My First Career Fairs at Fisher

One of the things I have quickly come to appreciate as an MBA student at Fisher College of Business is how much the school invests in our career development. Within the first month of the program, we had two big career fairs relevant to MBAs: the Ohio State Finance x Financial Planning Career Fair and the Fisher Fall Business Career Fair, both held on September 8 and 9, 2025.

Leading up to those events, the Office of Career Management made sure we were well-prepared. We had at least three mock sessions, including résumé reviews, mock interviews, and even a practice career fair. All of these gave me the confidence to show up ready to research companies, talk to recruiters, and make the most of networking opportunities.

Here are a few tips that helped me navigate my first Fisher career fairs and I hope they help you too:

• Just do it. The more you attend networking events, the easier they become. Even if you don’t feel 100% ready, go anyway. Each practice builds your confidence.

• Do your homework. Research the companies that will be attending, including the roles they are hiring for. Then, set a realistic goal for the number of people or organizations you want to connect with.

• Practice your pitch. Say it out loud, refine it, and be flexible enough to tailor it depending on the role or company you are approaching.

• Go beyond the surface. While the main goal of a career fair is usually to land interviews, don’t overlook the opportunity to ask about people’s day-to-day work, their company culture, or what they love about their jobs. Sometimes those casual conversations spark interest in opportunities you hadn’t considered before.

• Don’t be too hard on yourself. If you don’t walk away with interviews or strong connections, that’s okay—it’s all part of the learning process. Always follow up with a thank-you message, and if you are truly interested in a company, try to schedule a coffee chat afterward.

These strategies not only helped me stay grounded at Fisher’s career fairs but also proved invaluable at the National Black MBA Conference, which I just attended.