Question: I’ve registered for the upcoming Career Fair and am unsure how the 1:1 chats will go – help!
Answer: If you haven’t been to a Career Fair, let alone a virtual one, it can be hard to imagine how those conversations will unfold. When these events were held in-person and on campus, there was a lot going on with hundreds of people in the same room at the same time. Your biggest challenge may have been hearing each other! For these virtual events, it will be quieter and easier to focus – it is just the two of you, after all!
If that sounds intimidating, not to worry. The following insights will help you ace your one-to-one chats with confidence:
What impresses company representatives and recruiters most when they speak with career fair attendees? Two things top their list: knowing ‘something’ about the company and taking the lead in the conversation. The best way to own your conversation is by doing your homework – knowing which employers are coming to the fair, understanding their business and what roles they are hiring for. You’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to who you choose to meet, you request the chat so be ready to do just that.
Then you’ll want to plan what you want to talk with each individual about, based on your research. For example, if you’re looking for a CAD Technician position and the company has an available position. Following a brief hello and introduction of yourself, you will want to focus your conversation very directly and specifically on asking about this role. If, on the other hand, it doesn’t seem like there’s an open CAD Technician position, your conversation will be more exploratory. One advantage of virtual events is that you can have your notes and questions right in front of you.
Remember, the clock is ticking on your conversations. Most employers will have pre-set a ‘timer’ for the 1:1 chats – likely 5 minutes. And when it’s busy, they will stick to this timing to effectively manage their line-up. Knowing this and managing your time effectively will serve you well in leaving a positive impression and ensuring you can speak with everyone on your list.
Visit our Career Fairs webpage for resources from prep sessions and a Navigation Tips video clip to lists of who is attending. See you there, ready to chat!