How to Conquer Engineering Career Fairs

Are you an engineering student trying to figure out what “career fairs” are all about? When should you attend a career fair? How do you prepare for a career fair? Below, we’ll step through everything you need to know about career fairs with additional considerations for engineering students. 

What is a career fair?

Career fairs are essentially a place for employers to connect with potential employees. Some career fairs will also offer seminars, resume workshops, and other resources. 

They can go by various names… career fair, job fair, job expo, and career expo are the more common. Various venues will also coin their own names. For example, the largest career fair at Purdue University is called the Industrial Roundtable.

Career fairs can range from general (open to a wide range of companies) to industry-specific or degree-specific (like an aerospace career expo). You’ll typically see them organized by a college, a student club, a professional institution, or a local community. 

Companies that attend career fairs are generally looking to hire employees and/or interns. They will send company representatives to promote their company and find potential future employees. These representatives may be recruiters, human resource reps, managers, or simply an employee that volunteered to help out. Some companies will even schedule and conduct interviews with promising candidates that same week. 

Career fairs may be in-person, virtual, or in a hybrid environment. In-person events have tables (“booths”) set up for each company. You’ll walk around and talk to companies you’re interested in. Virtual events use online platforms to connect company representatives with interested candidates. Hybrid events offer both in-person and virtual options. 

When should you attend a career fair as an engineering student? 

As soon as possible! Every engineering student should be considering internship opportunities (even first years!). A career fair is a perfect place to start scoping out your options. 

Need more reasons to attend an engineering career fair? Let’s dig into that next.

Why attend a career fair?

1. Find a job or internship 

Let’s state the obvious first: going to a career fair can increase your chances of finding a great job or internship. Companies that send representatives to career fairs are usually there because they’re looking for potential new employees. So, this is a no-brainer. If you’re looking for a job, a career fair is a fantastic place to start your search.

This is your chance to talk directly with a company representative, learn about available positions, and ask what they’re looking for in potential candidates. Make sure to have a resume ready to share. You may even be able to get an interview that same week!

2. Discover new companies and new opportunities. 

This is my favorite reason to attend a career fair! A career fair is a super convenient place to learn about the companies and industries you’re interested in. You’ll see dozens, sometimes even hundreds, of companies represented in the same place at the same time. This is the perfect opportunity to discover what companies are out there and what those companies do. 

If you’re attending an industry-specific career fair (like an automotive career expo), you’ll also learn a ton about that specific industry. Even if you’re not ready to get a job or internship yet, this is an excellent opportunity to discover new possibilities. 

As an engineering student, you’ll be able to start answering a ton of questions about individual companies. What kind of engineering functions do their employees perform? Are they looking for designers, analysts, operations, or general project engineers? What engineering degrees do they tend to hire the most? What career paths does the company offer for engineers? 

3. Learn about a company’s work culture 

As you talk with a company representative, make sure to expand your questions to their work culture. Ideally, you want to work for a company that has a work environment that will allow you to thrive. 

First, ask yourself what you value the most. Then jot down some questions you want to ask each company. You can also take this a step further by researching some of the companies ahead of time to help you narrow down your questions. 

Here are some examples:

If you value having time to do things outside of work:

• Does your company allow for flexible work hours?
• Does your company value employee’s work-life balance?

If you value working with people who are excited and passionate about their work:

• What do you look forward to the most every day at work? 
• Are people excited about the company’s mission?

If you want career flexibility or advancement options:

• Are employees encouraged to rotate positions to gain more experience? 
• Does the company provide any incentives for continuing education like a Master’s degree?

Just keep in mind that you’ll likely get different answers depending on the type of company rep you’re talking to. Everyone has different perspectives. And employees who are incentivized to hire new talent may want to make the company sound good. 

4. Network with industry representatives 

Don’t want a job or internship yet? Maybe you want to stay in academia for a long time and aren’t in a rush to work in the commercial (or government) sectors yet. Maybe you’re taking care of family and can’t leave home for an internship this year. Whatever your reasons, a career fair is still a good place to learn and network. Connecting with industry reps can lead to new ideas, partnerships, and funding for university research… the possibilities are really endless when it comes to connecting with others.

