Job fairs are a great way of finding jobs that suit your requirements, however given the amount of people who will be in attendance you need to do your utmost to make sure that you leave a positive impression on the companies that you get a chance to meet with on the day.  The tips outlined below will ensure you leave nothing to chance and are in a prime position to network successfully as you go from company to company.

                                                                                                                                                   1. Know what companies will be there.

Job fairs typically have a large number of companies recruiting, rather than spreading yourself too thin by rushing from company to company, find out in advance what companies will be in attendance.  Make sure you firstly go to the companies that interest you, taking your time at each stand, rushing about will leave you with less chance to make a favorable impression.

2. Bring your marketing information with you.

Marketing information for most job-seekers will include resumes and cover letters, however depending on the industry you are in, portfolios may also be suitable, either way bring enough with you to give to each company that interests you.

3. Dress for success.

Dressing well is very important at a job fair as you will be competing against so many other prospective employees each out to make a mark.  You will have a limited time to spend with each company so make the most of your opportunity by dressing appropriately for the occasion.

4. Build a rapport from the start.

A firm handshake and warm smile will be a good start but further impress the company by showcasing your knowledge about it.  It would be unreasonable to expect you to have research done on every company but do focus on the 5 or 6 companies that interest you most (as per step 1 in this list) and have information researched about them.  As you interview with these companies use this information to explain why you would like to work with them.  This will go some way to building a rapport and impressing the recruiter.

5. Thank you letters.

Just like with a job interview make sure to send a thank you letter to each of the recruiters from companies that interested you. You should have a business card for each from the job fair, use the contact information on the cards to contact them.

                                                                                                                                                        You should avail of the opportunity to attend job fairs as where else will you have an opportunity to meet a wide range of employers face to face who are actively hiring? Treat the day like any normal interview day and once you have visited the stands of the companies that interest you most, then visit the other stands to see what opportunities are available from the remaining companies.