Corporations send representatives to Career Expos for a number of reasons. A primary reason is to assess the quality and diversity of the student body. Thus, companies can determine the potential effectiveness of recruiting on a campus. Expos are a way for Human Resources and Recruitment personnel to meet with students in an informal setting to evaluate the academic and personal qualifications of a large number of potential candidates in a relatively short period of time.

Very seldom will a hiring decision be made solely on this initial meeting. A successful Expo experience can confirm the importance of returning to the campus for the next step in the recruitment process, the on campus or screening interview (Toppel Information | Ziff Information).

For students, Expo offers an opportunity to learn more about a specific company or industry. Frequently, company representatives at Expos are also the individuals conducting on-campus interviews. Students who have met their interviewers at a Expo, and perhaps, also at a company presentation, enter the screening interview armed with enhanced self-confidence: they have a larger accumulation of company knowledge and greater ease with employers, with whom they have met on one or two prior occasions.

The purpose of a Expo is for students and employers to meet and exchange information . Don't hesitate in your approach! Take the initiative and introduce yourself. Walking up and introducing yourself to a recruiter may be uncomfortable, and you may feel awkward and unsure about how to begin a conversation. However, recognize that, as in any new situation, first impressions begin with the moment you approach an employer. Make that moment count!