How to Prepare for a Career Event

How to Succeed at a Career Event

Job Fairs, employer information sessions, networking mixers and other career events are an excellent resource for candidates seeking employment, as it gets them in front of multiple employers. Often there are industry specific career fairs, where candidates can target specific companies within a particular career industry.

WGU offers a wide variety of career events from employer information sessions to hiring events. Take a look at our wide variety of events here: WGU Career & Professional Development Events to best prepare for the job fair, job seekers must follow the steps:

Steps to Complete Before the Career Event

  1. Register for the event. Often, career/job fairs are free to attend and will require participant registration. This could include sending a general resume ahead of time, which some employers may look at beforehand. The company may also give registration swag with company information, name tags, and giveaways.
  2. Research attending employers. Many fairs will have hundreds of employers attending, and it is nearly impossible to speak to all of them, nor is it advised. You will want to narrow down your top employers that you would like to target, research their websites and career opportunities.
    • Before talking to an employer, you want to showcase that you’ve done your research. Avoid the common career fair blunder which is talking to a company and saying, “what do you do?”
    • Additionally, thorough research will help you tailor your conversations, as well as, customize your application materials to roles that you are interested in within that company.
    • Plan to talk to employers that you are interested in, even if they do not have the roles that you are looking to apply. The fair is a networking opportunity for you to make professional contacts that can be beneficial when it does come time to apply to the position that you want.
  3. Develop your brand assets. For career fairs, you should bring multiple application materials. Resume and cover letters that are customized to the roles you’ve researched and are interested in, as well as a general resume to hand out to employers that you speak to that are outside of your targeted companies.
  4. Develop and practice your elevator pitch. Employers are looking to hear what you can do for them, the experience and value that you bring.

Virtual Events

  1. Test Your Technology: Ensure that your internet connection is stable and that your device’s audio and video functions are working properly. Test the platform that the event will be hosted on beforehand to familiarize yourself with its features.
  2. Create a Professional Virtual Environment: Choose a quiet, well-lit space for the event. Make sure your background is clean and professional or consider using a virtual background if available.
  3. Dress for Success: Even though the event is virtual, dressing professionally can help you feel more confident and make a positive impression on recruiters.
  4. Update Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile: Just like in-person events, you’ll want to have an updated resume ready to share with employers. Additionally, ensure that your LinkedIn profile is polished and reflects your most current experience and skills.
  5. Prepare Your Elevator Pitch: Be ready to introduce yourself succinctly and highlight your skills and experiences. Practice your elevator pitch so you can confidently share it during networking sessions or one-on-one conversations with recruiters.
  6. Research Participating Companies: Take the time to research the companies attending the event. Familiarize yourself with their mission, values, and any job openings they have available. This will allow you to ask informed questions and demonstrate your interest in their organization.
  7. Be Engaged During Sessions: Actively participate in any panel discussions, employer presentations, or Q&A sessions. Take notes and ask thoughtful questions to demonstrate your interest and engagement.
  8. Utilize Chat and Networking Features: Many virtual event platforms offer chat features or virtual networking rooms. Take advantage of these opportunities to connect with recruiters, ask questions, and network with other attendees.
  9. Stay Flexible and Patient: Virtual events can sometimes have technical glitches or delays. Stay patient and flexible if things don’t go exactly as planned, and remember to adapt and make the most of the experience.

In-Person Events

  1. Shower, shave, brush hair and teeth, wear deodorant. Avoid strong perfume or cologne.
  2. Eat a hearty breakfast. Make sure that you have energy for the fair – as it could be a long day with lots of talking and walking around.
  3. Dress for Success. Consider attending a job fair or other career event, part of the interview process. You want to make sure that you are dressed in business attire to showcase your professionalism. Additionally, fairs can be large that require walking – you want to wear comfortable shoes.
  4. Come Prepared. Make sure you have your customized resume and cover letters for the companies that you have researched and the roles you are targeting. Additionally, you want to bring at least 20 (or more) of your general resume that you will want to pass out to additional employers. Additional recommendations:
    • Invest in a professional interview padfolio. These are useful in holding your resumes, business cards that you may have or collect, and note taking.
    • Since the fair is a networking opportunity, you may want to invest in purchasing personalized business cards that have your: name, phone, email, LinkedIn (if you have one) and your degree.

During the Fair

  1. Plan to arrive early. You will want to be at the doors at least 10-15 minutes early. This will help you gather your registration materials, scan the room, ask questions you may have for the fair hosts/assistants. It also lets you approach your targeted employers upon arrival and start of the fair.
    • It is also important to remember that many employers will have long lines and may not stay through the whole event. Additionally, expect the fair to have lots of noise.
  2. Approach your targeted employers with confidence. Do not be shy, make sure you approach them with a smile, eye contact, and a handshake (if the employers are willing – some people do not do handshakes, so follow their lead).
    • WHAT TO DO:
      • Introduce yourself utilizing your 30 second elevator speech.
      • Give your resume at the start of the conversation. This will help as a guide for them to see your experience as you are talking about yourself.
      • Make sure you ask questions and actively listen to the information the employer is given. Ideally you will have a conversation with them that allows you to gain deeper understanding of the company/roles and showcase the value that you can bring.
    • WHAT TO AVOID:
      • No gum chewing.
      • Saying statements like these: “I’ll take anything.”, “I don’t know.” Or, “What do you do?”
      • Asking about salary.
  3. After each employer/company conversation always say thank you. They are spending time talking with you, make sure that you show your gratitude. You will also want to obtain or exchange business cards. Finally, after you leave the table, take notes of the interaction – highlighting their name, what you talked about – you will use this for follow up after the event.
  4. If you have time, visit it other employers. Again, this is about networking and career research. There may be opportunities that you haven’t thought about or are aware of.

After the Event

  1. Follow up with the employers/recruiters that you spoke with. Send a personalized thank you note to every person you spoke with whether you are interested in the company or not. Again, this is about networking and making professional connections. You can also ask if they would be willing to connect on LinkedIn.
    • Therefore taking notes after every interaction is important – so that you can send a personal thank you note- not only does it show your listening skills, it also helps the recruiter remember who you are.
  2. Take Action. Follow the employer’s instructions about applying to the positions of interest. If there aren’t positions available, you can do outreach to the recruiter to do a follow up with an informational interview. This will allow for a deeper conversation and networking opportunities.

Additional Resources:

  • Dress for Success Helpful guidelines for dressing for the event.
  • Elevator Pitch: Guide on developing a concise and persuasive summary of who you are, what you do, and why it’s important, typically lasting around 30 to 60 seconds.
  • Informational Interviews: Resources on how to connect and build relationships with employers or potential employers to better understand the nature of their roles, work, industries, or company’s.
  • Brand Assets: Resources on developing your application materials.
  • Portfolios: Having a portfolio is important! The portfolio contains artifacts that help showcase your brand, your skills, and competencies.