Five Career Fair Tips from the Center for Career Discovery and Development

With the Career Fair starting Monday, students have two more days to prepare to participate and talk with prospective employers. 

Michelle Tullier, who recently came to Tech as executive director of the Center for Career Discovery and Development, has worked in both higher education and career coaching. She offers these tips to students about attending the fair. 

1. Attend the Fair. This may seem obvious, but not every student does. “There’s something for every student of every major and year at the Career Fair,” Tullier said. “If you get there and talk to someone who is looking for computer science students and you're a liberal arts major, for example, ask if they have recruiter colleagues you could contact about opportunities in other areas of their business.”
   
   
2. Practice. “Most students know to practice for an interview, but not a fair,” said Tullier. She recommends preparing a 20- to 30-second “elevator pitch” that briefly captures who you are, what you offer, and what you’re looking for. “Every interaction with a recruiter is like a mini interview. Practice delivering a smooth elevator pitch, firm handshake, and good eye contact.”
   
   
3. Take your time. The two-day fair hosts hundreds of companies, some of which end up with waiting lines during the fair. Tullier recommends that students allot plenty of time to explore the fair and come and go between classes if needed. Patience and flexibility are key.
   
   
4. Get — and stay — organized. Look online at career.gatech.edu/careerfair to see which companies you want to talk with and look up background information on the companies. A new Career Fair app (available on Google Play and the iTunes store) lets students mark favorite companies and map out where those companies are stationed, which can help in laying out a plan.
   
   Tullier also advises having a plan for how to keep everything organized as you get materials during the fair. “You can walk out with a lot of business cards and handouts, and it can be overwhelming,” she said. “Take only the information you need, and make notes on the back of business cards or in your phone or tablet to remember key discussion points for when you follow up after the fair.”
   
   
5. Follow up. Recruiters often use LinkedIn as a resource for filling positions, and students should be visible and active there. Tullier recommends that students ask to connect on LinkedIn with anyone they connected with in person at the fair. Even if the request isn’t accepted, students will have gotten their names in front of the recruiter one more time. The request should be paired with a follow-up email as well. “You may make your initial connection face to face at the fair, but you may close the deal because you followed up virtually,” she said.
   
   

Above all, Tullier reminds students that the Career Fair is about more than employment.

“Of course that’s a goal, but it’s also about networking and the professional experience of participating in the fair.”

The fall Career Fair takes place Sept. 8-9 at the Campus Recreation Center. Students should wear professional business attire and bring their BuzzCard and several copies of their resume.