Career Center – Career Fairs
Information on career fairs as a recruitment process for companies.
Career fairs
Preparing for a visit to the trade fair
For some time now, career fairs (also known as recruitment or networking fairs) have served, amongst other things, as a stage in a company’s selection procedure. This is where initial contact is made with applicants and where candidates are already being screened. Professional recruitment fairs provide companies with spaces for one-to-one interviews, which may be arranged in advance or conducted on the spot. These interviews, as well as informal conversations at the exhibition stands, can and should be used by applicants specifically as a first step towards joining a company and building a professional network. You can gain an insight into the companies you’re interested in, whilst employers can do the same with you. Therefore, you should never attend a fair unprepared!
- Research the exhibiting companies, shortlist them and find out more about them in detail.
- Prepare for the interviews:
-
- Practising a short self-introduction
- Your objectives for the meeting
- Prepare questions, e.g. What job opportunities are currently available? What qualifications are required? Timeframe? What is the entry route for university graduates? Opportunities to work abroad? Application process? Who should I contact?
- Draw up a schedule for your visit to the trade fair: meetings with companies, attending talks and workshops, and allowing for contingencies
- Bring along several CVs (with a photo) which you can give to the company if required. Prepare a complete application pack to show during the interviews.
- Please bring writing materials and a suitable bag or a small wheeled suitcase.
The visit to the trade fair
Dos and Don'ts
| Do's | Things not to do |
|---|---|
| Take the initiative to make contact, introduce yourself and ask specific questions | Just ‘hanging around’ the stand and collecting freebies |
| Show that you have researched the company | Turn up in casual clothes |
| Address the company representative by name (name badge) | Not making active use of the trade fair |
| Take a business card from the person you are speaking to or another key contact | |
| Please submit your CV if possible | |
| Ask about the next steps in the application process and set these out in writing | |
| Business attire |
Follow-up to the trade fair visit
It is very important to follow through on the next steps agreed with the company and to present yourself as a reliable prospective employee. In most cases, the next step is to submit your full application documents in accordance with the agreed procedure, to the agreed contact person, and within the agreed timeframe. If you are asked to send your application to a department you have not spoken to, you should still refer to the conversation you had at the trade fair, mentioning the name of the person you spoke to.
Whatever happens, do try to maintain and make the most of the contacts you’ve made!
For further information, see, for example, staufenbiel.de