Make the Most of Career Fairs

Career fairs are a great way for your company to get in front of prospective young employees who are new to the professional world and eager to find their calling in life. Twice a year or so, high schools and colleges will allow companies to give curious students and other young people a sneak peak at life in the industry and a chance to ask questions to tenured professors in the field. Synter Resource Group loves tabling at these events and getting to interact with young people. We recently tabled at an event at the College of Charleston where we were happy to interact with students there.

Here are a few tips for making sure that you get the most out of your tabling event and that you and the students you meet have the best time possible.

Bring lots of stuff: One of the big boons for kids in attending career fairs is the cool stuff they can collect from various tables and industries. Coca-cola usually brings soda to share, sports franchises will bring branded baseballs or sweatbands, and hospitals have been known to give out first aid packages. It’s been shown that people best remember the companies at career fairs that are engaged and leave them with something memorable, so make sure you bring something for them to take home. Usually, local companies are happy to make branded materials for a reasonable price, so talk to a small local business if time permits.

Have ready answers to questions about the industry: Whoever you send to table the event should be very knowledgeable about the company, the industry, and the trajectory of someone who wants to make a career in it. It may be useful to have your tablers rehearse answers to some FAQs about the level of education required, the day-to-day tasks, the future of the industry, and more. That way, your company appears knowledgeable to passers by and they leave with the information the came for. You may even want to prepare index cards so you can reference some stats if necessary.

Be Approachable: Stay loose and have fun at these events! As much as you can, be up and on your feet so that attendees can approach you easily. Keep your arms uncrossed and your palms visible, as these signal that you’re open to meeting people, not closed off. Smile, introduce yourself, and offer a handshake. Ask some questions about how you can be helpful, including things like, “What can I tell you about our industry?” or “What are you studying and why?” Conversations are the key to great relationships and will make you approachable to even more students walking by.

We’d like to thank the College of Charleston for hosting us and wish all the students there the best on their professional journeys!