We wanted to provide a few tips from students who have been successful in landing a job and/or industry connections from the career fair and managed to stand out among the crowd.

#2. Research and Prepare.

Develop a GAMEPLAN. Review the employers and professionals that will be present at the event. At UC, there are typically about 350 employers who are present during the three-day career fair. The UC career fair website and UC Handshake provides a list of employers prior to the event. Consider listing Top Tier, 2nd Tier, and a 3rd category of "I'm curious" companies. This may help break up who you definitely and possibly want to talk with during the week of events. Additionally, at the event, there are long lines at recognizable branded companies such as Toyota, Macy's, Marathon, and GE. Consider adding companies you may never have heard of due to their size. Remember, small and mid size employers are a large chunk of employer hiring so also spend some time exploring organizations you may have not heard of that are within the industries you are considering.

Considerations. Spend time thinking through why you would want to work somewhere. What is on your list besides "they are hiring for your type of position (i.e. co-ops or internship)? Companies will ask what you know about their organization and/or your interest/potential field (IT, digital marketing, community outreach). Do a bit of research on the companies business, current job listings, and what trends are happening within that industry space (i.e. retail, banking, manufacturing).

#3. Resume Copies.

Set a goal to meet with X number of companies. Bring with you 2 times as many resumes as your initial goal. In addition to having copies readily available double check that your resume is PERFECT with your up to date contact information in the header and is on resume paper. Resume paper is ivory or white and is thicker than copy paper from 24 lbs, 30 lbs and 32 lbs in weight. The resume expert at Zety recently published a resume paper blog debating on the best type of resume paper. For virtual fairs, have a PDF copy of your resume ready to share.

#4. Tailor your Elevator Pitch and Speak Clearly.

The INTRO. You have arrived at the fair and are ready to quickly find out that the the career fair and most networking events are LOUD and NOISY! So first and foremost make sure you can be heard by speaking up and clearly. When you to greet a potential employer eye contact, a smile, a solid, firm (but not death grip) handshake (with thumbs up) is key. Try to remember the name of the person you are talking to by saying their name out loud and repeating it back. "Nice to meet you, (insert their name), I am..."

The Rest of YOUR Pitch.

A common mistake is using this time to only state information that the employer already knows about you via your nametag. Carnegie Melon University provides a great step by step guide to tailor your elevator pitch. One formula I like to use is Present-Past-Future for a quick guide. Present includes who you currently are, what you can offer (i.e. transferable skills, something you are currently learning on your own or in the classroom). Past consists a quick window into why you chose your major or field or "the moment when you realized you should do X" (i.e. I was a member of Interalliance and worked with programming languages such as Java, Python, C#, and HTML while in high school prior to deciding to major in Software Development). Future could include something you like about the company from your notes or inquiring further about the opportunities with the company. The more you practice, the better the pitch becomes and you can adjust on the spot to address a specific company/person and make the connection.

Take Notes. If you are anything like me, after a stressful day of networking I will remember a few faces but will forget names and specifics. Take notes throughout the event after speaking with companies and contacts. Start your follow-up "to do list" while at the event.

#5. Know who you are talking with...

At a job fair or networking event, you would be talking with a current intern or co-op, full-time professional or hiring manager, or human resources professional. Consider what each individual's perspective can provide in this instance. For instance, the current co-op or intern was you a few months prior and knows first-hand the hiring process and projects/work experience you will gain at the company. Do not downplay talking to your fellow student as they often can gauge other students' level of interest in the organization and positions providing insight into which candidates to interview or follow up with to their supervisor(s).

When talking with a technical professional, you will most likely receive more questions about your current level of knowledge in the field. Whereas, a human resources professional may ask more about your leadership involvement at the university and co-curricular activities trying to grasp how you may be a well-rounded individual who can adjust to the work culture and environment.

#7. Attend Outside Event(s).

At the career fair, you may be 1 of several thousands of students who connect with employers. It is still worth it to go as some companies provide the invite to their "networking event" to those students they meet at the career fair. However, there also are companies that have their single company event scheduled the week up to and during the career fair week. At the events, you hear first hand about the internship or co-op program and employment with the specific company. You also stand out more since typically 30-70 students attend these events vs the 4,000+ at the career fair. Mash provides a few good tips for Navigating your First Networking Event that is still useful to someone who has attended several networking events. In particular, do not sneak out of the event at the end. Be sure to approach the presenters, share your resume, and introduce yourself.

#8. Reflect and Adjust.

I do not know too many people who have nailed their first or even tenth networking event or career fair. I find that these interactions can be difficult and with more practice, we each get better. Take stock following the event and consider reflecting on what went well and where you may be able to improve next time.

We all can learn from each other, if you have any additional TIPS, please send to me at susan.mahoney@uc.edu.