May 11, 2023, by ahyeo2

How to Make the Most Out of a Careers Fair

Emily Oxbury, MA History Student Blogger 

The Graduate Jobs Fair is just around the corner on Wednesday 17 May, 11.30am – 3pm at David Ross Sports Village.

If you’re set to graduate (or keen to get a head start thinking about future employment) this is a great opportunity to meet employers and ask any questions you may have.

Companies attending include JCB, Mars and Teach First, amongst many others. Here’s how to make the most of the event:

Before the fair:

Research the companies

Knowing who is going to be attending the fair will give you a head start when you first enter the event. A quick Google search to find out about the companies in attendance will help you to decide which you want to prioritise visiting. 

Prepare questions

Once you’ve checked out the list of employers attending the events, research the career paths and graduate programmes they have on offer. Compile a list of questions you may want to ask the company representatives, no question is too big or small! Consider asking about working conditions, hours and pay, the opportunity to advance your position within the company, or whether the company offers the chance for further training programmes and qualifications. Don’t forget to ask about working locations, or the opportunity to work from home or abroad!  

During the fair: 

Get your CV reviewed

The careers team will be on hand for drop in CV reviews. Ensure you have either a digital or printed out copy of your CV for the team to check out. They will be able to provide advice regarding the layout, your work experience and qualifications and provide tips on referees. 

Push yourself out your comfort zone

Don’t close yourself off to only speaking to companies you’ve previously heard of. Careers fairs provide the perfect opportunity to speak to new companies, as you never know what career paths you may discover! Something that initially may seem to have nothing to do with your degree path could really surprise you. For instance if you have a history degree, that doesn’t mean you can’t work in the construction industry.

After the fair: 

Follow up with employers

If you collect contact details or social media for people attending the fair, be sure to follow up with them to get your name remembered. It could be as small as asking a follow up question about their company, or asking for an online meeting to discuss employment opportunities. LinkedIn is also a great place to connect with employers you’ve met.

Apply for jobs!

Now is the perfect time to begin to apply for jobs with the companies you’ve spoken to. Don’t forget to visit the Careers team if you need any help or have queries about the application process! 

Find out all the details about the upcoming Graduate Jobs Fair.

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