How to Prepare for a Career Fair
Dec 10, 2025
Written By Evelyn "Evie" Quehl:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/evelyn-quehl-b27311232/
Career fairs are useful in finding jobs in the environmental field that you may not know about. They can also prepare you for interviews and provide direct contact to a company that interests you. They can be daunting to attend if you do not have experience advertising yourself to hiring managers and discussing jobs. Here are a few things that you can do when preparing for and attending a career fair.
Finding Career Fairs
If you are in college, there are sometimes job fairs on campus. Follow your college on social media and LinkedIn to see posts about job fairs that are coming to your school. The employers at these events will expect college students seeking internship experiences.
To find career fairs outside of universities, there are many websites that accumulate information about what job fairs are happening and when. Here are a few links to helpful websites:
Before the Career Fair
Research the companies that will be at the job fair, and look into the job opportunities that they offer. This helps you know certain companies that you want to talk to so you do not get overwhelmed by the number of companies there.
It is important to have an up-to-date resume to give to companies. Look over your resume to make sure you do not have any typos and that you have included any relevant experience listed. Prepare a 30-second elevator pitch to tell companies who you are and what you are seeking. Good elevator pitches describe your schooling experience, highlight relevant positions, and state the type of employment you want. You can think about it like a brief summary of your resume. Make sure you do not talk for too long about your experience; you are trying to have a conversation, not talk at your potential employer.
At the Career Fair
Dress professionally and walk with confidence. Make sure you have enough hard copies of your resume to give to the companies you are most interested in, plus extra for companies that catch your eye. Speaking of which, keep an open mind! Companies are always growing and expanding, so there may be a place for you at some point in the near future. It is helpful for the hiring manager to have your resume on file and have a good impression of you from the career fair. Plus, making a connection with someone is never a bad thing. Be sure to ask for contact information from companies that you want to follow up with.
After the Career Fair
If you received the contact information of anyone at the career fair, reach out to them to establish a connection and reiterate your interest in the company. This will help you stand out in a sea of people talking to that company.
It is easy to get bogged down by the stress of a job fair, but if you take it one step at a time, it is manageable. Take time to find a career fair that has companies you are interested in. Prepare a resume and elevator pitch for when you talk to companies. Dress professionally and keep an open mind when you arrive. After the fair, contact those you spoke to to reinforce your interest. After all that, you’re done! Take a breather and decompress from talking to new people all day. A lot can come from a career fair, and you have taken a giant leap towards a new opportunity!
