Career fairs are one of the best resources for students to find internship opportunities. With a variety of employers specifically targeting students at college, local, and regional events, career fairs are a great opportunity to network, make contacts, learn more about companies, and hopefully secure an interview.

By following the tips below for before a career fair, you can make a great first impression and stand out from the crowd. Preparation, persistence, and a little personality, can go a long way to landing the internship you want.

Before The Event:

Prepare a Flawless Resume

The resume is fortunately/unfortunately the one-page, on-paper version of you. Keep your resume short and concise, with only your most relevant, important, and recent activities and experiences on it. Don’t forget to update your resume! For more information on resume tips, check out the resume basics article.

Create a Strategy

Imagine the career fair as a competitive sport – you’ve got to go into it with a game plan! Contact the hosting school or company directly or through their website to find a list of employers attending the fair. Prioritize these companies by highlighting the ones in your interested industry or appropriate major.

Do Your Homework

Begin by researching industries that you are interested in and companies that are going to be at the fair. Find out basic information, such as what the company does and where they operate, and learn about any recent news or announcements. This will help you determine if you are interested in the company and can give you things to talk to recruiters about. Even if you do not know specifically which companies will be attending, it is smart to learn the basics about your potential industry and any recent developments in this field.

Discover Your Talking Points

When you are talking with prospective employer, you want to make sure you are talking, not reciting a monologue or giving personal sales pitch. Think about things you have accomplished over the past few years, from past internships to leadership roles on campus. Keep your basic story brief yet personable and friendly – what’s your major, why you’re studying it, what your career goals are. For more information, explore the interview articles to help think of some experiences that can be great talking points.