Career Fairs
Career fairs, or job fairs, are events used by employers to promote their companies and employment opportunities. They take place on college campuses, and at other locations in the community. Most career fairs consist of tables or booths manned by recruiters or other company representatives, who briefly talk one-on-one with candidates interested in their company. Click here to see the schedule of career fairs.

There are many benefits to attending a career fair. You can investigate career fields and positions for your major; meet representatives from companies for whom you are interested in working; get more information about specific companies; gain an opportunity for an interview with a company, and develop your network of contacts.

Career fairs are an excellent resource to use in your job search. To have a successful career fair experience, however, you need to be prepared. Use the following strategy and make career fairs work for you!

Before the Event - Prepare. Learn What Companies Are Coming
Most of the time, you will be able to find out which companies are coming to the event ahead of time. Check with the Co-op & Career Services Office, or event sponsor.

Research Companies Of Interest To You
Check out the company web site, company profiles in directories, and search for news articles about the company. Finding out general information will allow you to ask intelligent questions of the recruiter, and learn where you might fit in at the company.

Update Your Resume
It is essential to have a resume that reflects your current skills and experiences, as most companies will be forwarding copies of resumes to many departments within their organization. Any typos, grammatical errors, or inaccurate information will result in failure to gain interviews. Have other people proofread your resume for accuracy; your program coordinator in the Office of Co-op & Career Services is available to check it over. Develop a strong, well-written resume, and bring numerous copies.

Be Prepared To Ask Questions
Try to have one or two questions in mind for each employer, based on your research of and interest in the company. Do not ask the recruiters personal questions.

Know Yourself
Know why you want to work for the company, and be able to express your skills, accomplishments, and goals in a clear, concise manner. Try to identify specific experiences where you have demonstrated your strengths and skills.

Links

JobWeb: Numerous career fair articles
http://www.jobweb.com/resources/library/Career_Fairs/default.htm