Preparing for a Career Fair
3
Before a career fair
1. Create a strong résumé.
•VisitTheCareerCentertohaveyourrésumé
reviewed, and be sure to have multiple
copies(minimumof20)printedon
professional résumé paper before the career
fair.
•Decideifyouneedmorethanone
version of your résumé, depending on your
jobtarget(s).
2. Develop and practice an elevator speech.
•Developinganelevatorspeechis
likely one of the most important components
in preparing for a career fair.
•Prepareanelevatorspeechbeforetheday’s
event, but also practice it with a career
advisor at FSU’s Career Center.
•Identifyresourcesonpage5.
3. Research employers and objectives for what you
plan to accomplish during the career fair.
•Identifywhichemployersyouwanttotalk
to BEFORE the event by researching the
organizationsaending.
•Researchandfollowupwithaendees.
The FSU Career Center keeps an updated list
ofaendeesonitswebsite
(career.fsu.edu/fairs).
•TIP:Ifyouhaveproperlypreparedfor
the event, you will have more time to focus
on representatives from organizations of
interest.
3. Prepare to dress for success at the event.
•Viewthe“DressingtoImpress”guide
located at career.fsu.edu/advising/guides.cfm.
•Keepinmindthat55%ofanyinteraction
is visual, meaning it is not always what you
say but how you look when you say it.
•Wearatwo-piecesuit,ifpossible.Usuallya
dark color is preferred.
•Usesimpleaccessoriesandclosed-toed
shoes for females.
•Chooseaconservativetie.
•Avoidexcesscologneand/orperfume.
5.Aendacareerfairpreparationworkshop.
•ChecktheFSUCareerCenterwebsitefor
upcoming workshop events at
hp://www.career.fsu.edu/calendar.
6. Consider creating a professional business card
(seepage6forexamples).
•TIP:Thisisoptionalandnotrequired.
7. Consider purchasing a professional business
portfolio to help keep your items organized
(seepage7foranexample).
•Purchaseabusinessportfolioforunder
$20.00atanyocesupplystore.
•Includecopiesofyourrésumé,business
cards, and employer literature that you
willgatherwhileaendingtheevent.
•Usethespaceinsideyourbusinessportfolio
to take notes.
8. Sign up for SeminoleLink Plus! services.
•Refertocareer.fsu.edu/seminolelink/ for
instructions on how to obtain SeminoleLink
Plus! services.
•Updateyourproleandprofessional
documentspriortoaendingthecareerfair,
even if you already have Plus! services.
•TIP:ItisalwaysbesttohaveaccesstoPlus!
servicespriortoaendingacareerfairevent.
This way, if employers request that you
follow up for on-campus interviews, then
you have already begun the process!
9. Consider your online presence.
•UpdateorcreateaLinkedInprole.
•CleanupyourFacebookproleandput
yourseingsonprivate.
•Addressall“digitaldirt.”
HowtoWorkaCareerFair