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Job Fair Packing Checklist
What to carry, wear and prepare so you can talk to recruiters with your hands free.
A real, editable checklist below — tick, tap a line to rewrite, drag to reorder.
Tick the circles, tap any line to change it, drag the dots to reorder.
Saved in this browser. Send it to Clear to keep it on your phone.
Before you pack anything, find out who is attending: UT Austin Career Services and Cal State Long Beach both say to review the employer list ahead of time and rank the companies you most want to meet. For the bag itself, UT says at least 20 copies of your resume, and Clash Graphics says 20 to 40. This list assumes an in-person fair. It leaves out virtual-fair setup and follow-up beyond a thank-you note.
Why these items are on the list
- Resumes, 20-40 copies. UT says at least 20; Clash Graphics says 20 to 40 so you do not run out.
- Extra resume copies. Cal State Long Beach says bring extras for employers you connect with unexpectedly.
- Career-center resume review. Cal State Long Beach suggests getting it reviewed ahead of time.
- Folder or portfolio. Named by UT and Cal State Long Beach to carry resumes and keep your hands free.
- Notebook and pens. ATS says notes help you tell companies apart afterwards.
- Business cards. ATS suggests printing your details on card stock if recruiters are not taking paper resumes.
- List of attending employers. UT says draft a prioritized list so you meet the most important ones first.
- Company research notes. Clash Graphics says to organize them so you can reference key points quickly.
- Written questions for recruiters. UT says skip basics like what the company does. Cal State Long Beach says avoid salary and benefits.
- 30-second pitch notes. ATS suggests a 10-second and a 30-second version. UT says practice, but do not memorize.
- Business professional outfit. UT says business professional or business casual. Cal State Long Beach says err conservative.
- Comfortable shoes. UT notes you may be walking or standing for a long time.
- Small bag or folder only. UT says a small purse or folder keeps you navigating easily; large backpacks go to bag check.
- Charged smartphone. Clash Graphics suggests photographing business cards after each conversation.
- Digital resume copy. Clash Graphics says it allows quick sharing by email.
- Mints, comb, tissues. Clash Graphics lists these for staying polished after hours of conversations.
- Spare business outfit. Clash Graphics suggests it for spills or tears.
- Work samples, if relevant. Clash Graphics says portfolios matter most in design, writing or marketing.
- Thank-you email template. UT says follow up within 24 to 48 hours after the fair.
Job fair advice usually comes as a long article mixing what to pack with what to say. A tickable list separates the physical bag from the prep work, so you can check off resumes and shoes the night before. Share it with a friend heading to the same fair so you cover the same ground.
When to use it
Use it the week before a job or career fair, so the resume review and employer research have time to happen.