Six tips for making a good impression with employers at Career Expo

First impressions stick and you don’t want yours to be “that awkward person who forgot their own name.” Showing up polished and engaged proves you are serious about your future career. Even if you’re not sure about what career you’ll end up in, a strong impression can open doors to future opportunities. So, standing out in a good way can make all the difference.  

But a good first impression doesn’t just happen. It takes planning, which is like meal prepping for the week, it takes effort upfront, so you’re not panicking for instant noodles on a hungry stomach. The same applies for meeting employers, a solid plan means less stress and fewer surprises.  

Six tips to make a good impression 

Smile — want an easy way to release those feel-good hormones, just smile! Have you noticed that when you smile at someone, they smile back? It’s called mirroring behaviour meaning that your good vibes will likely be reflected, improving the positive quality of the interaction.  

Before you start, thank them for taking the time to chat — you are but one of hundreds of people who will talk to employers that day, so stand out by giving direct appreciation for someone’s time.  

Show you have some knowledge of the company — this is the main course of meal prepping! You’ve spent time Googling what the company does, looking through an annual report or two and seeing what projects are in the pipeline. When you talk enthusiastically and with curiosity about the company it shows you are prepared and motivated to become an employee. I’m not saying you want to be an employee of any particular company at Career Expo, rather you are actively practicing the art of networking and interviewing — which will better prepare you for future job hunting. 

Introduce yourself — could you describe yourself to someone in 30 seconds, like right now? If not, you need to write a script and rehearse. People want to learn your first name, background, what you’re studying and a role you’ve held in the context of volunteering or the workplace. If you know what your career goals are, tell them — go for gold! 

Cover your topics and questions — this helps you understand if the company and industry are interesting to you. It’s a chance to flip the script and see if this career is actually worth your time. It shows that you care about where you'll be spending 40+ hours per week. Want to know what kinds of questions to ask? Book yourself into the Prepare for Expo workshop. It’s run by our professional career educators — if anyone knows what matters to employers, it’s these guys!  

Finish with “Thank you so much for your insights, I’ll let you speak to other students now, but would it be OK if I find you on LinkedIn and connect with you?” — Polite, confident and considerate — that’s networking magic right there!  You’re keeping the door open without making it weird because you’ve spent the time making a real connection. People help people they know and like, so be memorable, be genuine, and THEN hit ‘connect’. 

Career Expo 

You’ve taken the time to read this, now put theory into practice at Career Expo! After all, university is about turning learning into opportunity. 

First Day: Wednesday 12 March 2025 - Bonython Hall & Hub Central  

Event Time: 11am to 3pm* 

Disciplines: Engineering, Computer & Mathematical Sciences, Architecture & Construction, Physical & Biological Sciences, Agricultural, Food & Wine Sciences 

Second Day: Thursday 13 March 2025 - Bonython Hall  

Event Time: 11am to 3pm* 

Disciplines: Business (Accounting, Commerce, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Innovation, International Business, Marketing, Project Management, Wine Business), Economics & Public Policy, Law*, Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, Health Sciences & Psychology 

*Quiet 30 is from 10.30am to 11.00am. Quiet 30 is for students or graduates who have a disability or medical condition, and may have sensory, mobility or communication challenges. It is an exclusive, early-access session, open only to pre-registered students. This is to ensure that we keep crowd, activity and noise levels to a minimum, allowing you to navigate the expo more easily and comfortably. If you are interested in registering for Quiet 30, please submit an Expression of Interest to attend this session. 

*Please note there will be no law firms at this event, but many opportunities for law students in a variety of other organisations.