 seconds max)
• It showcases that you’ve researched their openings
• It only provides relevant details about your background
• It ends with a call to action (i.e., “I’d love to learn more about…”)
Now, is this the only way to go about crafting your pitch? Of course not.
Find an approach that aligns with your “voice” and your background. Then tailor the details based on the employers you plan to speak with.
Prepare Thoughtful Questions
Many students walk up to an employer's booth and ask, "What does your company do?" or "What kind of internships do you have?" Now, basic information like this is just a simple online search away, so questions like these indicate lack of preparation and can immediately hurt your brand as a prospective applicant.
What kind of questions should you ask, then?
Questions that result in information that you can not find online. Questions that elaborate on information you’ve uncovered through your research. Questions that help you determine whether the employer aligns with your professional goals and personal values.
Some examples might include:
• Can you share an example of a recent project or initiative where interns made a significant impact?
• What are some typical projects an intern would engage in during their [specific internship]?
• Are there pathways within your company for interns to transition into full-time roles?
• What does a typical career trajectory look like for someone who starts in an entry-level role here?
• What challenges have you seen entry-level new hires face when joining the [x] team? How does your company support new hires in their development?
• What qualities or actions help a student stand out among the many internship applications you review?
• What qualities or skills do your most successful interns or entry-level employees share?
• What advice would you give to someone hoping to make a strong impression on your team?
• What is something awesome/unique about your company that I would not find through online research?
• What motivated you to join this company as opposed to one of your competitors?
• From my research, I noticed your company values innovation. Can you share an example of an innovative project your company has recently engaged in?
Ideally, your questions show that you have done research and that you’re genuinely curious about the organization and what they have to offer.
Thoughtful, specific questions show employers that you’ve done your homework and are serious about finding the right fit for your career. By asking insightful questions, you’ll not only get valuable information but also leave a strong impression as someone who puts in the effort to stand out.
Dress for the Occasion
First impressions matter, and dressing appropriately can boost your confidence and leave a positive impression. Choose attire that is professional, clean, and reflects the culture of your target employers. If your university has a career closet (a resource where students can borrow professional clothing) take advantage of it to find suitable options. Be proactive, as career fairs often lead to increased demand for these resources.
Update Your Resume and LinkedIn
Ensure both your resume and LinkedIn profile are up to date and aligned before the career fair. Recruiters might take notes directly on your paper resume, so having a clean and professional document is crucial.
Similarly, if you plan to connect with recruiters on LinkedIn after the event, make sure your profile accurately reflects your relevant skills, experiences, and other qualifications. A well-prepared LinkedIn profile not only supports your in-person interactions but also sets the stage for effective follow-up. Most recruiters are active on LinkedIn nowadays, which makes it an effective avenue for following up and staying top of mind.
An example follow-up note below can be found in the “After the Career Fair” section of this guide.
Important: LinkedIn can be a massively valuable tool for your post-career fair efforts, but leveraging all of its functionalities is well beyond the scope of this guide.
If you want to learn how to use LinkedIn to optimize your profile before the career fair or to follow-up with recruiters after the career fair, check out our guides below:
LinkedIn Profile Guide – this guide provides a detailed breakdown of how you can optimize every section in your profile to build your brand on LinkedIn
LinkedIn Strategy Guide – this guide provides detailed information, step-by-step instructions, and templates for everything you need to know about LinkedIn as a student, from optimizing your profile to exploring careers to finding and engaging with your target persons to preparing for interviews
Prepare Notes
Bringing a notebook or using a note-taking app can help you capture important details from your conversations, such as key insights from the interactions or the names of the representatives you meet. These notes will be helpful when following up with employers or customizing your applications. Staying organized during the event ensures you can make the most of your interactions both during and after the fair.
Practice Ahead
Take advantage of any prep sessions your university may offer before the career fair. These workshops often provide valuable tips for navigating the event, making a strong impression on employers, and avoiding common pitfalls.
