Brace yourself for the upcoming Career Fair! Did those words send a shiver down your spine? You’re probably not the only one.  Career fairs can be intimidating with so much pressure to stand out among so many people. Take it easy; we have some tips for you to calm your nerves.

1. Wear professional attire that you feel comfortable in.  You’ve probably heard that first impressions matter most. Even the most impressive resume can’t land you a job if you’re looking sloppy. Dressing professionally doesn’t mean that you can let your best suit compromise your comfort. Don’t wear a dress shirt that requires you to hold your breath to button up, or wear heels that you can’t walk properly in. When you feel comfortable in your clothing, you will feel good about yourself and shine with confidence.

2. Look confident. Even if your hands and legs are shaking with fear, appear like you’re self-assured. In this case, you have to fake it till you make it! Give the employer a strong and firm handshake, show a lot of enthusiasm, make good eye contact, and remember to smile. Also, hold your hands in front of you to avoid unconscious little habits like picking your fingers or brushing your hair.

3. Attend mock interviews. Pay extra attention if your college is having mock interviews to prep you up for the real deal. Mock interviews are great to gain some exposure and to see if you’re prepared for the Career Fair. If you think that you didn’t do well in the mock interview, that’s perfectly fine! You just need to practice, practice and practice. At the same time, do prepare a short 2-minute introduction of yourself that briefly states your background and your achievements. Make sure that you can recite the intro even in your sleep so you don’t have to worry about losing your words when being interviewed.

4. Do plenty of research on the companies. Look up the company’s information before attending the fair to avoid asking basic questions that are already available on its homepage. Always walk up to a company representative with sufficient knowledge of the company to make an impression. If you happen to stumble upon a company that interests you in but have yet to research on before the fair, take a few minutes to look it up online before approaching the representative.

5. Take on another perspective. Although you are putting yourself out there to be hired, don’t forget you are also interviewing the employer to see if you are cut for the job.  A great solution to avoid uneasiness would be to treat the interview as a conversation for you and your employer to know each other better.

6. Attend as a freshman. As a new student, it might seem like having a career is still far away. Familiarizing yourself with the Career Fair environment can reduce anxiety and increase confidence. Even if your resume isn’t complete, or if you don’t have many skill sets yet, show enthusiasm in learning new ones. Chances are, you won’t get a job right away. However, employers like to see familiar faces. If you attend the Career Fair every year and show persistence in working with that company, your chances of getting hired will become higher.