Author: Brooke Brown, Career Coach
Charlotte career fairs attract hundreds, sometimes thousands, of students and alumni. A recruiter may meet 50 or more candidates in a single event, so standing out is essential. Here’s how you can leave a positive impression at your next career fair.
Share something interesting. Your conversation with the recruiter is an opportunity to give them insight into you. You have a lot in common with the other students they will talk with at the fair (same university, major, classes, etc.), so think about something you’ve experienced that other students may not have (even better, connect that experience to a relevant interest or skill). Here are some examples to give you ideas:
Share how living in a another country gave you a great understanding of the global nature of business
Tell them about a how you used your Adobe Illustrator skills to create marketing for a friend starting a new business
Give an example of a campus leadership role that allowed you to improve your communication and presentation skills
Talk about a time when volunteering as an elementary school reading buddy build inspired you to go into education
Identify one of your own experiences and be prepared to share it in a couple of sentences.
Show enthusiasm. Career fairs can be exhausting for students and recruiters alike. Whether it is the tenth time you’ve shared your elevator pitch or you’ve been waiting in line for a while, give each conversation the energy it deserves. Making eye contact, nodding your head occasionally, using the recruiter’s name, and having a smile can go a long way to signal your interest in the conversation.
Read the room (and the recruiter). If you see the recruiter glance at the line of students a couple of times or use language to indicate they’re wrapping up the conversation (which may sound something like “it was nice meeting you” “I hope you will consider applying for our roles” or “here’s my card/here’s the QR code to find out more”), be prepared to end the conversation.
Before you leave, share your thanks, indicate your interest in the employer, or confirm how you’ll follow up. Try one of these approaches:
"Thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate the opportunity to learn more about your company."
"I'm very interested in the roles you mentioned. I'll be sure to apply through your website."
"I know you’ve probably got a lot of people to speak with today. I’ll let you get back to it, but thank you for your time!"
"I’m really excited about the opportunity to work with [employer]. Thanks for sharing more about the roles."
"I’ll send you a connection request on LinkedIn, so we can stay in touch. Thanks for all the information!"
"It was great meeting you, [recruiter’s name]. I’ll be sure to check Hire-A-Niner for those job postings. Have a great rest of your day!"
Aim to leave a positive impression with how you end the conversation.
Showcase confidence. Confidence isn’t about having the best resume in the room or the ideal qualifications; instead, it’s about knowing that you have a unique combination of strengths, experience, and skills. Recruiters are looking for potential, not perfection.
Remember that employers attend Charlotte’s fairs because they have a strong interest in hiring Niners! Recruiters are excited to meet great candidates at the fair; it makes their job easier if you end up being a great fit for their roles. Approach recruiters with self-assurance, share your accomplishments, and show that you’re ready for your next role.
Charlotte students have shared that these things increase their confidence at fairs:
Preparing an introduction (name, major/program, leadership/experience/skills, career interests). You’ll feel even more confident if you practice saying your introduction outloud a few times
Wearing something that makes you feel your best and works well for the event, which may be a suit, business casual, or smart casual (a mix of business and casual attire)
Having a plan; check out the list of registered employers to identify who you want to talk to and what you want to ask.
Ways to stand out for the wrong reason. While you definitely want to make an impression at a career fair, there are a few ways to guarantee you’ll be remembered, but probably not for the right reasons. For starters, bringing your parents (or the whole family) along to chat with recruiters? Not the best move. Recruiters are there to hear about you, not your mom’s latest casserole recipe. Next up: dressing in costume. Sure, that Halloween pumpkin suit might be fun at a party, but at a career fair? Not so much. And finally, if your main goal is to collect as much free swag as possible without even talking to a recruiter, you might want to rethink your strategy. They’re looking for future employees, not giveaway collectors.
The career fair is your chance to shine, so make sure your impression is one that recruiters will remember for all the right reasons. With a little preparation, enthusiasm, and confidence, you’ll not only stand out for the right reasons—you’ll be well on your way to landing your next great opportunity!
There are two major career fairs happening this spring (2025). The STEM Fair takes place on Thursday, January 30th and the Career & Internship Fair follows two weeks later, on Thursday, February 13th.