P&A: Science for Energy and Sustainability (master, joint degree)
P&A: Theoretical Physics (master, joint degree)
Pedagogical Sciences (master)
Pedagogische wetenschappen (bachelor)
Pedagogische wetenschappen (master)
Philosophy (master)
Philosophy (research master)
Philosophy of the Humanities and the Social Sciences (master)
Philosophy of the Humanities and the Social Sciences (schakelprogramma)
Physics and Astronomy (master, joint degree)
Political Science (bachelor)
Political Science (master)
Political Science (premaster)
Politicologie (bachelor)
PPLE - Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (bachelor)
Preservation and Presentation of the Moving Image (duale master)
Preventieve jeugdhulp en opvoeding (schakelprogramma)
Privaatrechtelijke rechtspraktijk (master)
Psychobiologie (bachelor)
Psychologie (schakelprogramma)
Psychologie (bachelor), NL
Psychologie (master), NL
Psychology (premaster)
Psychology (bachelor), EN
Psychology (master), EN
Psychology (research master), EN
Public International Law (master)
Publieksgeschiedenis (master)
Quantum Computer Science (master)
Rechtsgeleerdheid (bachelor)
Rechtsgeleerdheid met HBO-vooropleiding (schakelprogramma)
Rechtsgeleerdheid met WO-vooropleiding (schakelprogramma)
Redacteur/editor (duale master)
Religiewetenschappen (bachelor)
Religious Studies (research master)
Russische en Slavische studies (bachelor)
Scandinavië studies (bachelor)
Scheikunde (bachelor, joint degree)
Science, Technology & Innovation (bachelor)
Security and Network Engineering (master)
Sign Language Linguistics (bachelor)
Social Sciences (research master)
Sociale geografie en Planologie (bachelor)
Sociologie (bachelor)
Sociology (bachelor)
Sociology (master)
Sociology (premaster)
Software Engineering (master)
Spaanse en Latijns-Amerikaanse studies (bachelor)
Spirituality and Religion (master)
Spirituality and Religion (schakelprogramma)
Staats- en bestuursrecht (master)
Stads- en architectuurgeschiedenis (master)
Stochastics and Financial Mathematics (master)
Strafrecht (master)
Taalwetenschappen (bachelor)
Technology Governance (advanced master)
Television and Cross-Media Culture (master)
Theaterwetenschap (bachelor)
Theatre Studies (master)
Universitaire Pabo van Amsterdam (bachelor)
Urban and Regional Planning (master)
Urban and Regional Planning (premaster)
Urban Studies (research master)
Vertalen (master)
Vertalen (schakelprogramma)
Wiskunde (bachelor)
How to prepare for a company fair
Last modified on 22-03-2024 12:51
Here you will find all information on how to prepare for a company fair
Show information for your study programme
You're currently viewing general information. Choose your study programme to see additional information that's specific to your study programme, such as deadlines, regulations and contact details.
What is your study programme?
Accountancy and Control (master)
Accountancy and Control (premaster)
Actuarial Science (bachelor)
Actuarial Science and Mathematical Finance (master)
American Studies (master)
Ancient Studies (bachelor)
Arabische taal en cultuur (bachelor)
Arbeidsrecht (master)
Archaeology (master)
Archaeology (premaster)
Archaeology (bachelor), EN
Archaeology and Heritage (research master)
Archeologie (bachelor), NL
Archival and Information Studies (duale master)
Art and Performance Research Studies (research master)
Artificial Intelligence (master)
Bèta-gamma (bachelor)
Bioinformatics and Systems Biology (master, joint degree)
Biological Sciences (master)
Biologie (bachelor)
Biomedical Sciences (master)
Biomedische wetenschappen (bachelor)
BMS: Cell Biology and Advanced Microscopy (master)
BMS: Cognitive Neurobiology and Clinical Neurophysiology (master)
BMS: Developmental and Therapeutic Biology (master)
BMS: Experimental Internal Medicine (master)
BMS: Infection and Immunity (master)
BMS: Medical Biochemistry and Biotechnology (master)
BMS: Molecular Neurosciences (master)
BMS: Oncology (master)
BMS: Physiology of Synapses and Networks (master)
BMS: Psychopharmacology and Pathophysiology (master)
P&A: Science for Energy and Sustainability (master, joint degree)
P&A: Theoretical Physics (master, joint degree)
Pedagogical Sciences (master)
Pedagogische wetenschappen (bachelor)
Pedagogische wetenschappen (master)
Philosophy (master)
Philosophy (research master)
Philosophy of the Humanities and the Social Sciences (master)
Philosophy of the Humanities and the Social Sciences (schakelprogramma)
Physics and Astronomy (master, joint degree)
Political Science (bachelor)
Political Science (master)
Political Science (premaster)
Politicologie (bachelor)
PPLE - Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (bachelor)
Preservation and Presentation of the Moving Image (duale master)
Preventieve jeugdhulp en opvoeding (schakelprogramma)
Privaatrechtelijke rechtspraktijk (master)
Psychobiologie (bachelor)
Psychologie (schakelprogramma)
Psychologie (bachelor), NL
Psychologie (master), NL
Psychology (premaster)
Psychology (bachelor), EN
Psychology (master), EN
Psychology (research master), EN
Public International Law (master)
Publieksgeschiedenis (master)
Quantum Computer Science (master)
Rechtsgeleerdheid (bachelor)
Rechtsgeleerdheid met HBO-vooropleiding (schakelprogramma)
Rechtsgeleerdheid met WO-vooropleiding (schakelprogramma)
Redacteur/editor (duale master)
Religiewetenschappen (bachelor)
Religious Studies (research master)
Russische en Slavische studies (bachelor)
Scandinavië studies (bachelor)
Scheikunde (bachelor, joint degree)
Science, Technology & Innovation (bachelor)
Security and Network Engineering (master)
Sign Language Linguistics (bachelor)
Social Sciences (research master)
Sociale geografie en Planologie (bachelor)
Sociologie (bachelor)
Sociology (bachelor)
Sociology (master)
Sociology (premaster)
Software Engineering (master)
Spaanse en Latijns-Amerikaanse studies (bachelor)
Spirituality and Religion (master)
Spirituality and Religion (schakelprogramma)
Staats- en bestuursrecht (master)
Stads- en architectuurgeschiedenis (master)
Stochastics and Financial Mathematics (master)
Strafrecht (master)
Taalwetenschappen (bachelor)
Technology Governance (advanced master)
Television and Cross-Media Culture (master)
Theaterwetenschap (bachelor)
Theatre Studies (master)
Universitaire Pabo van Amsterdam (bachelor)
Urban and Regional Planning (master)
Urban and Regional Planning (premaster)
Urban Studies (research master)
Vertalen (master)
Vertalen (schakelprogramma)
Wiskunde (bachelor)
How to prepare for a company fair
Research the companies that are attending: try to find out what the company is about, who their clients are, what kind of projects they do and what their core values are. Make a list of the top 10 companies that interest you the most.
Prepare questions: make a list of questions you would like to ask per company. What are you curious about? What are their main challenges nowadays? Or more personal: what would your work day look like? You might also want to ask them about current vacancies, or other possibilities in the future. Consider telling them about your thesis. Are there perhaps topics that might interest them?
Create and practice your personal introduction: take the time to prepare on how you would like to profile yourself. Think about how to tell them your name, study background, your current career goal or the job you are aiming for, the things you think are important and interesting, and the skills you gained so far. Practice out loud on how to formulate this a couple of times.
Prepare for potential interview questions: it will calm your nerves to have some examples of former (work)experiences that underline your personal introduction. Think of some concrete situations in which you developed and practiced your skills, for example.
Visiting the company fair
Be confident: dress appropriately, smile and give a firm handshake.
Visit the companies of your top 10 first: be pro-active and decide which stand you want to go to first. You can always wander around and get surprised by other companies later.
Break the ice: check and see whether the company has anyone free to talk to. It can be uncomfortable to approach people, but it helps to break the ice by asking a question about something that is happening at that moment (“it’s very busy, have you spoken to a lot of students already?”) or simply ask “do you have a moment to speak about your company?”
Ask questions: ask the questions you’ve prepared. Also, think about asking them for advice when they don’t offer something you are interested in. Do they know somebody else to talk to? Also, ask them about their recruitment procedures, as that is relevant general information.
Ask the best way to follow the person or the organisation: a website? LinkedIn? Other sources of information, for example a professional journal?
Take notes: write down names, email addresses and phone numbers, and the topics you’ve discussed with them. This will make it easy to follow up on your conversation later. You can also ask for their business cards.
After the company fair
Follow up with the people you talked to: decide what your desirable outcome would be for every company that you’ve talked to and follow up on the conversation you had. For example, by sending a thank you note through email or by inviting people you’ve talked to for a LinkedIn connection. Make sure you always add a personal note on LinkedIn. Send additional relevant information, like your CV, if needed, and kindly suggest a next step. Also follow up on conversations with fellow attendees of the company fair, you might be able to point each other on relevant possibilities.