Career fairs and employer events at university

Career fairs and campus employer events put dozens of organisations in one room. With a little preparation, you can learn more in two hours than in weeks of browsing websites.

What a fair is (and is not)

• The University of Bath reminds students that a fair is not an interview but a chance to find out more from people who work for the organisation.
• The University of Georgia Career Center encourages students to start attending fairs from their first year, not just in their final year.
• Universities also run smaller employer events: talks, workshops and drop-in sessions. Bristol advises checking your careers service's events listing regularly because new events are added through the year.
• Some fairs are virtual. The National Careers Service lists careers and job fairs among useful networking events.

Before the fair: a 3-step plan

• Check the list of attending employers in advance (Bath, UGA) and choose your top 3 to 5 to research (UGA).
• Read each target employer's website and write down what you want to say and ask (Bath). Do not ask what the company does: Bath lists this as a question to avoid.
• International students should check whether employers accept international graduates or offer visa sponsorship before the fair (Bath). This matters for many GCC students studying abroad.
• Get your CV checked by your careers service before the fair (UGA). See the CVs and Interviews module for how to write it.
• What to bring: UGA suggests at least 10 printed copies of your CV, a folder, and your phone on silent. Bath advises making notes, so bring something to write with.

At the fair: how to approach a stand

• Look at the floor map when you arrive and plan your route (UGA).
• Introduce yourself, find out the person's name and role, and ask whether they can answer a few questions (Bath).
• Example: 'Hi, I'm Omar, a first-year chemical engineering student. I read about your graduate scheme in water treatment. Could I ask you a couple of questions about what graduates do in their first year?'
• Be open-minded and visit employers you had not considered (Bath).
• Make brief notes after each conversation, including the person's name, so your follow-up can be specific (Bath).

Good questions, and ones to avoid

• About the work: what does a typical day look like, what do new graduates actually do, and what are the highlights and challenges? (Bath)
• About skills: what makes a candidate stand out, and what experience do successful applicants usually have? (Bath)
• About process: what does the hiring timeline look like, and what professional development is offered? (UGA)
• About them: why did they choose this organisation, and what do they wish they had known when applying? (Bath)
• Avoid: 'How much will I earn?', 'What does your company do?', 'What can you offer me?' and asking for the freebies (Bath).

After the fair

• Review your notes the same day while they are fresh.
• Send a thank-you email within 24 hours to anyone who gave you contact details (UGA), mentioning one specific thing you discussed.
• Use what you learned to strengthen your applications (Bath).
• Stay professional in all follow-up and avoid seeming focused only on salary and benefits (Bath).