Job fairs, like interviews, are face-to-face meetings between jobseekers and employers. They are one of the easiest places to find good job leads. Every employer attending is there to hire one or many workers.

At a fair, jobseekers gather information about a company to help them decide if they want to apply for a job. Recruiters staff booths and answer questions, distribute brochures, accept résumés, and size up jobseekers. Making a good impression at a job fair may give your résumé or application added weight.

The following tips can help you make the most of any fair.

Find the fair
Career Centers, associations, State and local governments, and private companies organize job fairs. Find the fairs in your area by looking everywhere they might be announced. Ask a career counselor, review the business bulletin board at your school or local library, check the employment section of the newspaper, and search online via an internet job fair locator.

Ready your résumé.
Before attending a fair, you should prepare a résumé. Bring several copies of to the fair. Leave at least one with every company that seems promising. A résumé lists your name, contact information, education, and experience, both paid and unpaid. It emphasizes accomplishments and skills. Most résumés for entry-level jobs are one page.

Dress neatly.
A job fair is like a series of mini-interviews, with recruiters forming impressions of the people they meet. You might not need to wear a suit, but clothes that are too casual could be a strike against you. Clothes that are too short, too tight, too worn, or too playful are particularly risky. If you are unsure about what to wear, ask a career counselor or someone from the organization sponsoring the fair.

Survey the terrain and plot a strategy.
When you arrive, take a quick walk through the fair. Time is limited, and booths are crowded. Plan a route before stopping at booths to see your favorite companies. Save visits with the best prospects until after you’ve warmed up with a other employers. To make the best use of your time, ask for a list of participating companies a few days before the fair, and rank visits before you arrive.

Complete applications flawlessly.
When a company distributes application forms, take two. One will be a rough draft. If you bring an application home to send later, consider adding a note your met the recruiter at the fair.

Master the mini-interview.
Every time you speak with an employer, no matter how briefly or how boisterous the atmosphere, consider it an interview. Recruiters will expect you to introduce yourself, shake hands confidently, answer questions about your coursework or experience, and have an idea of the type of job you want.

Take Notes.
After visiting several booths, it’s easy for conversations to run together, leaving any jobseeker muddle-headed. After each visit, take a few notes to read at home.

Stay Organized.
Fairgoers are deluged with paper- company literature, recruiters’ business cards, applications, and their own notes. Bring a briefcase, an expandable folder, or a canvas bag to keep materials organized. Counselors suggest going through these papers while your memory is still fresh.

Go alone.
Leave children and other relatives at home. If you plan to attend the fair with a friend, don’t appear to be inseparable when visiting booths. A professional image is easier to maintain if you speak to employers alone.

Apply in absentia.
If you cannot attend the job fair, contact the sponsoring organization. The sponsor may be able to give your résumés to participating employers before or after the fair.