5. Test drive your resume

Use career fairs to see how well your resume is received by company representatives. 

Give your resume to the companies that you’re interested in working for. Some companies will review resumes on the spot and they may ask you questions based on what they see. Or they may skim through a stack of resumes when they have some spare time later. If you get a call from them after the career fair, that’s a great sign that your resume is doing what it should! You don’t need to commit to anything yet. Talking to representatives about your resume (and, later, going through the interview process) is excellent practice, even if you decide not to accept the job offer.

If a company’s booth isn’t too busy, you can even be bold and specifically ask for feedback on your resume. It can’t hurt to ask! Even if they only glance at it for a minute, you might get a few good pointers.

6. Practice talking to professionals

Okay, maybe this reason sounds silly, but I’m being serious. Talking to professionals in the field you’re studying will set you up for success. Want to crush an interview later? This is a great opportunity to practice key communication skills and to start learning the lingo used in your field.

If you’re naturally an introvert, it forces you to get out of your comfort zone and learn how to talk with strangers about your field. If you’re an extrovert, it’s an opportunity to hone your talking (and listening!) skills. 

7. Freebies

Need new pens, candy, stress balls, stickers, or a reusable bag? Recruiters that attend career fairs in-person tend to hand out more freebies than you’ll know what to do with. Some companies really step up their freebie game with things like new socks, thermoses, and mini first aid kits.

How do you find the right career fair to attend as an engineering student?

The first thing you should do is check with your college. Many large engineering colleges will organize dedicated engineering-focused or industry-focused career fairs. Most colleges at least have a general career fair that likely includes companies that hire engineers. 

Many career fairs are posted online, so a simple google search will usually do the trick. For example “Purdue career fairs” quickly led me to this Purdue fall semester career fair page. Your engineering advisor may also have additional suggestions for you. 

If your school has multiple career fair options, focus on the fairs that are most relevant to you. How? 

1. Research the companies that usually attend. Are there companies you want to learn more about? 
2. Ask your engineering advisor, professor, or other engineering department staff for their expertise. 
3. Ask fellow students who have attended past career fairs. 

If you don’t like the options provided by your college, consider attending a career fair at another college nearby. You can also check your local community – nearby towns or cities may host career fairs. Look for conferences and fairs offered by professional organizations, such as the Society of Women Engineers. If distance is a barrier for you, consider widening your search via virtual career fairs.

How do you prepare for a career fair?

I definitely recommend you take a bit of time to prep for the career fair before you go, which we’ll walk through together in this section. 

But first! Ask yourself: What’s the one thing you want to get out of this career fair? If you’re about to graduate and need a full-time job, you’ll want to take these actions more seriously. If you’re a freshman and just want to casually learn about the industry, only do the actions that make sense to you. 

Research the fair and listed companies

Research the fair itself. Where is it located? How will you get there? Do you need to register ahead of time? What companies are expected to be at the fair? Are there any seminars or special events? Is there a way to sign up for an interview before the fair? 

Research some of the companies that will be in attendance. Many career fairs are enormous and you may not have time to go to every booth. What 5 companies are you most interested in? Research those companies. Look up their internship programs or current full-time job openings. Do you need to alter your resume for a specific company? What questions do you want to ask the company representative?  

Get ready to “market” yourself

If you’re attending a career fair to find an internship or a full-time position, you need to be ready to show recruiters why they should hire you. 

Update your resume

Get your resume ready and print out several copies. If there are specific companies or positions you’re targeting, take some time to update your resume with skills that they may be looking for. 

Note that you don’t need to give your resume to every booth you visit. Just give your resume to the companies you’re interested in working for. 

Don’t have a resume yet? If you have time, make one. If you don’t have time, don’t let that hold you back from attending a career fair. It’s still worth going to career fairs just to learn about various companies and industries. Alternatively, you can create business cards with an URL address or QR code that takes people to your LinkedIn profile.

Practice your “elevator pitch”

An elevator pitch is simply a short 30-60 second introduction that tells a recruiter who you are, what you’re interested in, and why they should consider hiring you. Need some help developing your elevator pitch? Carnegie-Mellon University has a great guide to get you started. 

