Conference, Expo & Career Fair Prep

With so many employers, and fellow attendees, you want to optimize your time at any career fair or expo. Find which conferences, competition, hackathons or other events to join on our resource page for Conferences & Competitions.

Conference & Fair Preparation: Tangible Steps for Before, During and After  Events

STEP 1: SET EXPECTATIONS & GOALS

  1. Set realistic goals: consider current job market, visa competition, election cycles
  2. Clarify your purpose: job/internship search or early exploration
  3. Add 5–7 new target firms beyond your comfort zone

STEP 2:  MAP YOUR TARGETS

  • WANTS: Dream companies you’d love to work for
  • MUSTS: Competitors to your dream firms,
    • Target visa-sponsoring or global U.S. firms to stay employed and secure future visa options.
  • SHOULDS: Plan B companies for which you’d genuinely enjoy working
  • COULDS: New names worth exploring (consider boutique & small companies)

STEP 3:  POLISH YOUR PROFESSIONAL PRESENCE

  1. Bring your padfolio, name tag, business cards, and 20+ resumes
  2. Follow dress code (check event guide)
  3. Add your LinkedIn QR code to your phone and resume
  4. Master confident posture, smile, and firm handshake (see Professional Etiquette resource on website)

STEP 4:  RESEARCH BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

  1. Research target industries: Determine trending topics and important news regarding target companies
  2. Review employer portals: open roles, graduate programs, rotational options
  3. Know the “Why” behind your interest (role, impact, or culture)
  4. Prepare to discuss your skills and transferable strengths

STEP 5:  MASTER YOUR ELEVATOR PITCH

  • Link your past → present → future clearly
  • Practice aloud 10+ times and keep it under 60 seconds
  • Focus on energy, eye contact, and authenticity
  • Quantify your experience (e.g., I am a graduate Finance student with 5 years of experience in sustainable investment strategy)

STEP 6:  STRATEGIZE ON THE FLOOR

  • Limit to 2–3 focused questions per employer
  • Listen to others in line to avoid repeating questions
  • Read the recruiter’s body language — wait if they’re busy
  • Speak to both reps (if more than one) at a booth to build rapport

STEP 7: INTERVIEWS & FOLLOW-UP

  • Review employer’s site and job postings before your interview
  • Bring your STAR stories (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
  • Send unique thank-you emails within 24 hours
  • Apply immediately if recommended to and track follow-up communication

STEP 8: INTERNATIONAL STUDENT STRATEGIES

  • Start with your value, not sponsorship
  • Ask about global offices and roles
  • Check H1B databases on Careernomics or MBA-Exchange
  • Prioritize visa-sponsoring firms of roles of interest and align with your background. Run a parallel search for roles outside the US. Consider US companies with global branches to  secure future L1 or H1B opportunities.

STEP 9: REFLECT & IMPROVE

  1. Were your questions strong?
  2. Did your elevator pitch land well?
  3. Which employers resonated most?
  4. What would you do differently next time?

STEP 10: KEEP MOMENTUM

  1. Follow up with reps quarterly (share wins or updates)
  2. Track top competitors of your dream companies
  3. Ask about off-cycle projects or remote collaborations
  4. Add everyone on LinkedIn with a personal note

STEP 11: CONCLUSION & CALL TO ACTION

  • Download the full checklist
  • Explore our upcoming conferences & competitions
  • Visit the Career Development Office for coaching
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