Career Fairs

Explore companies attending career fairs or recruitment events
Who are they and what do they do? Take note of the companies that appeal to you most. What is it about them that stands out? Follow them on Handshake so you can pursue opportunities there now or in the future.

Practice navigating the layout
There are often 60+ companies at a career fair in one day. It can be overwhelming if it is a new experience for you. Practice now so you will know what to expect and feel more comfortable when the stakes are higher to seek and secure an internship or co-op.

Network
It is never too early to practice talking with employers and gathering information. Consider grabbing a friend and approaching employer tables together.

Seek and secure opportunities
While some companies prefer students further along in their academic curriculum, others welcome the chance to hire freshmen with the hope of retaining them for future opportunities. Don't shy away from pursuing summer internships!

Prepare
Review the career fair preparation steps outlined below: before, during, and after. Make sure to review the companies attending in advance, familiarize yourself with what they do, and prepare questions you would like to ask.

Network
Talk with employers and gather information! Many recruiters are also Auburn alumni excited to connect with current students. Prepare and practice your personal introduction beforehand. Make sure to request a business card and follow up if you speak with a company where you want to pursue opportunities.

Don't forget about other employer visits
Recruiters visit campus at a variety of times during the semester. Look for opportunities to speak with a company at a Table Talk, Lunch and Learn, Employer-in-Residence, Industry Day or student organization meeting. These are great ways to have quality face time with recruiters in a non-career fair setting.

1. Visit Career Fair+

• Review the Career Fair+ profile and resume drop FAQs 
• Explore companies attending each fair day and filter based on your job search needs or criteria.
• Drop a copy of your uploaded resume prior to the event date.

2. Visit Handshake

• Log in to Handshake and make sure your profile is up to date.
• Complete all required fields and upload a PDF of your most up-to-date resume.

3. Identify and research employers attending

• Use tools including Career Fair+, Handshake, LinkedIn, the company's website or social media to research employers. 
• Create a list of your top 5 - 10 employers. You can 'favorite' employers on Career Fair+ to remember which companies you want to speak with.

4. Prepare for employer interactions

• Research the company's products and services, recent news such as acquisitions, name changes or any interesting projects. 
• Prepare 3 - 5 questions for each company.
• Create / revise your resume and print enough copies to give to recruiters. 
  
  PRO TIPS 
  • Access CDCR guidelines + support for resume development + reviews
  • Submit your resume for CDCR resume printing
    
    
• Prepare and practice your personal introduction or elevator pitch. 
• Plan your arrival to the fair. Give yourself enough time to arrive with time to space and collect your thoughts upon arrival. 
• Plan out your arrival to the career fair including travel time. Give yourself enough time to arrive with time to spare and collect your thoughts upon arrival.

5. Plan your attire. Dress for success!

• Career fair attendees are most commonly expected to dress in business casual. On-campus interview attire is business professional. What's the difference?
• Expanding your professional wardrobe? Schedule an Campus Career Closet appointment in the Office of Career Discovery and Success via Handshake. It is helpful to schedule early in the semester to ensure you have access to the most inventory!
•  Pack your padfolio, pen, resume copies, and confidence. Bring a professional bag or purse to carry items. Drop backpacks at the career fair student bag drop.
  
  PRO TIPS
  • Wear comfortable shoes
  • Limit use of cologne or perfume
  • Wear neutral colors with minimal patterns

As you approach the beginning of the career fair, remember to take a deep breath. Review your resume, notes you prepared about companies you hope to interact with. Most importantly, be yourself!

1. Check-in and familiarize yourself with the event map.

2. Develop your career fair game plan using CareerFair+. Create your list of employers in the order which you plan to approach them.

3. Visit the Engineering Student Green Room or Career Coaches table to practice talking with employers and get your nerves out of the way! 

4. As you greet the company representative:

• Approach with a strong handshake
• Maintain appropriate eye contact
• Be mindful of body language and movements such as posture, fidgeting hands, proximity to others. This helps to show you are engaged in the conversation!

5. Begin with personal introduction. Project your voice, as the space may be loud

• Ask prepared questions
• Discuss any next steps for applying to opportunities
• Request a business card or the recruiter's contact information
• Take notes after each interaction before moving on to the next employer

Take Action

• Follow the recruiter’s instruction about applying for positions within a few days
• Consider asking recruiter for follow-up call, virtual chat, or informational interview connection
• Attend any follow-up recruitment events with companies you are most attracted to. You can find them on the events page, the company website or LinkedIn page

Follow Up

• Send an email thank-you note within 24-48 hours
• Personalize the note to each company or recruiter

• Appreciation for taking the time to speak with you
• Something you enjoyed or learned from the conversation
• The action you plan to take or completed based on your conversations

Keep your message short -- under 100 words. Attach your resume for reference.

Hint: Keep contact information you collected from the company representative in an organized place so you can refer back to it in the future. Do you have a recruiter name but aren't sure how to locate their contact information? Find company contact information

Sign up for Career Fair+ at CareerFairPlus.com or by downloading the app in the App Store or Google Play Store. You can launch your account and search employer information in a browser on your laptop/desktop or on the mobile app. We encourage you to utilize the CF+ app on your smart device during the fair experience.

THE CF+ PROFILE REQUIRES ME TO ENTER MY GPA. WHAT IF I AM A FRESHMAN OR TRANSFER STUDENT WITHOUT AN AUBURN GPA YET? 

Freshmen: If you have not yet completed a semester at Auburn, you do not have an Auburn GPA. Use your high school GPA as it will match the GPA shown on your resume and is the best current representation of your academic performance.

Transfer Students: If you have not completed a semester at Auburn yet, you do not have an Auburn GPA. Use the cumulative GPA from your previous institution as it will match the GPA shown on your resume and is the best current representation of your academic performance.

For engineering career fair events, you will be able to access a company's page in CF+ and hit the "Resume Drop" button. In doing so, the resume you have as part of your CF+ will be shared with the company you have selected. If you do not have your current resume uploaded as you drop the resume, you will be able to add it to your profile prior to the fair.

Need help developing or refining your resume? Access CDCR resume guidelines + support 

The Career Fair+ platform allows you to search employers with the following filters:

• Interviews | Employers who will conduct on-campus interviews
• Majors  |  Select your AU major and any related majors
• Positions  |  Co-op, Full-time, Internship
• Degrees  |  Undergraduate, Masters, PhD
• Work Authorization Required  |  Yes, No
• Hire OPT / CPT  |  Yes, No
• Freshman Friendly

Keep in mind if an employer chose not to indicate a specific major or another filter type - they will not appear in a results list when using filter selections.