I can't lie - these things will always be awkward. But you can make them less awkward and, more importantly, actually useful if you have the right approach.

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Before we start, let’s break down some myths about career fairs/info sessions:

Myth 1: They’re only meant for upperclassmen – FALSE: I got my first job at a networking dinner from a company that ‘didn’t hire freshmen’ – yes, you’ll have more options as you get older but anyone can get good connections at these

Myth 2: They’re not worth it, you can’t stand out– This one’s all on you: if you don’t go with a purpose/goal then they’re definitely not worth your time- but this article is here to make them a powerful resource

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The Pre-game

Only the most wild pre-games start days before the party

Dumb questions exist

-       Conversations at career fairs are too short to ask meaningless or forgettable questions. Quality > quantity: know what you want to learn and make the questions you ask count

"You have 30 seconds to impress me"

-       Pretend you’re on shark tank and only have 30 seconds to share your story. Have your "about me" story ready and share your interesting experiences, something memorable about yourself, and then dive into learning more about them (since that's what you're really there for!)

*Note: most recruiters won’t have time for everyone to give introductions so ask more questions here instead. If you can, sneak in a short intro of why you're cool (without being obnoxious) to make them want more.

Party Time

As awkward as middle school dances but with slightly less drama

Ease your way into it

-       Start with less crowded booths: competition sucks and the more bombarded a recruiter is, the harder it is to distinguish yourself so wait until more crowded booths calm down if you can

-       Practice your pitch (and gauge which questions get the best responses) with companies you're less familiar with before going to companies you care about more

The Basics

-       Don’t be a robot: recruiters talk to hundreds of people, if you don’t seem interested in them they’ll zone you out – show genuine interest in whoever you talk to

-       Always get business cards – how else are you going to send them poetry? (don’t actually send them poetry, or do, your call) 

Make an exit

-       Before leaving, stop back at your favorite places and say you enjoyed talking to them and are excited to see how you can get more involved. This increases the likelihood they’ll remember you- and makes you look gooood.

Never wait in a long line to do this either – just catch their attention from the side and say a quick goodbye- a little goes a long way

The After Party

Just when you thought it was over...

Let's review

• After the event, note what you did well (asked good questions, were engaging w/ a recruiter) and where you could improve (fumbled your pitch a bit at the start) – this makes your preparation for the next event more focused and helps you get better
• Write out what you liked about each company (re-rank them on your recruiting list), who you talked to, and something unique about them / your conversation

Umm, who are you again?

• Recruiters meet tons of people so it’s your job to follow up - show initiative
• Send a follow up email the same day or early next morning (if you’re not an early bird, check out Boomerang).
• When sending a follow up: mention something specific / unique you enjoyed talking about with them, thank them, and give them a reason to respond: ask an insightful question or for a quick phone call (or coffee chat) to learn even more

Another one

• Check your calendar and see if any of the companies you liked are hosting other events. Seeing the same company multiple times increases face-time and shows them you care (they’re also more likely to remember you when selecting interview candidates)

STORY TIME! -  I once bypassed a round of interviews after missing the application deadline all because I saw someone at two separate recruiting events and remembered his story (a HUGE reason to keep notes on interesting things about people)

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First career fairs are always awkward, and can be especially intimidating as underclassmen when companies tell you they have no opportunities until you’re a junior – don’t give up, keep practicing and meeting cool people and it will pay off