What to bring to a career fair: complete checklist

Heading to a career fair is a savvy move when looking for a new job. This is your opportunity to rub shoulders with the right people and get your name out there. However, you should never turn up to this type of event empty-handed. In the following guide, we will cover what to bring to a career fair, plus some bonus tips on how to succeed. 

What is a career fair?

First, let’s talk about a career fair. Also known as a job fair, this is an event where a selection of employers and businesses host stalls and meet job seekers. Often, career fairs take place in large event spaces, such as a university campus or an exhibition venue. 

Job fairs come in all shapes and sizes. Some colleges will host annual events to give students a chance to meet prospective employers. However, there are also career fairs targeted toward a certain field—for instance, a healthcare career fair or a marketing and media job fair. 

Don’t sleep on these events. If you are looking for a new job, attending a career fair is a savvy way to get your foot in the door. Job fairs provide the opportunity to network with decision-makers, learn about companies, and get some less formal interview practice. 

Checklist of what to bring to a career fair 

Turning up to a career fair empty-handed is a faux pas. This is your chance to make the right first impression on prospective employers. Don’t miss out. Before you attend the job fair, make sure that you have the right things with you. Here’s a quick checklist to help you out:  

1. Business cards

First things first, you should have a business card at the ready. This is a simple card that contains your basic contact details. When you get talking to a stallholder and feel as though you hit it off, you might want to leave them with a business card so they can reach you. 

Here are the things that you need to include on this card: 

• Your name. Start off by including your first and last name.
• Job title. What role are you aiming for? Include it on the card now.
• Location. Employers need to know where you are based. If you are willing to relocate for the right job, you might want to add this detail to your business card.
• Phone number. List a number where you can be reached. Make sure that your answer phone message is suitable for work, too.
• Email address. Include a work-worthy email address. If in doubt, you can use one that features your first and last name or your initials.
• Socials. In some cases, you might want to include your social media handles. Should you choose to include these, you need to make sure that they are professional.

Don’t scrimp when it comes to printing. Your business card represents you on a professional level. You want to get every part of this process right from the start. Remember it’s better to get a small run of high-end cards than it is to get hundreds of low-quality ones. 

2. Resume copies

When considering what to bring to a career fair, you cannot forget your resume. You can kick things off with a general—i.e. not tailored—resume here. This should give a brief overview of your experience, education, and skills.

Most of the time, we recommend using a tailored resume when applying for jobs. However, since you don't know what employers you could meet, this is a rare occasion when you can use a one-size-fits-all document. Ensure that you have lots of copies of your resume. 

Looking for some inspiration? We’ve got you covered. We have expert-backed resume examples and writing guides for over 500 different professions. When you are ready to get started, you can also use our simple resume builder to create your document in just a few clicks. 

3. Tailored resumes 

Is there a specific company that you are interested in working for? If the answer is yes, it will pay off big time to bring a tailored resume to your next job fair. Why not take things to the next level and research the businesses that are at the event ahead of attending?

Often enough, you can find a list of vendors and stallholders on the career fair site. Check out the employers that will be there and then start researching the ones that pique your interest. 

You can customize your resume by looking at the company’s website, social media channels, and any news about them. Pay close attention to the business’ values and vision. You can tweak your general resume to meet their needs and align well with their company culture. 

4. Smartphone 

Your smartphone could be your best friend at a career fair. First up, some admin. You need to make sure that you put your device on silent throughout the event. The last thing you want is to be interrupted when you are talking to a prospective employer. 

However, there are many ways that you can use your smartphone when you are at a career fair. Let’s take a look at some of the tricks that you may want to use along the way: 

• Google brands and companies. If you come across a business you haven’t seen before, you might want to sneak off to Google it. Knowing your stuff could help you make the right first impression on the person who is running the stall.
• Save important numbers and details. Spoiler: you will be collecting a whole load of business cards when you are at the event. However, having your smartphone is useful if someone tells you their phone number or email address.
• Follow businesses on social media. You might find that stallholders ask you to give the company a quick follow on social media. One tap, and you’re in.

Of course, you don’t want to be glued to your phone the entire time. The whole point of a job fair is to make the right first impression on other professionals. So, when you’re not using your smartphone, make sure that you keep it in your bag or pocket. 

5. Portfolio

If you’re a creative professional, you might want to bring your portfolio with you to a career fair. For example, photographers, graphic designers, and even writers can benefit from this move. Make sure that you pick out your top work and display it well. The aim of the game is to make it as easy as possible for people to flick through your work and see your value quickly. 

6. Elevator pitch 

When you introduce yourself to prospective employers, what are you going to say? Now is not the time to find yourself lost for words. You need to make sure that you have a clear and concise message that you want to share with them. Make it memorable from the offset. 

That is where your elevator pitch comes into play. Now, this should last no longer than 30 seconds and needs to cover who you are, your Unique Selling Proposition (USP), and then end with a call to action or a question. Before you head to the career fair, master your pitch.  

7. Application materials 

Are there certain roles you would jump at the chance to apply for? If so, make sure that you take your application materials with you. These are all the things you need when it comes to applying for a job. For example, you should have your referees’ contact information and details of past employers. Have all of the above to hand. 

While it is rare, you may be asked to share this information with employers at the career fair. You never want to be caught off guard. That is why it’s important to have everything ready. Above all else, this simple move will show you have a high level of organization. 

8. Notebook and pen

Prepare to talk, talk, and then talk some more. Like any networking session, career fairs are about communicating with people and making new connections. However, you don’t want to forget what you said to who and when. That’s why you need to have a notebook on you, too. 

After you have made a new connection, step aside and make a few notes about it. You should include details of what the next steps are (e.g. if they told you to add them on LinkedIn) and when you plan to follow up with them. When we talk about what to bring to a career fair, this is one of the main things that most candidates forget. Don't make that mistake. 

9. Change of clothes 

Accidents happen. Maybe you spill coffee on your fresh, white shirt. Perhaps there’s an unexpected downpour of rain, and you end up soaked. Whatever the case, you want to walk into the career fair feeling confident. Pack a spare change of clothes in your bag to ensure that is the case. That way, if the worst should happen, you can deal with it quickly and easily. 

Bonus: Tips for attending a career fair 

Now you know what to bring to a career fair, you can start getting ready for your next event/ Before you attend a job fair, there are some final things you need to know. Check out our simple tips below to help you make real connections with the right people: 

• Give yourself a confidence boost. You may be feeling nervous ahead of the event. However, you want to come across as cool, calm, and collected. Take the time to steady your nerves before you go to the event. You can try meditation or deep breathing.
• Do your research first. As mentioned here, you can learn a lot about the job fair online. Do some research and find out which companies will be at the event.
• Be curious. One of the best ways to make a good impression on prospective employers is to appear curious. Be genuinely interested in what they say and ask plenty of questions. It might make all of the difference!

Key takeaways 

Understanding what to bring to a career fair is your first step toward success. Make sure that you go through this checklist when you are preparing for the event. Planning will help you to make the right impression on prospective employers. While these events can be intimidating, put your best foot forward, show you are prepared, and make connections.