If you're feeling nervous about speaking with recruiters, practice mock interactions with friends, career advisors, or mentors. Rehearse introducing yourself, asking thoughtful questions, and maintaining engaging conversations. Building this confidence beforehand can make your career fair experience much smoother and more successful.
During the Career Fair
At a career fair, it’s not about meeting the most recruiters; it’s about making your interactions with the right ones count. The actions you take will shape the impression you leave and lay the foundation for future connections.
Use the following tactics to make your time at the fair count and to set the stage for positive follow-up conversations after the fair.
Follow Your Game Plan
Now it’s time to put your game plan into action. Before the fair, you should have identified the employers you want to speak with, starting with lower-priority ones to ease into the event and build your confidence before approaching your top targets. Sticking to your game plan will help you stay focused, manage your time effectively, and make the most of your interactions.
During the conversations, remember your target outcomes (e.g., learning more about the organization or handing over your resume) and guide the conversation accordingly.
Build Your Brand
As you speak with employers, focus on delivering a confident pitch and asking the thoughtful questions you prepared ahead of time. However, do your best not to sound robotic; these interactions are conversations, not interviews. Use positive non-verbals like smiling, eye contact, and nodding. Keep your phone out of sight, address recruiters by name, and always end the conversation by thanking them. These actions not only demonstrate professionalism but also help you build a strong, positive brand that leaves a lasting impression.
Important: Avoid the common mistake of approaching booths with a group of friends, as this can make it harder to stand out and be memorable. Instead, approach employers on your own, allowing the recruiter to focus on you as an individual candidate. While debriefing with friends between interactions can be fun and helpful, the interactions at the booths are your chance to have the spotlight on you, not your friends.
Learn from Your Interactions
Career fairs can involve a lot of waiting, but standing in line doesn’t have to be wasted time. Use it to your advantage by listening to other students’ conversations with recruiters, picking up on details that could improve your own exchange. If you’re debriefing with friends, pay attention to their best practices and incorporate what you learn into your approach. When it’s your turn to speak with an employer, take note of what works well in your pitch and questions, and be ready to adjust and pivot if something isn’t resonating.
Get the Recruiters’ Contact Information
If you plan to follow up with a recruiter after the career fair, always ask for their email or LinkedIn before ending the conversation. Some recruiters will offer it freely, while others may direct you to an application portal — either way, it’s worth asking. A simple way to phrase it:
"Thanks for your time today! I’m very interested in the opportunities we talked about and would love to stay in touch. Is there a best way to connect with you after the fair, whether email or LinkedIn?"
Having their contact information makes it easier to send a thoughtful follow-up, reinforce your interest, and stay on their radar.
Take Notes
Take notes on the conversations you have with employers. Jot down key insights in a notebook or a note-taking app, such as details about the company culture, the roles they’re hiring for, and any advice they offer on standing out in applications. Recording the names of the recruiters you speak with and any follow-up actions will also be helpful for later. These notes will be invaluable when it comes time to send follow-up emails or tailor your applications, helping you reference specifics from your interactions to stand out.
After the Career Fair
After the career fair, the real work begins. While the event gives you a chance to make a memorable first impression, the actions you take afterward are what will help you move your internship or job search forward and capitalize on the opportunities you’ve just opened up.
Use the following tactics to build on your career fair experience and turn your interactions into positive career prospects.
Reflect on the Career Fair
After the career fair, carve out time to reflect on your overall experience. Think about your interactions with employers and how they aligned with your preparation.
Did you feel confident delivering your pitches? Did the questions you asked spark meaningful discussions or provide insights into the company or roles? Consider which interactions left you energized or excited and which ones left you drained or disappointed.
This self-reflection not only helps you identify strengths and weaknesses but also prepares you to perform even better at future career fairs or networking events. Use your insights to adjust your strategy, refine your questions, and build your confidence for your next employer event.
