Why You Should Go to A Careers Fair

Meet employers face to face

Outside of insight days, assessment centres and interviews, you don’t really get an opportunity to meet employers. Careers fairs change that. 

You get to have real conversations about their job opportunities and company culture, and find out everything you need to know about them. Come prepared with questions that matter to you, such as:

• What kind of students are you looking for?

• How would you describe your company culture?

• How long have you been at [company name]?

• What do you enjoy the most about working here?

• What career paths are open to me?

If you’ve spotted a particular role they’re currently advertising, ask them about it. Make sure you’ve done your research so you don’t ask about aspects of the role that are already in the job description.

Build Your Professional Network

Networking is a really important skill to have. The earlier you start, the better you’ll become. Plus you’ll:

• Have first-hand access to industry knowledge

• Be able to find out about job opportunities before they hit the general market

• Find mentorship opportunities

• Sign up for their email lists or talent pools (you’ll get access to more information about upcoming roles and events).

It can feel daunting at first. But remember, employers are there because they want to speak with you. They value fresh ideas, and you have loads of them. You’d also be surprised how many people want to stay in touch, so make sure you get their LinkedIn information and connect with them (especially hiring managers).

And if you haven't yet created a LinkedIn account, follow our guide to create a LinkedIn profile that will WOW.

Building these connections now means you'll have people to turn to for advice as your career grows.

Get expert feedback on your CV

Why not get CV advice from the people who’ll be reviewing them? 

Many careers fairs offer one-on-one CV reviews or workshops with recruiters and career specialists. They’ll spot what's working and what's not, then help you strengthen it before you start applying.

This will be even more helpful now that loads of employers use AI to filter applications. Getting human eyes on your CV means you can be confident it'll make it past that initial stage and land in front of an actual person.

Once you’ve refined your CV, you’ll be able to tailor it for different roles and send it out with confidence. It’s also worth working on your cover letter, too. They’re a fantastic way to show your enthusiasm for a job.

Looking for a bit of application inspiration? Check out our complete application toolkit. You’ll find plenty of CV and cover letter tips inside.

Discover opportunities you didn’t know existed

Large companies will have a massive presence at a careers fair. That can sometimes mean long queues. So it’s worth exploring every part of the fair and talking to multiple employers.

Many small-to-medium-sized employers (SMEs) offer excellent opportunities. Working for an SME can give you flexibility, the chance to try more and the opportunity to build closer relationships with your colleagues.

It’s also a chance to find out the different types of roles out there, too. Maybe you’re a law student with your heart set on becoming a solicitor, but did you know you could work in HR, become a conveyancer, or even a consultant? There are so many different routes to a successful career, and a careers fair will help you find it.

Here are the employers offering the top SME schemes in the UK:

Find out about current vacancies 

Careers fairs are job fairs. While everyone doesn’t leave with an interview, you’ll leave knowing much more about what’s out there and where you might fit in.

The types of jobs you’ll find at careers fairs are huge. You’ll be able to find internships, placements, graduate jobs, insight days and apprenticeships. Some fairs only cater to certain types of jobs, but you’ll find loads that include them all in one place so you can scout your options no matter where you are on your career journey.

It’s your opportunity to find out everything you possibly can about a particular role, industry or relevant jobs you didn’t even know existed.

Where to find careers fairs

Careers fairs happen throughout the year across the UK. Some to look out for include:

• The UK Careers Fair

• The National Apprenticeship Show 

• What Career? Live

• Skills London

• Careers fairs on campus. Universities, colleges and schools often host careers fairs on their grounds, so you won’t need to travel too far. 

Speak to your careers officers, too. They’ll have a full calendar of upcoming fairs relevant to you. They’re updated all the time, so it’s worth checking in often so you don’t miss anything.

Higherin’s Careers Fair Top Tips

Heading to a careers fair fairly soon? Here are some tips to make sure you get the most out of your experience.

• Make sure your CV is up to date. Unless you’re attending a CV workshop, bring a CV that’s relevant and tailored to the roles you’re interested in.

• Research beforehand. Know which employers you want to speak to and what they do. It shows genuine interest.

• Set yourself a goal. Decode what you want from the day, whether that’s to find more LinkedIn contacts, score an interview or speak to a few employers.

• Get your LinkedIn profile together. If you don’t have one, create one before the fair. You’ll be able to connect with people you’ve met and stay on their radar. (You can have a LinkedIn account at 16, too).

• Prepare for questions. Employers will want to learn more about you, too. Think about how you’d answer questions about your interests, goals and even hobbies. Check out our interview tips page for common interview questions.

• Follow up afterwards. If you’ve managed to grow your network a little and grabbed some LinkedIn contacts, send them a message after the event to thank them for their time.

Careers fairs open doors. Whether you're exploring your options or actively job hunting, they're one of the most direct routes to finding opportunities and building your professional network. You’ve got this.