5 Career Fair Tips from Recruiters: How to Stand Out

Whether you’re out of work or are looking for your first job, career fairs can be a great resource to get you hired. However, there can also be fierce competition and many candidates, making it hard to stand out from the crowd. These five career fair tips from recruiters can help you shine and give you a better chance of finding employment at your next career fair.

CREATE AN ELEVATOR PITCH
While it may sound cliche, you need an elevator pitch. This is one of the most important career fair tips from employers and recruiters. If you were in an elevator alongside your dream employer and only had 30 seconds to impress them, what would you say? Recruiters say that if you can pitch your skills, experience, and unique abilities in just 30 seconds, you’ll grab their attention.

Write your pitch and then practice it until it flows naturally so that you have it ready to make an impression when you come to a booth that interests you.

DRESS APPROPRIATELY
One of the most common career fair tips from recruiters is to dress for success. At a career fair, your resume isn’t the first impression that a company has of you; it’s how you present yourself. Part of that presentation includes what you’re wearing. It’s a very effective, yet subtle way of showing that you respect the company’s culture and corporate environment. It also helps recruiters envision you working at their organization.

RESEARCH COMPANIES BEFOREHAND
Research is one of recruiters' top tips for career fairs. Before you get to the fair, you should already have a good idea of which companies are going to be there and which ones you’d like to speak with. Take the time beforehand to research the company values and culture and the roles that are available. That way, you can align your resume and pitch with the types of employees they are looking for.

BRING SEVERAL COPIES OF YOUR RESUME
When asking for career fair tips from recruiters, a high percentage will tell you to bring multiple copies of your resume to the event. You should ensure that it is tailored to the positions you are hoping to land, and it should be thoroughly proofread, easy to read, and highlight your best skills.

Place them in a professional-looking folder to keep them neat and show that you are organized. Have a copy ready to hand to recruiters so that they can quickly reference your qualifications and see what you can do for their company.

INCLUDE YOUR SOFT SKILLS
When you’re building your resume and writing your pitch, don’t focus only on your technical skills. This is one of the more common college career fair tips from employers. Be sure to share examples of your soft skills, such as problem-solving, teamwork, and communication, to let recruiters know that you are a valuable team member who is well-rounded.

MORE CAREER FAIR TIPS FROM RECRUITERS
By following these career fair tips from recruiters, you’ll be more likely to land the job of your dreams and navigate the job market. If you feel like you need extra help, TSP helps job seekers and growing companies find each other. For more information on how we can help you, reach out to us on our website.