University Career Services
Northwestern University
Preparing for a Career Fair What to Expect A crowded, noisy room. With so many organizations in attendance, it will be hectic. Stay focused on your objectives. Conversations. This should be a two-sided conversation. While the employer is there to obtain information about you, it is expected that you will ask about their role, experiences, and opportunities. Company display/information overload. Use the company materials for your benefit! Based on what you see, ask questions to demonstrate your interest. Lines. While waiting in line, review company handouts. You’ll be more prepared, and your interest will impress the recruiter. Professionalism. Exhibit professionalism through your dress and actions. When you run into friends, the interaction should be polite and professional. Rush hours and lulls. Give yourself enough time at the fair to approach all employers of interest. While the start and end of a fair are usually good times for longer, more meaningful conversations, a few companies may leave early.
Tips for Success
View the employer summaries and map before entering the room.
Visit at least one company before heading to your most desired employer.
Greet the recruiter with a firm handshake and a smile.
Keep your conversations brief, upbeat and positive.
Avoid basic questions which can be answered from reviewing the job description or company website.
Present your skills and experience in a positive and concise manner.
Obtain contacts within the organization, if appropriate.
Ask the representative for business cards and follow-up after the event with a thank you note.
Take notes after each conversation so you’re able to craft personable thank you notes.
Above all, relax and be yourself. University Career Services Main Location: 620 Lincoln Street Career Lab: Main Library, Core Reserves, 2nd Flr Phone: 847-491-3700 www.northwestern.edu/careers
How to Prepare Identify career goals & objectives for the fair. Decide what you want to get out of the fair and then plan your time accordingly. As you meet with a particular company representative present yourself as someone who is genuinely interested in that specific company and industry.
Identify and research target organizations. Research companies and positions in advance. Knowing about an organization and their respective opportunities will enhance the conversation you are able to have with the representatives.
Update your resume. An effective resume is concise, communicates your competencies, stresses contributions, indicates career direction, and focuses on employer needs. Proofread your document and prepare multiple copies on resume paper.
Develop and practice an introduction. While your introduction should include your name, year in school and your major, also succinctly convey your skills, education, experience and interest to employers. Rehearse your introduction until it is polished and feels natural.
Practice responses to interview questions. Consider your interactions with employers at the career fair as a “round one” interview. Anticipate the questions you may be asked. Your responses should convey to the employer why you would be an excellent candidate for the position and why you are interested in the organization. Practice out loud so you become comfortable.
Plan what you will wear. Present yourself in a manner that reflects a highly polished and professional image. At Northwestern, you can expect that most students will wear business professional attire; this means suits for both men and women.
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Sample Introduction
Questions to Ask Employers
How you introduce yourself to an employer at a career fair is often referred to as an “elevator speech.” This name stems from the fact that you should be able to convey the important information regarding your candidacy to an employer in the time that it takes to ride an elevator. Your statement should be concise and memorable while conveying important and interesting information about you. For example:
Your questions should cover topics such as the work environment, typical career paths, responsibilities, training, as well as the organization’s goals and your motivation to help achieve them. Above all, ask questions that you are genuinely interested in learning the responses to and that provide you with information that will allow you to be a more a competitive candidate.
“Hello, my name is Adam Jenkins and I’m a senior in Psychology at Northwestern University. I saw a job listing on your website for an entry level Career Advisor position. Last summer, I interned with University Career Services. Because of my ability to communicate with students and understand their needs, they asked me to stay another quarter to work with them this fall. My experience at UCS reaffirmed my interest in obtaining a position as Career Advisor for a university. I hope to continue assisting students, as they make important academic and career decisions, and expand my experience with developing student programming. I am familiar with the services that your office provides and the students you serve. I was hoping you would tell me more about the new programming initiatives I saw listed on
After the Career Fair Reflect on what you learned. How does it affect your job or internship search? Did you discover a new field to explore? What specifics about your background seemed most impressive to recruiters? You may want to highlight that information in the future.
According to the job description for XYZ position you are looking for candidates with strong analytical abilities, can you tell me more about how your employees are able to employ these skills in specific projects or everyday work?
From researching your company web site I was able to surmise that you are looking for candidates who are looking to make long-term contributions, could you give me an idea of some short and long term growth opportunities at your company?
What is the work environment like at XYZ?
What are particular needs of your company at this point and time?
What are typical assignments of your new employees?
What are the company’s plans for future growth?
How has (mention a business trend or current event) affected your work?
Can you explain a typical career path in your organization?
What kind of training can I expect?
What personal qualities do you consider critical to being successful in this job?
I understand the core values of your company to be … how do you assess a candidate’s fit with these core values?
What is the short & long-term strategic direction of the organization?
What do you like the most about working at XYZ?
What are three things you find hardest about your job (if the person you are speaking with works in the role you are inquiring about)?
What can I do further to demonstrate my interest in this position?
Thank the professionals you met. Send a thank you note within 48 hours of the event. The thank you note needs to be personalized to that specific employer. Refresh the employer’s memory about who you are, highlight what you had talked about with them, and reiterates your interest in the position and organization.
Strategically use the information you gathered. Take advantage of the insight you gained by speaking with employers and incorporate it into your employer correspondence, your application materials, and even at your interview.
Conduct outreach to employers you were unable to connect with at the event. If you were unable to introduce yourself to an employer of interest, post career fair provides an opportunity to reach out and express your disappointment that you were unable to connect, share information regarding your candidacy, and reinforce your interest in their organization.