Note, that while an elevator pitch is a great tool, you don’t need to give this same spiel to every person you meet. You can shorten or alter it depending on each situation. 

You can also use a combination of your elevator pitch plus what you learned while researching the company to create a conversation with the recruiter that will make you really stand out. Want even more advice? I love Madeline Mann’s tips in this video.

Boost your self-confidence

Do you feel weird and awkward talking to people about yourself? That’s okay. Be weird and awkward. Many of us feel that way (myself included). But don’t let that stop you from talking to company representatives at these events. Use these career fairs as opportunities to practice your self-marketing skills. It’ll come in handy for job interviews later! Need an extra boost in self-confidence? Head to this page next.  

Gather everything you need to bring to the career fair

Consider getting a padfolio (like this one). You want to look organized and professional when you talk to company representatives. A padfolio is something easy to carry around that will give you easy access to your resumes and a pen/paper for notes. 

You’ll also want to bring a backpack or bag to keep your hands free of everything except that padfolio. Use that bag to carry extra things like water bottles, umbrellas, and sunglasses. Check the weather ahead of time to see what you need to bring with you. That bag will also give you a place to stash all those pamphlets and freebies you’ll end up collecting.

Decide what you’ll wear  

To save some stress on the day of the career fair, set aside what you’ll wear at the career fair. Try on your outfit to ensure it still fits and you’re not missing part of your ensemble. Doing this early enough will also give you a chance to buy or borrow items if you need to. 

There are plenty of articles out there from recruiting sites, like this indeed.com page with “what to wear” tips. It can also be beneficial to search for images of the career fair you’ll be attending to get a sense of how formal everyone dresses. Alternatively, if there are a couple of companies you want to target at this fair, search for employee images at those companies to see how formal or casual they are. 

When in doubt, dress up a bit more, especially if you’re on the hunt for a full-time position. Got a blazer or business suit? Great, this is your chance to wear it! 

Whether you decide to wear something business casual or business formal, the most important thing is to make sure your clothes are clean and wrinkle-free. And, on the day of, make sure you’re clean too! 

“Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.” – Coco Chanel

Don’t have any business clothes yet? 

Find some! Don’t let any excuses hold you back. 

Excuse #1: I don’t have enough cash to buy new clothes. 

Not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to buy an expensive business suit, especially in college! But, don’t use this as an excuse to avoid going to a career fair! Get creative and plan ahead. Borrow an outfit from a friend. See if the local thrift store has some options. Hunt for sales. Connect with an organization like Dress for Success or Clothes That Work. You don’t need new, brand-name clothes to make a positive impression at the career fair. 

Excuse #2: I’m stuck on a college campus with limited transportation to a store. 

Luckily you live in the era of online retail. Most stores allow you to order online. Some have free shipping and returns, and some online stores, like Amazon, will let you try on clothes before you buy them. There are even online thrift stores and online custom-made clothing stores! How cool is that? I got a great price for a custom-made dress via eBay a couple of years ago. There are also entire online shops now that specialize in custom suits. 

Excuse #3: I just learned about a career fair happening tomorrow – I don’t have time to buy new clothes!  

Wear the nicest, most-work-appropriate outfit you have. Make sure it’s clean and wrinkle-free! Kakis and a poll. Dark jeans and a conservative top. A knee-length summer dress with a cardigan. It’s worth going even if you’re not dressed “perfectly”. You’ll still learn a lot and it’ll help you prepare for a future career fair. 

Excuse #4: I don’t feel comfortable wearing business clothes. 

First, make sure your outfit actually fits you. That means it’s the right size and shape for your body. No one will feel comfortable wearing clothes that are a size too small! If it’s too big, get it tailored or learn how to tailor it yourself via YouTube. 

Second, everyone feels awkward wearing a new style for the first time. I sure felt weird the first time I wore a suit! And since I rarely wear suits at work, I still don’t feel entirely comfortable when I need to wear one. Practice wearing your new outfit before going to the career fair, even if it’s just in your own bedroom. Work on your self-confidence. You’ve got this! 

Excuse #5: I don’t want to conform to society’s view of business attire. 

