Job search · 5 min read
Career fair tips: how to prepare, what to say and how to follow up
Career fair tips for students and experienced job seekers: how to prepare, what to say at the stand, questions to ask and how to follow up afterwards.
The short answer
Career fairs work best when you treat them as a set of short, prepared conversations rather than a CV drop. Before the fair, pick five to eight employers from the attendee list and research one current project or role at each. At the stand, introduce yourself in 30 seconds, ask a specific question, and ask the best way to apply or who to contact. Within 48 hours, send a short follow-up that mentions what you talked about. Most fairs don't hire on the spot, so the goal is a named contact and a reason to follow up, not a job offer at the table.
Key takeaways
- Research five to eight employers from the list in advance; go to your top three first.
- Prepare a 30-second introduction and one specific question per employer.
- Ask for a name and the best way to apply, not just a leaflet.
- Follow up within 48 hours, mentioning what you discussed.
On this pageBefore the fair
Before the fair
- Get the exhibitor list and pick five to eight employers. Rank your top three.
- For each, note one current role, project or piece of news you can mention.
- Write a 30-second introduction and practise it out loud.
- Prepare one specific question per employer.
- Update your LinkedIn profile so people can look you up afterwards.
A 30-second introduction
Hi, I'm Priya. I'm finishing a degree in environmental science, and I spent last summer doing flood-risk mapping for a local council. I saw you're expanding your climate adaptation team, and I'd love to know what graduates do in their first year there.
Who you are, one piece of relevant proof, and a question connected to them. That's all it needs.
Good questions to ask
- What does someone in this role spend most of their first six months doing?
- What separates the strongest applicants you've seen?
- Which teams are growing most this year?
- Who would be the best person to talk to about the role, and how should I contact them?
After the fair
Within 48 hours, send a short email or LinkedIn message to each person you spoke to. Mention one thing from your conversation, say you've applied or are about to, and thank them. Illustrative example: "Thanks for talking about the climate adaptation team yesterday. Your point about GIS skills was helpful; I've applied for the graduate analyst role and attached my CV."
Mistakes to avoid
- Asking "So what does your company do?" when the answer is on the stand behind them.
- Collecting freebies and leaflets instead of names.
- Visiting only the big brands with long queues; smaller employers often have more time and more openings.
- Leaving your top employer until the end, when recruiters are tired.
- Forgetting to note who you spoke to. Write a line on each conversation as soon as you walk away.
If you're changing career
Fairs are a fast way to test a new field. Instead of asking for a job, ask people at the stand what someone with your background would need to show to be considered, and which entry routes they see working. Ten of those conversations in an afternoon can tell you more than a month of reading about the sector online.
What happens to the gaps
Applying shows you what employers want that you can't show yet: a must-have your CV doesn't mention, or a question you couldn't answer well. Hand the job from OffLadder CV to Laddie, our AI coach, and it turns each one into three steps:
- Learn the skill: a short lesson on what the post asks for, starting from the basics.
- Try the work: a 15-minute task taken from the job itself, so you have a real example to talk about.
- Practise the interview: a five-question mock interview for that role, weighted to the parts you're least sure of.
The conversation stays in your OffLadder account. Once you've done the work, add it to your CV in your own words, and the next post you tailor for can point to it.
Questions people ask
- What should I wear to a career fair?
- One step smarter than the employers you're targeting usually wear day to day. Smart casual works for most fairs; wear a suit for law, finance and consulting fairs. Comfortable shoes matter more than people think: you'll be standing for hours.
- Should I bring printed CVs?
- Bring a few, tailored to your main target, but don't rely on them. Many employers will ask you to apply online. A QR code or a short link to your LinkedIn profile is often more useful.
- Are virtual career fairs worth it?
- Yes, if you prepare. Virtual fairs have shorter chats and more text-based conversations, so a clear written introduction and specific questions matter even more. Test your camera and microphone before you start.
- Are career fairs useful for experienced professionals?
- Industry events and specialist fairs can be, especially for career changers who need to meet people in a new field. General graduate fairs are less useful once you have several years of experience.
- How long should I spend at each stand?
- Three to five minutes is typical at a busy fair. Long enough to introduce yourself, ask a good question and get a name; short enough not to hold up the queue. If the conversation is going well, ask whether you can follow up by email rather than staying longer.
- What should I do if I get nervous at the stand?
- Start with an employer lower on your list to warm up, and lead with your question rather than your pitch: people relax once the conversation is about them. Recruiters at fairs talk to hundreds of people and expect some nerves. Specific curiosity counts for more than polish.
Exercises are practice, not evidence of career fit or a qualification. How to read our guides and report a correction.
Sources
- How to make the most of careers fairs · Prospects
- Job fairs · CareerOneStop, US Department of Labor
How this page is written
Sources support the factual background, not a guarantee that an exercise predicts career fit. Fictional practice material is labelled. Dates record content updates; no independent expert review is implied. More about OffLadder.