Prior to the event:

• Schedule a résumé review with Career Services. Call or email Career Services to set up a time to review your résumé. If you haven't started to build it yet, check out our Résumé/Cover Letter handout. Once it has been reviewed and it's ready to go, stop back by Career Services for some professional résumé paper. You'll need to have several copies ready to hand to exhibitors on event day.

• Research the exhibitors in advance. Exhibitors appreciate the time you spend researching their company or graduate/professional program. You will gain more knowledge about the company/program of interest if you have a little background information before the Expo.

• Prepare a script. Make a mental note of a few key points you want exhibitors to know from the beginning. The more information you can provide at the start, the more an exhibitor will know if you are the right candidate for the position of interest. Introduce yourself with confidence!

• Have a game plan. Once you've researched the companies or graduate/professional programs you're interested in, focus on your top two or three. If you have too many options, you will not have adequate time to get to know the program or the exhibitor.

Day of the event:

• Grab your stack of résumés. In your rush to get to the expo, don't leave your stack of résumés on the kitchen counter!
• Dress appropriately. Showing up in your pajamas after spending the night studying does not send the right message to exhibitors. Wrinkle-free professional dress is encouraged.
• Positive attitude. Exhibitors are more likely to consider you as a potential candidate if you approach them with confidence and a positive attitude.
• Remember your game plan. Start with the schools or companies you're most interested in and after you feel like you have spent adequate time with each of them, explore the other tables.
• Ask questions! Again, exhibitors want to know that you've done your research. Asking questions about their school or company shows that you've spent time exploring your options and that you've chosen to focus on them.
• Be mindful of their literature. Exhibitors often have brochures, programs, freebies, etc. on their table. Ask before you take their literature to ensure that they have enough for any other career/graduate fairs they may be attending in the following days.
• Get a business card. Getting an exhibitor's business card is important for several reasons. It expresses your interest in the company/school, provides a contact for your professional network, and gives all information necessary for future correspondence.

After the event:

• Put your recently acquired business cards to use! Thanking an exhibitor for the time they spent sharing information with you is a great way to show your enthusiasm and commitment to their company/school. If you don't have any thank you notes, stop by Career Services and pick up a few.
• Follow up in a timely manner. Whether applying for a job, internship or graduate/professional opportunity. It is appropriate to follow up with the company/school in a timely manner. If you have not received correspondence in 7-10 working days, send an email or make a phone call to follow up.
• Notify Career Services of your success! Visit our "Share an Outcome" page to let us know about your acceptance to the company or graduate/professional program you chose!

Information compiled from jobweb.org, career.berkeley.edu and careerbuilder.com.