If there was a secret recipe for having a successful career fair experience, it would be this鈥攑repare. Taking a few hours听leading up to a career fair to fine-tune your r茅sum茅, practice your elevator pitch and research employers can help you make a big impression and potentially land a job or internship.
One simple tool that can help you feel prepared is Handshake, CU Boulder鈥檚 modern career network. Here are four easy ways to use this platform to your advantage for career fair prep.
Set up your profile
Customizing your profile on Handshake is simple. You can upload your r茅sum茅, work samples, transcripts and other coursework documents you want employers to see.
The more information you add to your account, the more employers you will attract. Add your social media accounts, fill out the 鈥済et to know me鈥� section and highlight your skills. Be sure to make your profile public so employers can find you.
Find out who鈥檚 attending
Before you go to the career fair, view the employer attendees list in the event posting on Handshake and prioritize the ones you want to speak to. You should know a little bit about them before showing up;听you鈥檒l not only be able to ask deeper questions and get more information about their company, you鈥檒l also impress the recruiter with how much you know about them.
Look at employer profiles
There are more than 100 companies that come to our career fairs, so you might not be familiar with some that will be attending. You can view their profile on Handshake to learn more about their company, view open positions and read reviews from other students who have worked there.
Visit the company website, as well,听to familiarize yourself with their products, services and recent news.
Discover jobs and internships
Once you鈥檝e set up your profile, your page will be loaded with job and internship opportunities related to the industries you are interested in. By viewing the employer attendee list, you鈥檒l be able to see all the positions they are recruiting for.
Most employers will conduct on-campus interviews in the Career Services office with students they meet at the career fair. So, put your best foot forward when connecting with employers.