No one’s going to force you to wear something you don’t want to wear. Instead of worrying about societal conformity (it’s not worth the stress), think about your end goal. What’s your goal for this career fair? 

If you just want to go to learn about the industry and future opportunities, wear whatever you want. Will people judge you for wearing something “weird” or “different”? Maybe. But does that matter? Nope. If you’re not looking for a job, you don’t need to worry about impressing anyone. 

On the other hand, if you’re hoping to get an interview, you’ll want to be more thoughtful. What companies would you like to work for? What company culture do you see yourself thriving in? Now figure out what you need to do to get that job. Don’t worry about “conforming”. Focus on what you need to do to reach your dreams.

What to expect at a career fair? 

The hardest part is over – you’ve prepared for the career fair! Now, it’s time to reap the benefits.

For in-person career fairs, tables are typically set either outside or in a large indoor area like a gymnasium. Each table (or “booth”) will be dedicated to one company. Each company will decorate their booth however they want. Some will even have games, demos, freebies, or other things to grab your attention. 

Here are some tips to get you through the day:

Start early

Arriving at the beginning of a career fair gives you an advantage. How?

1. It’ll give you time to orientate yourself. You won’t feel rushed as you learn how the career fair is laid out. This will help you prioritize which companies to talk with first. 
2. You’ll beat the crowds. This is particularly important if you want to talk to a company that tends to be very popular. As the career fair gets busy, you’ll see lines start to form at these popular booths (or even a long line to get into the fair). Get there early to ensure you have time to talk to the companies you’re most interested in. 
3. If you’re feeling some anxiety or stress, getting there early may help calm your mind. You’ll have time to process your surroundings and you’ll be able to avoid certain triggers (like too many people). 

Prioritize

Not only should you get there early, but you should also prioritize the companies you’re most interested in. Visit those companies in the very beginning. If you’re really nervous, you can practice talking to reps at another booth first. If it’s a large fair and the booths you want to visit are very spread out, it’s okay to take your time. 

Just don’t wait until the end of the fair to visit your top companies. At that point you may be hot, sweaty, and tired…and the company reps may also be exhausted too. Don’t risk it. Make sure you talk to those top companies early on. If you think of something new to ask later, you can always visit the booth again.

Be polite

Hopefully, you already practice this every day. Be polite and respectful, both to the company reps and your fellow students. You can be confident without being rude.  

If a booth is packed with people, don’t try to jump in front of the line. You may even learn a lot just by listening to other conversations while you wait your turn. If you’re feeling impatient, you may want to go to a less crowded booth and come back to that one later. 

Take notes

If you’re interested in a specific company, take a few quiet moments after talking to those company reps to jot down some notes. Write down important notes that you don’t want to forget later. Make sure you capture any follow-up actions you’ll need to take later. You don’t have to constantly rush from booth to booth. 

What should you do after a career fair?

If you’re serious about getting a job or internship, follow up with the companies you’re most interested in after the career fair. Ideally, do this within 24 hours of the fair. 

This could be an email or a message via LinkedIn to the company rep you just met. Keep your message simple and consider these 3 things: 

1. Thank them for taking the time to talk to you. 
2. Restate your interest/objective. 
3. Ask them what your next step should be. 

Additionally, take a few moments to reflect. What did you learn at the career fair? Are there any more actions you want to take? What would you do differently if you attend another career fair in the future? 

Career fairs aren’t everything

Yes, it’s true that I recommend engineering students attend at least one career fair. They’re a super-convenient way to learn about a lot of companies all on the same day. However, career fairs aren’t everything! 

Maybe you missed out on a few career fairs for one reason or another. Make up for it by using your favorite web browser to search for companies that support the industry you’re interested in. Wikipedia is another great place to start your search. 

Or maybe your dream company didn’t attend your college’s career fair. If this is the case, follow your favorite companies on social media and frequently check their websites to learn about new job opportunities.

Watch out for other opportunities to engage with company representatives. Sign up for classes that bring in industry experts. Join student organizations that host industry speakers. Ask your college advisor to point you in the right direction. Connect with fellow students who have interned at the companies you’re interested in. 

The key takeaway message: Take advantage of as many opportunities as you can to set yourself up for success.