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Communities and relationships

Job and career fairs: A valuable head start in your job hunt

Studerende står ved et IDA-telt og bliver informeret

It can be difficult to navigate what awaits you when you finish your education. Which career path is right for you? How do you get in touch with potential employers? One of the best ways to get answers and gain an extra edge after graduation is by attending job and career fairs. Here are some good reasons why you as a student should prioritise these events.

Table of contents

Supplement your digital job search
Be prepared
Why job and career fairs are a good idea

Assist your digital job search

It has never been easier to find information about people and companies than it is now. Websites, podcasts, and social media are just some of the digital tools you can use to find information about companies you might be interested in working for one day. However, this is far from enough if the dream is to be realized one day. And that’s where job and career fairs come into the picture.

If you sit behind a screen and research, follow them on LinkedIn, etc., you primarily get superficial knowledge about the company. You will not gain insight into whether it is a place where you can unfold with the things you want to do and have competencies in.

Sanne Mattebjerg, Career advisor at IDA

It is very important to be able to speak with companies face-to-face, thereby creating relationships between you and specific employees at the various companies. The experience and knowledge you gain at a fair can give you insight into what it is like to work at the workplace, their tone of voice, and what things would be good to ask about in a potential job interview. It is important to remember that this can be the first step towards landing your first job. The first date, one might call it.

Use IDA Student Jobfinder to find your dream job

Explore the job market within your field

As a supplement to attending job and career fairs, you can use IDA Study Job Finder to look for student jobs, internships, project collaborations, and available full-time positions.

IDA Student Jobfinder

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Project collaborations

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Vacant positions

IDA Student Jobfinder

Be prepared

In many cases, it can be fine to be open and just let yourself be inspired and see what happens. But when it comes to your participation in job and career fairs, it is very much about being prepared.

If you go there without preparing, you will come home with tote bags and sweets. So if you want to get more out of it than that, you need to prepare.

Sanne Mattebjerg, Career advisor at IDA

Find out which companies are coming, and then do your research on what they can offer. Does it match some of the wishes you have for your working life or the tasks you would like to work with? If you can check those boxes, put them on your priority list.

So depending on what your purpose is for being at the fair, it is quite central that you ask some questions that can give you answers on whether those purposes will be fulfilled. So if you want an internship, it is obvious to ask them if they are used to having interns. If not, then there is probably no reason to spend more time and energy talking to that company.

Why good relationships in your studies are important

Facts

Why job and career fairs are a good idea

There are many good reasons to prioritize communities and relationship building. Here are our 5 reasons to participate.

Network – get contacts in the industry

You meet representatives from companies that could potentially become your future employers. By talking to them, you can get an idea of what qualifications they are looking for and how you can make yourself more attractive in the job market. A good network can also lead to internships, student jobs, or even a full-time job after your education.

Insight into career opportunities

It can be challenging to figure out which career path you want to pursue. At job fairs, you have the opportunity to talk to many different companies from various industries and gain insight into what they work with and what opportunities they offer. This can help you discover new career paths that you might not have considered before.

Practice your conversation and presentation skills

A job and career fair also provides a unique opportunity to practice your communication skills. By talking to company representatives, you can gain experience in presenting yourself, your background, and your strengths.

Understand companies’ requirements and expectations

You gain better insight into what companies are looking for in candidates. Do they prioritize specific professional qualifications? Or is practical experience and certain character traits that can work well in existing teams more important? This knowledge can help you tailor your education and experiences to better match the job market’s expectations.

Opportunity for direct application

At some job and career fairs, you actually have the opportunity to apply for jobs or internships directly. Companies are not only there to present themselves – they are often also looking for talented students for vacant positions. Meeting an employer face-to-face can give you an advantage when applying for a position later. It is important to follow up and reach out to the interesting companies afterward. You cannot expect them to contact you.

Participation in job and career fairs can give you a valuable head start in your job hunt and help you find out where you fit into the job market. So next time you get the chance to attend a fair – seize the opportunity! Prepare, be open, and use the event to make contacts, gain knowledge about different industries, and develop your skills in presenting yourself. It is an investment in your future that can open up exciting career opportunities.

How to create a good network during your studies

If you found the article useful and can see the value in job and career fairs for networking, take a look at the related content below.

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