Leverage Career Fair Insights in Applications
The insights you gathered during the career fair should inform your next steps in your job or internship search. Use this information strategically at each stage of the application process as you apply to roles with employers you spoke with.
Below are ideas for how you can use the information at different application stages:
Resume: Incorporate the insights gained from your career fair conversations to craft a resume that aligns with the employer’s specific needs and priorities.
Highlight relevant skills that the recruiter emphasized during your discussion. For instance, if they mentioned the importance of data analysis or a specific software tool, ensure that your resume showcases coursework, projects, or professional experiences where you successfully applied analytical skills.
Tailor your experiences to reflect the job description and the recruiter’s input. If they emphasized leadership, reframe your experience bullets to highlight times when you led a team, initiated a project, or managed responsibilities.
Additionally, if the recruiter shared specific challenges their organization is facing, such as improving customer engagement or streamlining processes, include examples from your background that address similar challenges. For example, you might describe how you increased customer retention or developed a process improvement plan in your previous roles.
Important: Only include skills and experiences you actually possess. Lying in your materials (even if that would help you stand out) is something recruiters will find out sooner or later and will likely lead to a rejection.
Cover Letter: Demonstrate genuine interest in the employer by referencing your conversation at the career fair. Mention the recruiter’s name, the event where you met, and a specific detail from your discussion to create a personal connection. For example, you could write, “Speaking with [Recruiter Name] at [Career Fair Name] about [specific topic] confirmed my interest in [Organization] and its focus on [specific value or goal].”
Additionally, if your conversation uncovered specific values or qualities the organization prioritizes, such as innovation, collaboration, or customer-centricity, weave these into your letter to illustrate your alignment with their culture. For instance, you might highlight a project where you successfully collaborated with a diverse team or developed a creative solution to a problem, directly tying this experience to the company’s values.
By referencing these shared priorities and aligning your skills and experiences with the organization’s goals, you demonstrate that you are not only qualified but also a strong cultural fit.
LinkedIn: After the career fair, connect with the representatives you spoke with by sending a personalized note to remind them of your conversation. If you apply for a role in the company, reach out to them and reference your earlier conversation. For example: “It was great speaking with you at [Career Fair Name] about [specific topic]. I’ve submitted my application for [position] and would be excited to further discuss my qualifications!”
You can also use LinkedIn to find alumni from your school who are current employees at the organization. Reach out to them for informational interviews or guidance, mentioning your interest in the company and what you learned at the fair. This can lead to additional insights or even referrals when applying to roles.
Additionally, you can follow and engage the organization’s LinkedIn page and interact with their posts by liking, commenting, or sharing. Thoughtful engagement can keep you on their radar and show genuine interest. Alternatively, you can post about your experience at the fair, highlighting what you learned and tagging the organization or recruiter (if appropriate).
Finally, update your LinkedIn headline, summary, and experience sections to reflect the skills or experiences you emphasized during the fair. Ensure your profile aligns with the details found in your resume.
Interviews: Leverage the insights from your career fair conversations to tailor your responses and questions during interviews. Use what you learned about the organization’s goals, culture, or upcoming projects to craft responses that align with their priorities. For instance, if they emphasized teamwork or innovation, highlight examples from your experience that illustrate these qualities: “When we spoke at [Career Fair Name], you mentioned [specific challenge or priority]. Here’s how my experience addresses that…” This not only shows preparation but also reinforces your understanding of their needs.
Additionally, you can reference the recruiter’s insights when formulating thoughtful questions about the role or company. For example, “You mentioned at the career fair that the team is focusing on [specific initiative]. Could you share more about how this position contributes to that effort?”
If you connected well with the recruiter, mention them during your interview if relevant, such as, “I enjoyed speaking with [Recruiter Name] at the career fair, and it gave me a great perspective on the company’s focus on [a priority].”
Send Personalized Follow-Ups
When sending a follow-up note after the career fair (within 24-48 hours), use the opportunity to remind the recruiter of your conversation and reinforce your interest in their organization by mentioning specific from your conversation.
