Career Resource Center

Attend Career Fairs to explore potential career paths, network and identify career opportunities.

What You Need to Succeed

Getting ready for career fairs is much more than picking out a nice suit and polishing your resume. Use the following information as a guide to career fair success.

Preparation Research Professional Appearance

Resumes Career Fair Tips  Searching Registered Organizations

Preparation

As career fairs approach, find out which organizations will be attending. This information is available in Gator CareerLink, an online job search database that allows UF students to research potential employers, network with professionals and learn about on-campus recruiting events. Use this utility to research organizations hiring in your desired field. Sign up and upload your resume to get access to job databases and on-campus interview sign ups.

Some workshops/sessions are designed specifically to prepare students for career fairs. Take advantage of these opportunities and attend.

If you haven’t already done so, write your resume. Career Ambassadors are available for resume critiques in the Career Library, and other professionals are available at various events to assist you with resume writing. Use the Optimal Resume Critique as a guide. More detailed information in the Resumes section below.

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Research

Research the organizations hiring in your desired field using Gator CareerLink. Company Web sites are also good sources of information. Make sure you know the basics, but also look for information about:

After doing initial research, make a Top Ten List of organizations whose representatives you want to meet at the Career Fair. Have questions prepared.

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Professional Appearance

You only have one chance to make a good first impression, and a professional appearance can help you. Here are some basics that apply to both men and women when it comes to professionalism. The following tips provide basic, conservative, can’t-go-wrong suggestions for ensuring professional appearance.

Clothing

• Professional business attire - business suit.
• Dark gray and navy/dark blue are traditional colors for business attire.
• White is a traditional shirt/blouse color to wear under the suit, but other light colors work. No pastels.
• Proper fit is the most important feature of any suit you wear
• Clean, wrinkle-free clothing.

Grooming

• Wear very little or no perfume.
• Hair should be neat, clean, simply styled and out of your face.
• Make sure your breath is fresh, carry breathe mints with you.
• Minimal jewelry and make-up.

Tips for Men

• Two or three button suits are traditional.
• Never button the bottom button.
• Black shoes are best with a dark gray or navy suit.
• Ties can vary, but avoid very bright colors and gaudy/distracting designs.
• Facial hair should be clean-shaven or neatly trimmed if you have a beard/mustache.
• No suit? Dark dress slacks and light-colored shirt with a tie is the next-best outfit.

Tips for Women

• Skirt suits are most traditional, but pants suits are very common.
• Pieces of your outfit should fit well but not be tight-fitting.
• Skirts should hang down to nearly the knee.
• Closed toes shoes are traditional in a business professional setting.
• No suit? A dark skirt or dress slacks and a blouse is the next-best outfit.

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Resumes

Never written a resume before? Use the Optimal Resume Service as a guide. Bring in your finished draft to the CRC to have it critiqued. After updating the changes, come in for another critique session. Be sure to submit your resume on Gator CareerLink, as well. This will give you access to job postings and will allow you to sign up for interview times.

Customize your resume for target employers. Highlight experiences in which you demonstrated skills that the job will require.

When interviewing with employers, bring enough copies so that each employer has 2, plus 10-15 extras. Put your resume on high quality white, off-white or other light-colored resume paper. Avoid pastels, colored specks or marbled designs.

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Career Fair Tips

Make a good first impression! Greet employers, introduce yourself and shake hands.

Be confident when speaking and attentive when listening.

Have questions about the organization and make mental note of the answers.

Know your strengths and weaknesses. What makes you the best candidate for the position? What sets you apart from other applicants?

Leave the employer with two copies of your resume.

Ask for a business card from the organization representative and follow up with a thank you e-mail or card after the Career Fair and maintain contact in the coming months.

Items to Bring to Career Fairs

• Portfolio/folder to hold your resumes and notes
• Copies of your resume
• List of your targeted companies
• Pen and paper for making notes for yourself
• Gator1 card, this will be scanned as you enter

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Searching Registered Organizations

Make the most out of the list of employers and be sure you are able to identify employers who have opportunities you are seeking. New employers are added to the list often, so check for updates regularly.

Target organizations with opportunities that fit your interests, skills, experiences and qualifications.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. Are there any other companies attending? Is this the whole list?

A. New companies register often, so check regularly for the most up-to-date list.

Q. These employers aren't looking for me. Where can I find other jobs?

A. Are you looking for them? Do they have the job you want? Then let them know what skills and experiences you have and why you’re the best candidate.

Not finding employers with the opportunities you want? Other career fairs may feature organizations that interest you more, but career fairs are only one part of your search. Networking, job listings (newspaper, online, professional journals, online classifieds and many more), family, friends, instructors and the CRC provide many more opportunities.

Q. I want to work at a company, but their info says they're not looking for people in my field. What do I do?

A. Visit their recruiter at the event. Tell them why you want to work for their company and ask how you can find out about positions in your field.

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Career Fairs are open to UF Students and Alumni only.

Contact: