Career Fair

Write down your vision and identify student learning goals for the event. Use the RWL Activity Planning Worksheet

Contact your administration to schedule the event and identify the location in your school (e.g. gym, classrooms, auditorium space)

Enlist a team with diverse networks to support you before, during and after the fair. Your list may include: colleagues, parents, guidance counselors, student clubs/organization leaders and/or volunteer organizations

Create an easily shareable project plan for the event with tasks due dates and assigned owners (see Project Plan Template)

Train your team on your systems-spreadsheets, project plans and tools so they know how to access and share information

Use your team to conduct outreach to personal contacts, organizations and colleges to identify potential partners/presenters

Create a shared spreadsheet of all potential partners with their industry names and types of jobs/careers

Poll the students and your colleagues, using an online survey tool to identify the types of careers and opportunities that interest them. NOTE: Your survey should be 5 questions maximum and should include check-boxes or drop-downs

Based on student interest survey results, identify 15-20 potential partners to invite to present at Career Fair (see Sample Invitation Email)

Confirm your partners/presenters and send information about your school and any specifications for tables (see Confirmation Email)

Collect bios for partner organization representatives and short organization descriptions for Career Fair program. Save in your spreadsheet

Invite local media to promote this activity and your school

Confirm event space details and set-up requirements (e.g. number of tables, set up)

Identify needs for A/V and ensure there are enough outlets in the space

Create a budget

Confirm break room for partners/presenters

Coordinate and confirm catering for the day of the event

Identify a colleague or hire a professional photographer to capture photos from the event

Promote the event on social media and school website to build buzz and excitement starting two weeks before the event. Include information about partners/presenters to peak interest

Prepare students 1-2 weeks ahead of the Career Fair with lessons on Career Exploration. Lessons 1-3 (1-2 class periods) get students thinking about their career interests (see Sample Lesson Plans for Career Exploration)

The week of the event help students prepare for the fair with networking, 30-second pitch prep and professional communications-lessons 6,10 and 11 (see Sample Lesson Plans for Career Exploration)

Create a plan for when and how students will attend the Career Fair

Create the “run of show” document with minute-by-minute plans, contact information for partners and team members

Meet with Career Fair planning and day-of team to review the “run of show” document and discuss any open questions

Create signage for the event

Create a program book with a list of partners, descriptions of their organizations and the name of the representative(s)

Print signage (plan to print at least 2-3 large signs)

Order small plaques or awards for partners

Print enough program books for students, partners and guests

Identify a student ambassador to thank the partners and give them awards at the end of the day

Ensure students know the dress code, timeline, and logistics of the event. For homework have students review the list of organizations and research 3-5 that interest them. Have student develop goals for the event

Meet with the Career Fair planning team early the day-of to review positions

Greet partners at the front door and have students escort them to event to set up

Walk around the room as partners are setting up to provide any assistance or answer any questions

Provide a 20-minute formal greeting to all presenters in the breakroom. Invite your principal to thank them for their participation and provide the schedule for the day

Take pictures and videos to document the event

Ask a student volunteer to present partners with their awards for participation and thank them

Express your gratitude to your Career Fair team and acknowledge them at the event in front of partners and your administration

Send thank you notes and emails to your Career Fair team

Reconcile any budget spending

Write personal thank you notes to the partners with photos from the event

Review professional email writing with students and discuss the importance of follow up

Have students write a follow-up and thank email to at least one person they connected with at the event

Debrief the Career Fair in class, ask students:

• If they learned anything new from the experience? What did they learn?
• Who did they connect with?
• Have their career interests shifted? Why or why not?

Provide a feedback survey to student, staff and partners (see Sample Survey Questions)

Reflect on the event with your students (see Student Reflection)

Hold a debrief meeting with the Career Fair team to discuss the event and lessons learned. Write these down to share with your administration

Reflect on the event yourself (see Teacher Reflection)

Create a blog post or write up about the activity to share with your district