At the University of Michigan School of Information's annual career fair, students have the opportunity to network with representatives from leading companies like Deloitte, Carhartt, Epic, and Menlo Innovations, where their skills in AI, data analysis, mobile app development and UX design are highly in demand. 

When preparing for a career fair, there is the standard advice — dress for success, prepare an elevator pitch — and then there are those hard-won tidbits you learn only through experience, but wish you’d known sooner. 

We asked experts, including a recruiter, career counselors, and UMSI students who have attended the career fair before, to give their best tips for standing out at a career fair in the information field. 

Speak the employer’s language.

“Tailor your resume to speak the language of the role you are applying to,” says Hunter Pritchard, campus recruiting specialist for Deloitte. For example, if an internship description mentions “communications, teamwork and leadership” as desired skills, go through your resume and make sure that each of those skills is reflected in the experiences you list. 

“This may mean that you have multiple copies of your resume,” Pritchard adds. Bring printed versions of your resume to the career fair in a folder, and use a sticky note to label each version.

When she attended the UMSI career fair last year, Grace Garmo, a Bachelor of Science in Information student on the UX design track, learned that this advice also applies to conversations with recruiters.

“A lot of employers asked me, ‘What are your skills?’ which I didn't expect because it's on my resume,” she shares. “But they wanted to see the first thing I would think of, and if those tools aligned with what they use.” 

You can do research ahead of time to find out which programming languages or design tools companies use in their work. “I found that every time I told an employer or recruiter, ‘I'm an expert in Figma,’ or whichever design tool they use, they glowed with excitement,” Garmo says. 

Don’t ask, “What does your company do?”

Instead, “prepare thoughtful questions ahead of time,” says Laura Marsh, employer relations coordinator at UMSI. “Check to see if companies have job postings of interest currently on their website, and mention that in your ‘pitch’ or introduction. Show energy and enthusiasm for their work, products, customers or mission.” 

Garmo has a tip for doing this kind of research. “'I’ll ask ChatGPT, ‘Explain what this company does to me like I'm a 5-year-old,” she says. “That helps a lot, because sometimes a company’s About page will be a little bit vague.” 

By mentioning something specific about the employer's mission or recent initiatives and relating this back to your own skills or values as an applicant, you can demonstrate both your interest and your fit. 

Dress according to your personal brand. 

When selecting your outfit for the career fair, “Think about your personal brand, and consider what will make you feel like your authentic work self,” Marsh says. “Remember to take into account the company culture of the employers you are targeting.” Some will be more formal, while others might have a more creative vibe. 

In general, go for professional clothes that still make you feel like yourself. Prioritize comfort and fit. Neutral colors are common, but a thoughtful pop of color is OK. And while it’s important to wear something you feel confident in, it’s best to avoid strong fragrances and denim (sorry, Justin Timberlake). Check out the U-M Career Center Clothes Closet to select from a wide range of new and gently used work attire, and watch Tips for Dressing for Work for additional ideas.

Keep an open mind. 

“One thing that was helpful for me was approaching the career fair as an opportunity for personal growth, rather than solely focusing on landing a job,” says Joanne Huang, a Master of Science in Information and Master of Architecture dual degree student. 

Setting realistic expectations reduced Huang’s stress — which can actually lead to more enjoyable conversations for employers and students alike. She was able to practice networking, like any other skill.

Huang landed a dream internship, by the way — she spent the summer designing products at Meta’s Reality Labs — but she found that internship through a LinkedIn connection.

Joanna Kroll, director of UMSI’s Career Development Office, strongly seconds this advice. “Remember, the career fair is just one of the ways you engage in your job and internship search,” she says. 

According to Kroll, 8-10% of UMSI students report getting jobs and internships directly from the UMSI career fair. That leaves over 90% of students who find their internships  and jobs through other avenues. The CDO hosts events throughout the semester to help students connect with recruiters, network with alumni and learn about opportunities at top companies — your future career doesn’t have to be built in a day.

Apply for a position beforehand.

The ultimate stand-out move, according to Kroll, is to have already applied for an internship or job you’re interested in before you attend the career fair. Then, when you’re speaking to the employer, let them know that you’ve applied. Your interest in the company will be clear, and they’ll likely remember your conversation.

You can also use this as an opportunity to vet a potential employer: What does your interaction with the employer tell you about company culture? 

Follow up with recruiters — here’s a good approach. 

After the fair, Kroll says, “Connect with recruiters ASAP via LinkedIn, while you’re still top of mind.” Then, send a thank you email one to two days later, mentioning your interest, qualifications and excitement about the application process.

Here is Garmo’s template: “I’ll say, ‘Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me about the design role,’ and then I'll try to include something specific that we talked about, so they remember me. ‘I found it interesting when you said this, or I loved when you talked about this.’ Then I will say, ‘I've attached my resume and cover letter, and if you have any further questions, or if you'd like to chat about the role, I'd love to do that.’” 

Following up with employers might feel nerve-wracking, but they expect to hear from students. “If you don't follow up, you're falling into a void of all the other students who don't follow up,” Garmo says. 

This is what Pritchard calls “close networking with company recruiters,” and she highly recommends it. “The sooner you’re on our radars,” she says, “the better!”

Students can register now for the 2024 UMSI career fair via UMSI CareerLink.

RELATED

Joanne Huang is a peer coach in the Career Development Office. UMSI students can sign up for a one-on-one session via CareerLink.

Event listing: UMSI Career Fair 2024

Taking full advantage of UMSI career support helps grads enter industry with confidence