How to Prepare
How to prepare for a career fair
With so many opportunities to explore and people to talk to, we understand career fair can be overwhelming. It may feel confusing to know how to stand out and get noticed. We want you to get the most out of your career fair experience and preparation is key! Here are eight actions you can take to help you prepare to navigate career fair with confidence.
Determine your goals
Approach the career fair as a learning and networking experience, not just trying to land an internship or job on the spot. Perhaps set a goal to meet at least 5 employers and have a 2-3 minute conversation with each.
Learn about the events
Vist the events page for all information regarding each event offered during the 2026 spring career fair.
Research and follow employers
Most recruiters expect you to know a little bit about them before you meet them. Discover opportunities in advance of the fair with these simple steps:
- Log into Handshake and scroll through the list of employers registered for the career fair that you are interested in meeting (tip: look under "Sessions" filter).
- "Follow" employers that interest you. Even if you are not sure, follow them.
- Look up the organization on our EmployerLinks spreadsheet.
- and look them up beforehand on Handshake or LinkedIn. Taking the time to do this is almost always a guaranteed way to stand out from the crowd.
- Find recent news or current projects at these companies that catch your interest. Mention one of these news items in your conversation at the fair.
Create a strategy sheet
A strategy sheet is a one pager that will keep you focused and help you pivot if needed.
Organize your employers into need to meet vs. want to meet.
For each organization...
- What you know about the organization (news, LinkedIn)
- What you know about the internship or internship program (skills, etc.)
- 2 questions you want to learn more about
Practice your 15-30-second intro
A succinct, compelling introduction can lead to a meaningful conversation:
- Hello, my name is Sam.
- Thanks for being here.
- I'm a sophomore studying economics and psychology.
- I'm looking for a summer internship where I can learn about different career paths and leverage my interest in data analytics.
- I noticed (organization) on Handshake and LinkedIn, particularly
- I'd love to hear more about the skills and qualities you are looking for in top candidates for your (specific internship)
Want a tool to help you craft your intro? Click on the link below.
Professional Introduction Tool
Update your resume and professional brand assets
Align all of your professional brand assets and ensure your information is consistent.
- Resume
- LinkedIn profile (with updated photo)
- Handshake profile (with skills and an updated resume)
While you're at it, update your IrishCompass profile, too.
Arrive early
Some employers will get long lines. As fairs and networking events progress, some recruiters may lose some steam. The earlier you arrive, the better.
(note: There is no need to arrive before the scheduled start time of the fair. We won't let you in until the published start time.)
Be open to employers who aren't on your list
Sometimes the best outcomes come from being flexible. Allow yourself to check out some employers who don't have a crowd; you may just find a great place to work at that you otherwise would not have know about, and they are much more likely to remember you for a next-day interview.
Want to learn more?