Update Your Resume
Remember your resume should be clean, concise and up to date.  Have a digital copy uploaded to your Handshake account for easy employer access. Make sure your resume is a PDF to avoid any digital re-formatting issues. If there are specific employers you want to talk with at the Career Fair, consider printing a few copies of your resume to hand to representatives as you introduce yourself. 

Consider attending career-related events such as the Virtual Resume Cafe where you can have your resume reviewed by an employer prior to the career fair. Career Services is also available for resume assistance. Make an appointment or attend Drop-In Resume Review dates.  

Update Your Handshake Profile and Settings
Make sure your Handshake profile is complete and up-to-date. Don’t let an incomplete or out-of-date profile keep you from getting discovered by recruiters.

1. Check that the basics are accurate: graduation date, school year, major, GPA and work authorization. 
2. Select the job types, locations and roles that interest you, so recruiters know which jobs and internships are a good fit for you.
3. Add your courses, skills, and any previous work experience.

Find out which employers are attending
View the career fair event in Handshake to see the full list of employers who are attending each day. From there, you can click through to each employer’s Handshake page to learn more about them and determine if they are an employer of interest.  

To see employers are attending the fair, log into Handshake here and follow the steps below:

1. Click on Events on the top of the page
2. Click on the blue Find Career Fairs button at the top of the page
3. Type 'River Falls' in the Filter section on the left and click on the UWRF Career Fair link
4. Click on Employer List on the bottom left once you get to the Career Fair page on Handshake

Research Employers Of Interest
After you've determined which employers you are interested in, research beyond their Handshake profile. Check out their company website and search online for recent news articles and other relevant information. This will help you think of questions to ask the recruiter. Don't skip this step in the preparation process - employers notice when you've done your homework! 

Prepare & Practice Your Introduction
Prepare how you will introduce yourself to recruiters. Start by sharing your name, year in school, and major. then, talk about the positions you’re interested in, and some relevant skills/experiences. End your introduction with an open ended question to get the employer talking and sharing additional information regarding the position/organization. 

Make a List of Questions
Prepare two or three questions to ask each employer you plan to talk to. These should be related to the company or positions you’re interested in. As part of your research before the event, make sure your questions are insightful and not easily answered by looking at their website. Here are some sample questions that might be good to ask:

• How did your degree help you prepare for the position you are in now?
• I read that your company just started a project doing _______. What opportunities would an intern have in this project?
• What do you like most about your job and working for _______?
• I am interested in following up with you about your job opening. Could you tell me the next steps in the process? And could you give me your email address so that I can follow up with you in a few days?

Dress professionally
Dressing up a bit will make a good first impression with recruiters and employees. Plus, wearing your favorite polished outfit will help boost your confidence in time for the event! 

Maintain Eye Contact and Practice Active Listening
While talking to employers, be present and listen to understand what they are saying. Sometimes when we're nervous we try to come up with quick responses to thier questions or conversation points. Slow down, and think of it as a casual conversation, not an interview. 

Ask Your Prepared Questions and Take Notes
Bring your list of prepared questions for each employer you plan to talk to. Have a pen and paper with you so you can jot down new questions or interesting information as you talk to each recruiter. Pro tip: keep your questions and copies of your resume in a simple folder or padfolio to keep things organized and polished. 

View and Apply to Open Jobs or Internships
Keep the momentum going from your meetings with employers. Check out their employer page on Handshake to see current jobs and internships. Recruiters are logging into Handshake daily to find students for open jobs—so it’s the best place to apply! If you’re not ready to apply yet, save the jobs you like so you’ll get notifications to apply before the deadlines. Find tips for applying to jobs on Handshake here.

Follow Up
If you received contact information from a company representative, send them an email following your conversation. Reintroduce yourself (they will chat with many students at the fair) and thank them for their time. Use your notes to recall something that you discussed or enjoyed about the conversation, and let them know you’re interested in moving to the next step in the process.