Questions To Ask At A Career Fair

Finding a job can be a complicated process — there are so many ways to search for jobs, but it can be hard to figure out where you should focus your search. Although many people search for jobs online these days, going to an old-fashioned career fair is still a great way to gather job leads and put yourself out there as a job candidate.

Applying for jobs online might take less time, and putting on a suit, printing out your resume, and spending a few hours of your time might seem like it’s not worth it. But don’t overlook the potential of going to a career fair can have on landing you a job.

The main difference between going in-person to a career fair and filling out applications online without going to meet representatives at a career fair is what we call the “human factor.”

When you apply online, you can easily appear just like anyone else on paper. At a career fair, however, recruiters will be able to see you for more than your resume. And this better look goes both ways — you can also see if the company you so desperately want to join is really the best fit for you.

By now, we hope we’ve been able to convince you that going to a career fair is a great life decision. However, the real question is, what should you do at a career fair to increase your chances of being contacted later by the recruiters? How can you make the most of your time at the career fair?

The simple answer to that question is to ask the right questions at each company booth you are interested in. Here are a few key takeaways to keep in mind when brainstorming questions to bring to a career fair:

• Don’t ask questions that draw attention to potential weaknesses in your application

• Ask engaging questions about the role, the company, and the company culture

• Always be sure to get contact info from recruiters for follow up questions

Now that you’ve got the big picture, let’s take a look at the nuts and bolts of figuring out which questions to ask at a career fair.

Types of Questions You Should Ask at a Career Fair

When you go to a career fair, you need to be prepared with some general types of questions to ask. At some career fairs, you may know the companies who will be present, but at others, you might not know who will be there.

Therefore, you’ll have to have several “go-to” questions to ask that you can then make more specific for each recruiter you talk to at the career fair.

Here are seven types of questions you should ask at a career fair:

• The hiring process and timeline

• Role/job specifics

• Employee growth, advancement, and development

• The company’s culture and the environment — what type of person would fit in well at the company

• The recruiter’s experience and history at the company

• Candidate qualities

• Contact details for follow up

These questions may seem basic, but they encompass the major points you’ll want to take away from each company table you visit. You might not be able to ask all of the questions, but asking a few you’re most interested in and getting contact details for follow up is the most important thing to accomplish.

Examples of Questions to Ask at a Career Fair

You might be wondering how to best create questions from those main points. Don’t worry — we’ve got your back. Just be sure to make your questions specific to the company and job.

Spending a few minutes doing a quick Google search of the company before you walk up to the table is worth the time. Use your search results and conversation with the recruiter to guide your questions.

Here are some example questions to ask recruiters at a career fair:

• What does the hiring process look like for [company name]?

• Where is it best for me to fill out an application for this role?

• When are you hoping to fill this role?

• Can you give me more details about this qualification?

• What is considered equivalent experience for this education qualification?

• In what ways does [company name] help employees grow and advance in the company?

• What does advancement in [company name] look like?

• What type of person would fit in well with your company culture?

• How would you describe your company culture?

• What is your experience working with [company name]? What do you like best about working for [company name]?

• How long have you worked for [company name]? How have you seen the company grow over that time?

• What are the main qualities you’re looking for in a candidate outside of the qualifications listed in the application?

• What is the best way for me to follow up with you?

• What is the best way to reach you with any questions?

As you can see, there are many questions you can ask at a career fair that will make you look engaged in the process and the conversation with the recruiter. The last thing you want to do at a career fair is to not contribute to the conversation if a recruiter tries to begin one with you.

While there are a lot of questions to choose from, there are some questions that you should avoid asking at a career fair.

Questions You Shouldn’t Ask at a Career Fair

Career fairs can be hectic and stressful. You will have a limited time talking to a recruiter at a career fair, and first impressions are important. You’ll want to make sure that the time you have with a recruiter gives them a great image of you as a potential job candidate.

Here are some statements to avoid when speaking with any company at a career fair:

• “I would never want to work in/with [subject/industry]”

• “Your company doesn’t look like it has a fun company culture”

• “This company culture reminds me of a previous job that didn’t fit well with me”

• “Your company pays too little for me”

As you can probably guess, saying these statements will probably come off poorly and will likely shut doors on opportunities with the company.

Here are some questions to avoid when speaking with a recruiter at a job fair:

• Is this all the company has to offer?

• What is this company about? What does your company do?

• How much would I get paid?

• Do you hire convicted felons?

• Is it OK if I were unemployed for a while before applying?

Final Thoughts

Going to a career fair can be an excellent networking opportunity. Even if there is a career fair with companies you aren’t interested in working for, try going anyway to practice speaking with recruiters and selling yourself as a candidate.

Use our examples of what to ask and what not to ask to help guide your conversation with the recruiter. Make sure to dress appropriately and print out a few copies of your resume, and you’ll be well on your way to finding your next job.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.