Autumn Graduate Fair, ExCel London, 26 October 2011

Make the most of the fair

At the Autumn Graduate Fair there will be quality jobs, internships and placements on offer, but there will be lots of competition for every opportunity – so you must make sure that you stand out from the crowd.

There will be several thousands of other visitors at the event so it is vital that you make the right impression.

Dress to impress

Dress as though you are going to an interview – employers want to picture you working for them not on campus.

Practice and research

Research the companies that you are most interested in meeting. You will make an impression with your knowledge of what they can offer and how you could fit into their organisation.

Many exhibitors comment they want to meet prepared visitors and spend time talking to them, not wasting time explaining what their organisation can offer.

Think about what you are going to say when you approach an employer, first impressions count and if you can start the conversation with a few intelligent questions then they are more likely to remember you. Practice a few ice breakers in advance.

All pre-registered visitors will receive an e-mail matching your profile and preferred sectors to employers at the event.

Take lots of copies of your CV

Some exhibitors will be collecting CVs at the event so make sure you bring several copies along with you and a copy on a memory stick. (If you run out of paper copies there is a Business Centre at ExCeL but it can be cheaper to produce extra copies at home or college.)

If you are not sure if your CV is good enough you can get great CV advice at the fair. You can also hand in a standard application form if you have had time to complete one in advance. Many organisations will consider this to be acceptable if you don’t have a CV.

Fools rush in

Make sure that you don’t rush up to your favourite employer before you are comfortable with what you are going to say.

Speak to a few other employers first and you will be prepared for the types of questions they may ask you in return.