Navigating Your First Career Fair: A Checklist for Success

Attending your first career fair can feel both exciting and overwhelming. I’ve been there myself, not just as a teacher but now as an advisor at a major Canadian university, organizing and facilitating recruiting fairs both domestically and internationally. With ten years of teaching experience across Canada and three other continents, I’ve had my share of wins—and challenges—at education career fairs. So, here’s a practical checklist to help you make the most of your first fair.

1. Do Your Homework on Who Is Coming

Before the fair, find out which organizations, schools and boards will be attending. Is there a list online? If so, my advice is to get out a map and start pinning places that catch your interest. What’s the geographic spread? Where do you see yourself going? Would you be willing to relocate? There are multiple scenarios for your first job journey. It could be a 1 or 2 year contract, substitute teaching or you may land your first teaching job in a board and never leave the area, so it’s important to think about what your short term and long term goals are. 

From there, start digging into the details:

• Mission and Values: What is the organization or school board's mission statement? Mission statements are often crafted with a lot of thought and meaning and they inform you of the goals that are determined through planning and decision-making. Knowing their mission allows you to “speak their language.” Find a school board, independent school or organization that resonates with you.
• What positions are available? Is the organization or school board hiring to fill occasional teaching, (OT) roles, substitute teaching, teacher on call (TOC),  long term occasional contracts (LTOs), or full-time positions, associate teaching? This will change what you choose to focus on when applying.
• Type of Curriculum: Are they running any specialized programs (like French immersion, a trades program, Indigenous Education or IB)? Are there opportunities for training in these areas? For example, IB certification is valuable both domestically and internationally.

Doing this research will help you identify the best matches for your teaching goals and make your conversations at the fair more meaningful.

2. Make Lists: Define Your Must-Haves and Deal-Breakers

Recruiting Fairs are a whirlwind, and it is easy to get overwhelmed by the options. To narrow your focus, create lists of your priorities. Consider these factors:

• Lifestyle Fit: What’s the scene in these communities? Do you want to be close to things like big-time concerts and sporting events, and is that important to you? Do you prefer outdoor environments and activities? Where is the closest airport? Do you drive or do you need access to public transit?  It’s never too early to start planning your summer vacations!
• Family/Friend Proximity: How close will you be to visiting your family and friends, and how important is that to you? For some, being within a few hours’ drive of home is essential, while others may be comfortable moving farther away.
• Social Environment: Recruiting fairs showcase everything from big-city school boards to remote fly-in communities. Are you leaning more urban or rural? Both settings can be rewarding but if you aren’t able to cultivate the social life you envision for yourself outside of work it will impact your enjoyment over time. It’s crucial to understand what you’re looking for before you commit.

Once you’ve identified your must-haves and deal-breakers, you can focus your energy on the opportunities that truly align with your goals.

3. Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter

You wouldn’t believe how many principals and HR managers I talk to who complain about receiving “To Whom It May Concern” cover letters—or worse, letters addressed to another organization.

Create a folder on your computer with subfolders for each organization or school you’re interested in. Research the name and title of the person in charge of hiring, and make your cover letter personal. Reference the board’s mission statement and explain how it connects to your teaching philosophy or experiences.

For example, if their mission emphasizes global citizenship, share a specific example of how you’ve incorporated this into your teaching. Buzzwords are great, but specifics are better. Your goal is to help them visualize you in their organization or school through your examples.

Hint: Save a master copy of your cover letter and highlight the “specific” details in yellow (name of hiring manager, connections to a mission statement, etc.). The bulk of your cover letter can remain the same, and you can tweak the specific details for different school boards.

4. Reach Out Before the Fair

Hiring staff that attend fairs are often swamped with CVs, emails, and preparations for their presentations. Wouldn't it be great to stay out of that quagmire? 

If you can find an email for the recruiter attending the fair, send a short, professional message ahead of time. Attach your personalized résumé and cover letter, express your enthusiasm for their organization or school and mention that you’re excited to meet them in person at the fair.

At worst, they’ll tell you to see them at the fair. At best, you might land in their interview pile early. Either way, this initial contact gives you name recognition when you approach their table.

5. Prepare for Interviews

Every interview is different, but preparation is key. If you’ve done your homework, you’ll have plenty to discuss and connect over. At the end of the interview, when the interviewer asks if you have any questions, here are some great options:

• “Can I speak to some of your current staff?”
• It’s a fantastic opportunity to get candid insights into life at the school and in the community. What types of things do other staff members do outside of school? Are there other teachers who are your age or share your interests? Having these conversations helps you envision your potential lifestyle and shows genuine interest.

• “How long do OTs/TOCs/Substitutes typically stay on the OT/Supply list before landing an LTO, full time or permanent position?”
• This question demonstrates that you’re thinking ahead about your career path and want to understand the trajectory and timeline.

• “What onboarding or mentorship programs do you have for new teachers?”
• Admitting that you’ll need support is a sign of humility and professionalism. A strong onboarding program can make all the difference in your first years, whether it’s learning to navigate report card systems, preparing for parent-teacher interviews, or handling classroom management challenges.

Finally, remember that school isn’t everything. A good fit involves both professional and personal satisfaction, so take the time to explore all aspects of the community you are interested in.

Bonus Hint: Don’t Be Pressured to Decide Immediately

Some organizations may offer you a position right away. Be thoughtful in your decision making. Don't feel obligated to decide on the spot. This is a big life decision, and you deserve time to reflect, consult your family, and do further research online (think Google, Reddit can be a goldmine for feedback from former staff).

Final Thoughts

Remember: a recruiter's job is to find the best staff for their teams but there is competition amongst the different school boards and organizations. The opportunities in the education sector are plentiful and there are many different options available to you across the country in every province and territory, both urban and rural.  So do your research, approach the fair with confidence, and keep curiosity at the forefront. Your first teaching gig is an incredible adventure, but it starts with making informed choices about what is the best fit for you. 

Good luck out there!

Meet the author:

Brock Young is an experienced educator with over ten years of teaching experience internationally in Taiwan, Kenya, Italy and Canada within Ontario and Quebec. Currently, he serves as a Faculty Advisor at a major Canadian university, where he plays a key role in organizing and facilitating recruiting fairs both domestically and internationally. Brock's passion for education and his deep understanding of the evolving needs of educators and employers make him a valuable writer for our blog.