Use this checklist as a timeline. Work top to bottom, tick things off, and do not skip the follow-up section — it is the step most candidates drop, and the one that turns a stack of resumes into a callback.
Two weeks before
- Register for the event. Pre-registration is free and usually gets you a reminder with the venue, show hours and parking details. Walk-ins are normally welcome, but registering saves time at the door.
- Confirm the date, time and address. Check the venue, not just the city. Plan your route and parking, and note how long the drive actually takes at that time of day.
- Look at the exhibitor list. Pick five employers you definitely want to meet and rank them. Choose one or two you are less sure about as backups.
- Research each target for five minutes. What they do, where they are located, and one current opening or product you can mention. That is enough to sound informed.
- Update your resume. One page if you have under ten years of experience, two at most. Lead with what you did and the result, not a list of duties.
- Check your outfit. Try it on, make sure it fits and is clean, and confirm you have shoes you can stand in for three hours.
The night before
- Print 10–15 copies of your resume on plain white paper, single-sided.
- Pack a folder for resumes and collected cards, plus a pen and a small notebook.
- Write your 30-second introduction and say it out loud three times.
- Pick your two or three questions from the recruiter-question guide.
- Charge your phone and screenshot the venue address and your parking plan.
- Lay out your outfit so the morning has no decisions in it.
- Set two alarms. One to wake up, one ten minutes before you need to leave.
What to bring
- 10–15 printed resumes in a folder
- A pen and a notebook, or a notes app with a folder per employer
- Photo ID — some venues require it at building security
- A few copies of a reference list, if you have references ready
- Your 30-second introduction, written on an index card if you need it
- A bottle of water and a snack; halls get warm and lines get long
- A lint roller and a stain pen
- Your phone, charged, with the exhibitor list bookmarked
Leave the large backpack at home if you can. A slim folder or portfolio is easier to hold while shaking hands, and it keeps your resumes uncreased.
At the door
- Arrive ten to fifteen minutes early. Check in, collect the floor plan and any exhibitor list.
- Find the restroom and check your appearance before you enter the hall.
- Mark your top five targets on the floor plan and plan a walking order.
- Silence your phone. No calls, no scrolling while you are on the floor.
- Start with your second-choice employer, not your first — it warms up your pitch.
The 30-second introduction
Use the same three-part structure at every table:
- Who you are: your current or most recent role and how long you have done it.
- One concrete strength: a skill, certification or result that is relevant to their openings.
- What you want next: the type of role and the reason you are at this event.
Example: “I’m a customer service rep with three years in a call centre, and I handle escalations for a healthcare account. I’m looking for a team lead role where I can train new hires. Which of your openings would fit that?”
Working the room
- Two to four questions per table, then offer your resume and ask about next steps.
- Ask for a name and a card. Write one detail on the back before you walk away.
- Do not monopolise a recruiter. If a line is forming, wrap up and follow up by email.
- Take a lap before you leave. Tables you skipped early may be free later.
- Note the time. Many recruiters start packing up in the final half hour.
Track what you collected
Fill this in on your phone or in your notebook before you leave the building. It is the raw material for every follow-up you will send.
| Company | Recruiter | Role discussed | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
Within 24 to 48 hours
- Send a short thank-you email to every recruiter you had a real conversation with. Three or four sentences: thank them, reference one specific thing you discussed, restate the role you are interested in, and say you have applied or will apply.
- Apply online the same day if they directed you to a portal. Mention in the application that you met the recruiter at the event.
- Connect on LinkedIn if you could not get an email address, with a one-line note about where you met.
- Log everything in a simple spreadsheet: company, contact, date, role, follow-up sent, response.
- Set a reminder for one week out to send a single polite follow-up if you have not heard back.
After the event: keep the momentum
- Update your resume with anything you learned about how employers describe the role.
- Practise the interview answers you stumbled on — you now know which ones those are.
- Register for the next event in your area; a second conversation with the same recruiter is often easier than the first.
Need help with the outfit or the questions?Read the dress code guide → orthe recruiter questions guide →
Common questions
How early should I arrive at a job fair?
Arrive ten to fifteen minutes before the doors open. That gives you time to park, check in, and look at the exhibitor floor plan before the room fills. The first hour is usually the calmest, and recruiters are freshest — by the end of the event many tables are packing up.
How many resumes should I bring?
Ten to fifteen printed copies is a good working number for a two- to three-hour event. That covers the employers you planned to meet plus a few unplanned conversations. Print on plain white paper, single-sided, and keep them flat in a folder so they do not crease.
What should I wear to check in — do I need to dress before I arrive?
Yes. Check-in and the walk through the venue are part of the first impression, and there may not be a convenient place to change. Wear the outfit you plan to interview in, and bring a layer in case the hall is cold.
What do I do if a recruiter says there are no openings for me?
Ask two follow-ups: whether another team is hiring for your skills, and whether you can send a resume for future openings. Then move on politely — a short, gracious exit leaves a better impression than arguing your case, and the recruiter may remember you when a role opens.
Is it worth attending without a specific role in mind?
Yes, if you use the event to learn. Walk the floor plan, talk to three or four employers in industries you are curious about, and ask what they hire for most often. Treat it as research plus practice for the next event where you do have a target.
Ready to meet recruiters in person?
Every Choice Career Fairs event is free for job seekers. Find the next hiring event in your metro, see the venue and confirmed exhibitors, and reserve your spot.