Resumes

• Even though job fairs allow you to meet representatives of companies face to face, paper resumes are still an essential part of finding a job at a job fair. Recruiters at job fairs are often very busy and may have a minute or less to talk to any particular candidate. After introducing yourself and discussing your qualifications and goals, you should offer a paper resume to the recruiter (who may ask for a resume before you offer one). Be sure to bring plenty of resumes to the fair and consider making several different versions of your resume to target different positions or companies.
  
  

Research Companies

• One of the most important parts of finding success at a job fair is researching the companies that will be represented at the fair and the types of positions that they are offering. You should go into a fair with a list of companies you're interested in and be knowledgeable about each. The more you know, the better equipped you'll be to impress recruiters and tell them exactly how you will fit into the company.
  
  

Practice Your Pitch

• Since recruiters have a limited amount of time to talk to each candidate, it's important to be prepared to tell them about your skills and experience in a concise fashion. You should be able to tell an employer about your background and why they should consider hiring you in a minute or less. Short personal pitches are sometimes called "elevator speeches" because they should be short enough to give to someone else while riding an elevator. Practice your elevator speech ahead of time, and try to highlight one or two things that distinguish you from other candidates.
  
  

Following Up

• It's easy to submit resumes for jobs and simply forget about them in the hope of being called for an interview. Following up on resumes you hand out at job fairs can improve your chances of landing a job. When you attend the fair, ask recruiters for a business card or contact information, and then send a follow-up email or thank-you note after the fair.