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Career Fair Checklist: What to Bring (and What to Skip)

By Ellie Grant, founder of GoPassy · Updated September 11, 2026

Bring a charged phone with your LinkedIn or portfolio QR code ready in Apple Wallet, 10 to 15 printed resumes, a short pitch, a list of employers you want to meet, and a question for each. Skip loose business cards, bulky bags, and a one-size-fits-all resume.

The checklist

• A charged phone, plus a small battery pack if the fair runs long.
• Your LinkedIn or portfolio QR code in Apple Wallet, so recruiters can scan it in a second.
• 10 to 15 printed resumes in a folder. Many employers still take paper at the table.
• A 30-second pitch: your name, year and major, what you’re looking for, and why that company.
• Your target list: the 5 to 10 employers you most want to meet, and where their booths are.
• One question per employer that shows you did your homework.
• A pen and a small notebook, or a notes app, to write down names right after each conversation.

What to skip

• A stack of paper business cards. Most students don’t need them, and they get lost. A QR code in your Wallet does the same job and never runs out.
• A big backpack. You’ll be standing and shaking hands for hours. A folder and your phone are enough.
• One generic resume. If you’re targeting different fields, bring a version for each.

The week before

Check your career center’s list of employers attending and pick your targets. Update your LinkedIn profile, since recruiters will look at it after they scan your code. Then set up your QR pass and test it with a friend’s phone. Here’s how to add your LinkedIn QR code to Apple Wallet.

At the fair

1. Warm up with an employer lower on your list, then visit your top targets.
2. Open with your pitch, then ask your question. Listen more than you talk.
3. At the end, offer your resume and let them scan your QR code so they can find you on LinkedIn.
4. Ask how they prefer to be followed up with, and write down their name before you walk to the next booth.

After the fair

Follow up within 24 hours. Send a LinkedIn connection request or an email that mentions something specific you talked about, then apply to the roles they mentioned. If you use GoPassy Pro, your scan count shows how many people opened your profile from your pass.

More students are skipping printed cards entirely. See how students use GoPassy.

Questions people ask

How many resumes should I bring to a career fair?

10 to 15 is enough for most fairs. Bring a few more if you plan to visit a lot of employers.

Should students bring business cards to a career fair?

You don’t need printed cards. A QR code in Apple Wallet that opens your LinkedIn works as a business card and can’t run out.

What should I say to a recruiter at a career fair?

Give a 30-second pitch: your name, year and major, the kind of role you want, and why their company interests you. Then ask a question you prepared.

When should I follow up after a career fair?

Within 24 hours, while they still remember you. Mention something specific from your conversation.