Career Fair 101: First- and Second-Year Student Guide
Should I Attend the COB Career Fair?
Yes! You should attend the career fair, even if you’re early in your college journey. There tend to be more opportunities at the COB Career Fair for juniors and seniors because they have more experience, but first- and second-year students can still benefit in many ways. Early attendance helps you:
- Start building professional connections that could lead to internships, jobs, or mentoring relationships.
- Learn about roles, companies, and industries before you start applying.
- Gain confidence and practice networking in a professional environment.
Check out our “Prepare for Events” page for tons of information and resources to get ready for the COB Career Fair.
A career fair is your opportunity to meet employers in person. Here’s what typically happens:
- Employers have tables or booths where you can introduce yourself.
- Students walk around, ask questions, and hand out resumes.
- You will see a mix of formal and casual conversations, giving you a sense of professional networking.
- Dress in business professional attire, bring copies of your resume, and be ready to ask questions about companies and roles.
Even if you’re not applying for a position yet, you can make your attendance valuable:
- Practice your introduction and networking skills.
- Observe how other students interact with employers. What questions do they ask? How do they present themselves?
- Take notes on companies, roles, or skills you might want to explore later.
- Follow up with any contacts you make to start building long-term professional relationships.
- Some companies do hire motivated first- and second-year students for internships, part-time jobs, or projects.
- You gain insight into what employers are looking for and what experiences you can build toward.
- Early exposure makes future career fairs easier and less intimidating.