Career fairs provide the opportunity to make an impression in a way that a resume cannot. You are able to make face-to-face connections with recruiters who will be making the hiring decisions for their companies. When meeting a recruiter, you want to stand out – for positive reasons of course. Here are some helpful tips on how to make a great first impression at your next career fair.
Dress professionally – First impressions are made in a few short seconds. Just as with interviews, when attending a career fair, dress in professional attire. Men: A suit and tie is preferred, but I know as a college student that can be an expense that is not manageable, in which case, a nice dress shirt, tie and clean pants will work great. Women: Suits are also preferred. Dress pants/skirt and a professional-looking top will also work. Do not wear jeans, sweatshirts, T-shirts or anything that is too tight or revealing. (I’ve seen my share of questionable attire, but the most interesting outfit I’ve come across at a career fair has to be a candidate who walked up to my booth in full leather chaps, cowboy boots and a cowboy hat.)
Bring your resume – Most employers want to have a brief conversation with you about your background, and your resume is a crucial part of that conversation! Make sure it is accurate and professional. If you do not have work experience or internships, make sure you add school projects and campus involvement to your resume.
Plan your attack – Almost every school will put out a list of employers that will attend and the positions the companies are recruiting for prior to the career fair. Take some time to research these companies before the fair, so you can be on point when you meet with recruiters. Come with a few good questions and examples of why you would be a good fit. Often at a fair, you will also receive a booklet with brief descriptions of the participating companies. Take a minute to read the company descriptions before you speak with a potential employer. As a recruiter, I know you will likely not know the ins and outs of each company’s industry, but there is nothing worse than a person coming up and asking, “So, what do you guys do?”
Sign up for on-campus interviews if offered – Many organizations will host next day interviews or even same day interviews. If you are really interested in the company, ask the recruiter if they are hosting either. It shows your immediate interest and puts you to the front of the line.
Tara is passionate about helping college graduates and career changers launch meaningful careers in technology. She provides expert guidance across both technical and managerial paths, ensuring talent is prepared for the demands of the modern workforce.
Since joining Genesis10 in 2010, Tara has held a variety of leadership roles, including National Director of Emerging Talent Programs and Recruiting Lead for the G10 Associates Program. She co-created the Dev10 program in 2018, which has since launched the careers of more than 1,600 software developers and data analysts. Under her leadership, Dev10 has expanded nationwide, serving nearly 50 client companies and earning the 2023 Campus Forward Award for excellence in early career hiring.
Tara’s leadership is grounded in her belief in the unlimited potential of people and her commitment to building sustainable, scalable workforce solutions. Her work has been recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts, who named her to their 40 Under 40 list.
Before Genesis10, Tara worked at Honda of America Manufacturing, where she led college recruiting and internship programs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs with a focus on Management and Human Resources from Indiana University Bloomington.
Outside of her role at Dev10, Tara serves as Chairperson of the Executive Advisory Board on Curriculum for Management Information Systems at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. She is also a frequent speaker on topics such as workforce innovation and diversity in tech.