Referencing your conversation with the recruiter can be especially impactful. Often, the person you met at the fair may be directly involved in reviewing applications. Mentioning their name and recalling details from your conversation can help them remember you.
Begin by thanking them for their time and referencing something specific from your discussion, such as a particular project, role, or organizational initiative they mentioned. For example, “I appreciated learning more about [specific detail], and our conversation further solidified my excitement about the possibility of contributing to [Organization].”
Additionally, if you discussed any relevant skills or experiences, briefly mention how these align with their needs, reinforcing your fit for the role. For example, “As we discussed, my experience in [specific skill or project] aligns closely with the goals of your team, particularly [specific initiative].”
If appropriate, express your intention to apply or confirm you have already submitted your application, and offer to provide any additional information.
Full follow-up note examples are found below.
Email: Recruiters typically hand out business cards at career fairs. Be sure to collect one from the recruiters (or ask for their email directly if they do not offer a business card) if you intend to follow up with, so that you have a direct line of contact with them.
Example email below:
Subject: [University] Career Fair Follow-Up - [Your name]
Hello [Recruiter’s Name],
I hope this email finds you well. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me at the [University Career Fair] on [date]. I enjoyed learning more about [Company Name], especially our discussion about [specific topic, project, or role].
Our conversation further confirmed my interest in the [specific role] role at [Company Name]. My experience in [relevant skills or experience] aligns closely with the goals of your team, particularly [specific initiative or value discussed]. I’ve submitted my application and would be excited to contribute to [specific team or company mission].
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need additional information. I would appreciate the opportunity to further discuss how my qualifications align with the [specific role you applied for]. Thank you again for your time and insights.
Best regards,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Contact Information]
[LinkedIn Profile]
LinkedIn: During career fairs, recruiters often encourage students to connect on LinkedIn. If they do not mention it proactively, you can ask “Would it be OK if I connected with you on LinkedIn after the fair?”
Example LinkedIn notes below:
Non-Premium Users (200 characters):
“Hi [Recruiter’s Name], it was great meeting you at the [Example University Career Fair]! Our discussion about [specific topic or role] confirmed my excitement for [Company Name] and the [specific role]. I’d love to connect!”
Premium Users (300 characters):
“Hi [Recruiter’s Name], I enjoyed connecting with you at the [Example University Career Fair] and learning more about [Company Name] and its initiatives in [specific area]. I’ve applied for the [specific role] and would love to further discuss my qualifications!”
Important: LinkedIn can be a massively valuable tool for your post-career fair efforts, but leveraging all of its functionalities is well beyond the scope of this guide.
If you want to learn how to use LinkedIn to optimize your profile before the career fair or to follow-up with recruiters after the career fair, check out our guides below:
LinkedIn Profile Guide – This guide provides a detailed breakdown of how you can optimize every section in your profile to build a strong impression and brand on LinkedIn
LinkedIn Strategy Guide – This guide provides detailed information, step-by-step instructions, and templates for everything you need to know about LinkedIn as a student, from optimizing your profile to exploring careers to finding and engaging with your target persons to preparing for interviews
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Conclusion
Few campus events offer as many opportunities in a single day as career fairs. At their best, they allow you to build connections and discover potential opportunities.
Even if things don’t work out immediately, you still gain valuable practice in a professional setting, helping to get your name out there. Many recruiters enter your details into their applicant tracking systems (ATS), meaning your name could be considered for future roles — even if you don’t apply until the next year.
Whether you’re a first-year student or a last-semester senior, it’s important to show up and engage.
PS. To receive further personalized 1:1 career fair coaching that can address questions specific to your unique situation, you can check out our coaching services here.
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This guide is intended for educational and informational purposes only. While the strategies and advice provided aim to assist students in their internship and job search, The Strategic Student LLC does not guarantee employment or any specific job outcomes as a result of using this guide. Success depends on individual effort, qualifications, and other factors beyond the scope of this guide.
