Tips from The Wall Street Journal

Dress and act the part. Treat a career fair as you would a traditional job interview, as this is your chance to make a first impression with employers. Dress in business attire and demonstrate professionalism while selling your candidacy. Listen carefully and be sure to thank recruiters for their time.

Arrive early. Recruiters might talk to hundreds of candidates during an event. Speaking to them before they get burnt out could give you an edge.

Have a game plan. Not every employer represented at a career fair is worth visiting. Check the Web site for the event before you go to find out which organizations will be in attendance. Make a list of the ones whose recruiters you want to meet, and plan to visit the ones you’re most interested in first. If a map of the event is available, check it to chart an organized and efficient route.

Research beforehand. Learn about the employers you are interested in ahead of time and familiarize yourself with their mission statement, positions they have available and recent press releases. Since meetings with recruiters at career fairs are similar to normal job interviews, it’s likely that you’ll be asked what you know about each organization and why you’re a strong fit.

Follow up. Send a thank-you email to the recruiters you meet the day after the event has ended. In it, reiterate your qualifications and interest in an on-site interview.