Making the Most of Careers Fairs

Careers, University of Oxford at the fair

Oxford Careers staff will be on hand during the fair to answer any queries you might have about the event and how to make the most of your time there. 

Talk to employers

Do:

• Introduce yourself to make a positive impression – tell them your name, course, and year of study.
• Demonstrate that you have undertaken some research on the organisation.
• Ask pertinent questions, and try to establish a dialogue.
• Collect names and contact details in order to be able to contact recruiters after the event has taken place.
• Thank them for their time!

What types of information could you ask for

• More insight into the company culture
• Level and type of training given from internships to graduate opportunities
• Are there other opportunities to rotate and work in different offices across the country or globe
• What do they feel makes a good applicant stand out
• What are the characteristics of their most successful employees
• What they enjoy most or dislike about their particular industry
• Do they have any specific diversity, inclusion and wellbeing resources available or recognised for their approach for minority groups  such as 'Disability Confident' employer and Stonewall Diversity Champion
• You may be interested in their approach to climate change and so ask questions ranging from 'Does your organisation have a plan to de-carbonise?' to 'Can you tell me how your business model aligns with the Paris Agreement?'
• Any questions that help you to decide whether they are an organisation or sector you would like to be part of.

Try to phrase your questions to demonstrate that you have done some research on the organisation and are looking for more insight or clarification: eg. 'I have seen that your organisation is particularly keen on diversity and inclusion, could you tell me a little more about...'

Don't:

• Ask questions which are answered in the fair booklet!
• Come across as arrogant – for example by asking 'Why should I join your company? What have you got to offer me?'

Make notes

• Try to make notes when you move away from a stand – write down the names of people with whom have you have spoken, and what they told you.
• You can add value to applications by explaining that your interest in their organisation stems from “the careers fair, where XYX told me YXY”… This immediately demonstrates that you have taken time to research their organisation.
• In smaller organisations, the person who attends the fair may be the person who reviews and  shortlists candidates. Referencing their name in an application may make them remember you, which could be advantageous if you made a good impression at the fair.

Feeling overwhelmed? Practise first!

Many individuals find that they get very nervous approaching recruiters at careers fairs. If this resonates with you, then use the fair as an opportunity to practice your networking and information-gathering skills. Follow our advice above, but initially practice by talking to recruiters that are not your preferred places that you want to apply to  - or attend an earlier careers fair to explore a different sector. It will make you feel less nervous - and you might find that an organisation you thought was not of interest is more appealing than you had initially thought! You might want to prepare a brief introduction about yourself, including knowledge, skills and interests.

If you feel unsure where to start or whom to speak with then make sure that you visit the Careers stand for help and advice.

At Careers, we want all students, including disabled students, neurodivergent students and students with long-term health conditions, to feel as comfortable and confident as possible when attending our careers fairs.

Careers fairs can be busy, noisy and fast-moving. We know that some students may have concerns before attending, including questions about accessibility, crowds, queues, or how to ask employers about disability support without sharing more than they feel comfortable with.

Where possible, we offer a dedicated Quiet Time before the official start of many of our in-person careers fairs. Quiet Time is designed to provide a calmer environment for students who may find large crowds, noise or queues overwhelming, or who may benefit from additional time or support when speaking with employers.

Quiet Time usually takes place 30 minutes before the fair officially opens. During this time, music will be turned off, and the fair will operate at a reduced capacity. Careers staff will be available throughout Quiet Time and during the wider fair, so please speak to a member of the team at any point if you need support.

Quiet Time may not be available at every fair, so please check the relevant fair listing on CareerConnect for details. Where Quiet Time is available, students will be asked to pre-book their place via CareerConnect. Further guidance will also be provided on the relevant event page.

If you have any questions about Quiet Time or if you feel that attending a fair may be difficult, please contact the Careers team before the event at [email protected]. We will do our best to put appropriate adjustments in place so that you are able to access the fair and make the most of the event. Anything you share with us will be treated confidentially and will not be shared with employers without your permission.

Examples of adjustments we have previously put in place include:

• A member of staff guiding and assisting students with visual or mobility impairments to navigate the fair stands.
• Individual 1:1 conversations with recruiters away from the main fair, so students can discuss questions or concerns in a quieter setting.
• Pre-fair conversations with careers advisers for disabled students, neurodivergent students and students with long-term health conditions. These can help students plan how to approach the fair, access the event early, and think through how to assess whether an employer is inclusive and supportive of disabled applicants.

To discuss what would be helpful, please contact [email protected] or call 01865 274646.