What is a careers fair? How to prepare and what to expect

Careers fairs can help take away some of the guesswork and are designed to help you figure out your next steps. Read more to learn what a careers fair about and what to expect.

What Is A Careers Fair? How To Prepare And What To Expect

Deciding what you want to do after uni is a big decision – and it can be a little overwhelming. With so many choices and avenues to explore, it can be hard to know where to start.

Even though you may have narrowed down your industry of interest to the subject you study at uni, there’s multiple paths you could take. Or you could even go in a different direction altogether.

Careers fairs can help take away some of the guesswork. They’re designed to help students or job seekers with their next step. It’s the perfect event for candidates who aren’t totally sure of what job they’d like, are looking for a career change, or just want to know more about a particular industry.

While a careers fair has a broader focus on building networks and helping attendees connect with employers, a job fair has more of a set objective. A job fair is an event that employers or recruiters attend with the aim of filling current open roles. It’s more focused on current vacancies and immediate recruitment.

Types of careers fairs in the UK

There are a few different types of careers fairs in the UK, ranging from industry-specific events to more general fairs with a wide range of roles and industries.

University careers fairs

University careers fairs are run by the uni to show students prospective job and industry opportunities. Most if not all the companies exhibiting will be hiring for graduate roles. Sometimes universities partner with companies which can support graduates getting roles.

A uni careers fair gives you the chance to find out about this and build connections. It’s also a great place to chat to companies about potential internships and placements – ideal if you’re thinking about getting some hands-on experience in a sandwich year.

Virtual careers fairs

Careers fairs are either held in person or virtually. You can attend a virtual careers fair from anywhere, on any device that connects to the internet. Once you sign up the registration page, you’ll be connected through to the event auditorium. Virtual careers fairs can include:

• Virtual booths

• Webinar presentations

• Webcasts

• Live chats

• Polls

• Discussions

• Q&As

General careers fairs

More general careers fairs in the UK can have hundreds of employers and candidates attending. Candidates will likely be from more diverse backgrounds, different age groups and could be at different points in their careers. The employers will have their own stall where you can meet them, ask questions and discover more about the company and the types of roles they offer.

How to Prepare for a Careers Fair

If the idea of careers fair sounds a little intimidating, don’t worry. It’s designed to be an opportunity to ask questions, find out more, and maybe put some feelers out for potential jobs in the future. In order to have the best experience, here’s how we’d suggest preparing for a careers fair:

Research companies

Do some background research into the companies that are planning to attend or are likely to be there. Make a note of any that catch your eye. Try to gain an understanding of what the company does and why you’re interested in them, then make a note of any questions you have.

Practice introductions

It can be dauting to introduce yourself to new people – especially in a prospective job context. But the more you do it, the more confident you’ll feel the next time.

Practice introducing yourself so you feel confident you know what to say and how you’d like to present yourself. Making a good impression is important, and it could help the employer to remember you. But try not to put too much pressure on yourself – just smile, be yourself and you’ll be absolutely fine!

Update your CV

You may want to remind yourself of your experience and update your CV before the careers fair. This could come in handy for your introductions, and also gives you something to chat about. If your CV is ready to go, there’s no harm printing some off and taking them with you. While companies may prefer it to be sent digitally, you never know when it might come in handy.

What to wear to a careers fair

What to wear to careers fair depends on the type of event you’re attending – uni career fairs may be more casual. It’s a chance for you to make a good first impression on potential employers, so make sure you dress the part.

Don’t sway too far from your personality – you’re looking for the right match between you and your employer after all. But you should be mindful of the profession you’re interested in and wear an outfit to match the vibe.

At formal events, dress like you would an interview. Think suits, shirts, ties or smart dresses and skirts. As comfy as they are, don’t wear trainers – opt for smart shoes instead. After all, if in doubt, it’s better to be too smart than too casual.

What to ask at a careers fair

Careers fairs are great opportunities to get answers to your burning questions about what it’s like to work for your dream company, what experience they value and more. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some ideas of what to ask at a careers fair:

• When do you usually advertise for this role?

• Are there certain hiring windows I should be aware of?

• Are there any qualifications you like candidates to have?

• What are the most important skills for this role?

• How long does the recruitment process take?

• What are the day-to-day duties of the role?

• What’s the career progression like for this role?

• What made you decide to work for this company?

• What’s your favourite part of the job?

• Who might I contact about this role in the future?

• How might we stay in touch after this event?

Benefits of attending a careers fair

There are many benefits of going to a careers fair. From giving you a chance to try out networking to allowing you the opportunity to ask questions related to your dream role, here’s why you should attend:

Networking opportunities

Getting your dream career is sometimes about who you know. Attending careers fairs allows you to chat to people in the industry and get your name out there. It connects you to potential employers, so that you can make a first impression and possibly build a relationship with them.

Learn about career options

At careers fairs you may come across companies and roles that you’d never heard of before. It’s a great way to broaden your horizons and see what jobs are out there. Careers fairs bring together a diverse portfolio of industries and jobs so you can explore lots of different options.

Potential job offers

Careers fairs give you the space to sell yourself to employers, show off your personality and make an impression. Creating a rapport may help your chance at being invited to interview, and you may even be able to secure a job offer with the company in the future.

Develop your soft skills

Improve your soft skills by attending and interacting with employers. This is where you can practice your elevator pitch – introduce yourself, your skills and your career goals. The more you practise your communication and pitching skills, the more confident you’ll be for those all-important graduate job interviews.

Make the most of your careers fair experience

To get the most out of the experience, it’s important to prepare as much as you can so you feel confident going up to recruiters and asking questions. Coming across organised, calm and confident can go a long way in building a positive first impression.

Try to build connections at the event by asking how to contact the recruiter afterwards, so you can stay in touch about any future roles. Leverage the experience of networking for future job searches, and go ahead with a little bit more confidence now you’ve had some practice speaking to people in the industry.