Event Preparation

Career events reward preparation more than almost anything else you will do in a job search.

An hour spent beforehand — picking five organizations, learning what they do, preparing a short introduction and three questions — puts you in a small group of people who walk in ready. Recruiters notice immediately, because it is uncommon and because it makes their afternoon easier.

The week before

Preparation

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• Found the list of attending organizations and picked the five you most want to talk to.
• Researched those five — what they do, what they hire for, whether they have a veteran hiring program.
• Updated your resume and had it reviewed.
• Printed 10–15 copies on decent paper, in a folder that keeps them flat.
• Prepared and rehearsed a 20-second introduction.
• Prepared two or three questions for each priority organization.
• Updated your LinkedIn profile — people will look you up the same day.
• Confirmed the location, parking or transit, check-in process, and dress code.
• If resume review is offered, sent yours ahead of time as instructed.
• If headshots are offered, planned what to wear.

What to bring

Packing list

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• Printed resumes in a folder or portfolio.
• A pen and a small notebook — write down names immediately after each conversation.
• Phone, charged, with a power bank.
• Business cards if you have them, or a LinkedIn QR code saved to your phone.
• A laptop or tablet if you want to work through prompts during the session.
• Water, and something to eat if the event runs long.
• ID for building security.

During

Working the room

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• Hit your five priority organizations first, before the queues build.
• Asked questions rather than delivering a pitch.
• Wrote down each person's name, role, and one specific detail from the conversation.
• Asked "what is the best way to follow up with you?" every time.
• Talked to other attendees, not just recruiters — they are your peers and your network.
• Took the headshot if one was offered.
• Sat in on at least one session you did not plan to attend.

Within 48 hours

Follow-up

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• Sent a LinkedIn connection request to everyone you spoke with, each with a note referencing your specific conversation.
• Emailed anyone who gave you a card, within 24 hours.
• Applied to any role you were explicitly pointed toward, referencing the conversation.
• Logged every contact and next step in your tracking sheet.
• Acted on any advice you were given, and noted it so you can report back in six weeks.
• Bookmarked this site and picked the next prompt to work through.

The follow-up is the event

A recruiter meets dozens of people over an afternoon, and by Friday the conversations have blurred together.

A specific follow-up within 24 hours brings yours straight back into focus. Referencing something they actually said — that their team is standing up a new logistics group, say — reminds them exactly who you were and shows you were listening. That single message does more for you than anything else you do on the day.