Tips for Successful Fair Attendance
- Do some homework in advance. Check the Career Center's (or the host university’s) Web pages for a list of what districts/employers are registered to attend. Inevitably there will be a few last-minute changes (and no-shows) that won't appear in the program.
- If required, register in advance; there is no advance registration for ISU fairs.
- Prioritize in advance the school reps you would most like to speak with. Most students seem to have an "A" list and at least a "B" list of schools to try to visit during the fair.
- Be as "geographically flexible" as possible -- 200 districts DO offer a lot of choices! Approx. 140 from Illinois & 60 from elsewhere this year. Consider at least a few schools outside your geographic comfort zone.
- Arrive early wearing appropriate, professional attire.
- Bring lots of resumes, and perhaps, a streamlined version of your portfolio (but quite honestly, most reps won’t have time to browse it at a fair).
- After registering at the door, remember to make & wear a nametag … about 4 to 6 inches down from your right shoulder.
- Consider wandering the room(s) a bit to get your bearings and find out how tables are arranged ... usually it’s alpha order.
- Offer a firm handshake and look the reps in the eye like you are looking forward to this conversation!
- Have a brief summary prepared about your major/certifications/qualifications and the type(s) of position(s) you are seeking. Relax (easier said than done?!) and try to enjoy these conversations, whether they are brief and rather informal, or if they entail a screening interview.
- Listen carefully and ask good questions too -- one of which should NOT be, “Does your school have openings for my field?” This information will have already been posted online or perhaps will come up in the course of conversation. The district may even have a poster at their table listing their up-to-date preferred areas of certification!
- Be courteous at all times, even if your patience is tested by waiting in lines. If you have limited time to attend the fair, make some judgments about how long you can wait in line for which districts. It may be best to head for tables where the lines are shorter, at least during the first 30 to 60 minutes at the event.
- Watch for cues that the conversation (or interview) is nearing completion.
- Remember to collect printed material from schools of interest to you and/or request a business card from the school rep.
- Make sure you know what you need to do next (in addition to applying online) and how they are likely to follow up.
- Make a few notes to yourself before you leave the fair. And since the Career Center values having student feedback about your job fair experience, please fill out an evaluation form at one of the exits.
- Do the appropriate follow up within a week after the fair. It is a good idea to send thank-you notes, either via e-mail or written on a personalized card, to recruiters/ employers in whom you are still interested after the fair.
- It is relatively rare to receive a job offer at the fair, but some out-of-state districts may want to sign you up on the spot! We don’t recommend accepting immediately unless you are very sure this is the school district or area you really want! Talk these situations over with “significant others” before committing.
- If you have questions about how to proceed with your job search after having attended an ISU fair, please get in touch with a Career Advisor for assistance.
