6 Tips For Conquering Career Fairs

By Maureen Drum Fagin, Director of Career Services

This fall, ICE hosted the biggest career fair in our 39-year history. Employers from virtually every sector of the food and hospitality industry were on hand, hungry to fill their openings with fresh talent from our kitchens and classrooms. Among the participating employers were industry leaders Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group, Great Performances, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Craft Restaurant Group, Jean Georges' Spice Market, Thomas Keller Restaurant Group, Union Square Hospitality Group and many more.

The event is an incredible resource for our students and alumni, but—like any networking event—you get out what you put in. Here are ICE's top tips for mastering any job fair:

1.  Do your homework. There's nothing more flattering to an employer than a student who approaches their recruiting table referencing a recent review in the Times or an upcoming restaurant launch mention in Eater. Want to work for Union Square Hospitality Group? If you devoured Danny Meyer's Setting the Table in one sitting, then make that known—it's a surefire way to have your résumé rise to the top of the stack.