Job Fair (page 1 of 2)	
Job Fair — Virtual or In Person	
Job fairs offer an opportunity for face-to-face or 
virtual (using the internet) meetings between job 
seekers and employers.  
Attending job fairs gives you an easy way to find 
good job openings.  Employers who attend want 
to hire workers.  At a job fair, you can:  
1) Talk to employers; 2) Read information about 
company and its jobs; 3) Give employers your 
resumes.  When you make a good impression at a 
job fair, your resume will receive extra attention.  
Read these tips to help you succeed at a job fair. 
Find the Job Fair  — Job fairs are organized by 
career centers, colleges, businesses, your city's chamber of commerce, churches, government offices (such 
as your state's Employment Development Office), and professional groups such as the Rotary Club.  Find 
job fairs in your area:  a)  Google or do internet search for — "job
 fair, your county's name" or "virtual job 
fair, your county's name"."  b) Ask school counselors.  c) Ask the career center staff at your school. 
 d) Read posters at your school or in the library.  e) Check the local newspaper employment section. 
Ready your Resume! — Prepare your picture perfect resume.   If you attend a job fair in person, prepare 
several copies of your resume for the job fair.  Leave a copy of your resume with every company that you 
think is interesting.  A resume lists your name, contact information, education, and paid and un
paid work 
experience, and skills.  Do not put your personal information on the res
ume (such as address, social 
security number, driver's license number).   If you attend a virual job fair, prepare the same resume as 
an email resume — to email to employers with interesting jobs.   Important:  Send your email resume to 
yourself and a friend to check that your resume looks perfect as an emai
l.  (See lesson on email resumes).  
Also, type your questions to each employer in a Word document so that you can "copy and paste" when an 
employer at a virtual job fair asks you to submit your questions by emai
l.
Dress for Mini-Interviews —  In person job fairs are like mini-interviews because job seekers 
go from 
booth to booth to speak with many employers — employers ask questions
; job seekers answer questions, 
and employers decide "yes" or "no" to call you for a regular interview.  To attend a job fair, you do not 
need to wear a suit.  Wear clothes that are dressy casual.   Do NOT wear clothes that are too short, too 
tight, too worn, or too playful because you may not make a good impressi
on.  Also, be aware of your body 
language — Stand up straight — Look the employer in the eye when t
alking — Smile.  With good body 
language, you will display confidence and create a positive rapport (relationship) 
Go alone — You will get the most information out of an in-person job fair and make a
 better impression  if 
you attend solo (alone).  If you plan to go with a friend, separate fr
om your friend as you go to each booth 
to talk to the employer.  Speak to the employer alone, to show an "I can do the job" good worke
r image.

College & Career Publishing.  Permission to use with usworkworld.com subscription.  	Job Fair (page 2 of 2)	
1. List 3 things you can do at a job fair.
2.  List 7 types of groups that organize job fairs.
3.  What do you Google to find a virtual job fair? 
4.  What do you prepare:  a) If you attend Job Fair 
in person?  b) If you attend a virtual job fair?
  c) What is important?  
5.  Why are job fairs like mini-interviews?  b) Who 
asks questions?  c) Who answers questions?  
  d) What do employers decide?
6.  a) What clothes do you wear?  b) List 3 things to 
do for good body language.
7.  Why do you speak to an employer alone?
8.  a) What do you mark before the job fair?
  b) Why do you take a quick walk through the 
rooms?  c) What do you do before speaking to 
Plot a Strategy (Plan) for Job Fairs that are in person —
A few days before the job fair, ask for a list of companies attending the 
job fair.  Then, mark the companies that you most want to visit so you 
can make the best use of your time.  When you arrive, take a quick walk 
through the rooms to find booths of employers you most want to meet.     
Before speaking to the employers that you like the most, "warm up" by 
speaking to a few other employers at their booths.  This will give you 
practice in walking up to booths and speaking.
Complete Job Applications Flawlessly (Perfectly) —  If an employer 
is giving out application forms, take two, and use one as a rough draft.  It is excellent if you wrote down the 
employer's name at the job fair (or picked up a business card) so that
 you may use his or her name.  Return 
the application in a day or two either by mail or in person with a cover
 letter or note.  Your cover letter may 
say:  "Mr. Johnson.  I met you at the Careerville Job Fair.  I am returning the application with my resume.  
Please consider me for the job opening of sales associate that we discus
sed.  Sincerely, Jane Smith" 
Master a Mini-Interview — Every time you speak to an employer, no matter how brief, consider it an 
interview.  Employers expect you to: a) Introduce yourself.  b) Answer questions about your education, 
skills, paid and unpaid work experience.  c) Know the type of job you w
ant.  You may ask: a) What jobs are 
available for job seekers with my education and skills?  b) How do I apply for a job?  Before you leave the 
booth, ask for the employer's business card.  Then say, "Thank you for talking to me" (with a smile). 
Organize & Take Notes — After visiting booths, it’s easy for the conversations to run together 
in your brain. After visiting a booth, write down notes about the employer to read at h
ome.  
How To Apply  If Absent  — Contact the group that put on the job fair for names and addresses 
of employers attending.  Mail your resume to employers before or after t
he job fair with a cover 
letter to say that you unfortunately could not attend the job fair, and you want to apply for a job.
QUICK CHECK:	employers you like the most?
9.  a) How many applications do you take? b)Why?
10.  a) When do you return the application?
  b) Return the application with what?
11.  Write a note to attach to your job application 
that you picked up at the Home Depot booth.  
Employer at the booth was Mrs. Smith, and job 
opening is for cashier at the Home Depot.
12.  a) What do you master?  b) List 3 things 
  employers will expect you to do.  c) List 2 
  questions to ask.  d) For what do you ask before 
you leave?  e) What do you say with a smile?
13.  a) What do do after each visit to a booth? 
14.  What may you do if cannot attend the job fair?  
15.  a) Do you think you would enjoy attending a 
job fair?  b) Why or why not?