Whether it's during your studies or after graduation, everyone is concerned about their career. Job fairs, also called career fairs, offer job seekers the opportunity to connect with human resources representatives and/or companies to learn about career and job opportunities. In this article, we'll talk about job fairs and how to make the most of them.

What Should You Prepare for a Job Fair?

What should you prepare for a career fair? To make the most of a job fair, advance research is important. You should visit the fair's homepage to find out which companies are exhibiting as well as their fields of activity, positions they offer, etc. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Which potential employers interest you?
• What are the current job offers from these companies?
• Are they organizing presentations at the fair?
• How should you present yourself to potential employers?

You can check the floor plan and site map to know when and where to find your preferred companies and create a rough schedule. The rule is: the fewer you visit, the better. You'd be better off preparing intensively for five potential employers rather than blindly targeting 15 companies. For an effective information exchange with the companies, you should plan at least 30 minutes. Think in advance of questions similar to those asked during job interviews, for example:

• What image does the company want to project through advertising and public relations?
• What is the company's culture, philosophy, and attitude towards topics such as charity, environmental protection, and family policy?
• What are the long-term goals the company wants to pursue in the coming years?
• What training opportunities will be offered to you?
• What would your career path within the company look like?

First Contact

Have you found interesting companies? Is your rough schedule ready? Then, you should contact the companies that interest you, either through the job fair's homepage or by mail.

You'd better request morning appointments. Don't start by visiting your dream company - it's better to practice making contacts, working on your personal presentation, and having a conversation with a less important employer for you.

Prepare Application Documents

Prepare an application folder with a cover letter addressed to a specific company, an up-to-date CV, and copies of your certificates to hand directly to the recruiter after your appointment at the job fair. A short cover letter and a one-page CV with a recent photo are recommended.

After the interview, you may be asked to submit a more detailed application folder to the company. It's then recommended to mention the job fair in the cover letter. Although experienced recruiters usually record candidates' contact details during the fair, you can't be sure they won't confuse you with someone else.

Convince the Recruiters

Before going to the job fair, think about how you should present yourself. Because even though the atmosphere at a career fair is more informal than at a job interview, appearances matter. Your outfit should match the company you're targeting, but it's useless if the company representatives see you've obviously "disguised" yourself. For men, a suit with a white or dark shirt is appropriate, but a tie is not necessary. Women should opt for business attire with a blazer or cardigan. Mini skirts or shorts are not suitable. If you're planning a long trip, it's advisable to bring a change of clothes and toiletries to freshen up.

At the career fair, it's important to show calmness and friendliness, so pay attention to your body language and posture. Before handing your application folder to the recruiters, give them the opportunity to get to know you and distinguish yourself from the many visitors. Maintain a good distance from the person you're talking to and behave politely and properly at all times, whether you're talking to the booth manager or a receptionist. Your overall appearance gives recruiters clues about your social skills.

After the fair, keep in touch with the recruiters. You can send them an email within two days of the interview to thank them and reiterate your interest in working for the company.

List of Career Fairs

There are many job fairs that differ from each other, not only in terms of the groups they target or the choice of exhibiting companies, but also in terms of the program design. Some fairs focus on specific sectors, such as engineering or IT, and thus limit the number of exhibitors and visitors. We've prepared a brief list of the most important career fairs: bonding Studenteninitiative, MessenInfo, Firmenkontaktmesse Magdeburg, CAREER Venture Recruiting-Events, KISS ME Die Karrieremesse, Nacht der Unternehmen, Jobmesse Berlin, SinoJobs Career Days, automotive TopCareer, Karriere-Tag "ZEIT für Neue Ärzte", Online-Karrieretag, Lange Nacht der Industrie, jobvector career day, Stuzubi, Absolventenkongress in Köln, EXPOLINGUA, HORIZON, campus meets companies, Karrieretag Familienunternehmen, Jobtournee, Operation Karriere, X-Day, Vocatium, Die LGBT+ Job- & Karrieremesse STICKS & STONES, DEINE JOBMESSE, Berufsstart, etc.

So, did you find the one that suits you? Let's review the most important points:

• Research the companies present at the fair, their job offers, and their support programs.
• Create a schedule.
• Make appointments.
• Prepare well for certain employers.
• Prepare questions and answers for the interviews.
• Prepare the application folder.
• Dress appropriately.
• Make an impression during the appointments.
• Prepare a more detailed application folder after the fair.
• Follow up with the recruiters by email.

Additionally, you can check with your university's career center, which offers a variety of services to help students, such as training courses (time management, intercultural skills, sales skills, self-assessment, etc.), internships and job opportunities, as well as organizing a career fair at the university.

Good luck!