Career & interviews · Career Fair Pitch
Career fair elevator pitch: practice with recruiter Erin Clarke
In about 30 seconds, say your name, your year and major, one specific thing you built or did that matters to that company, and the kind of role you want, then ask the recruiter a real question about their team. Finish by asking for the best way to follow up and the recruiter’s name. Practice it with Erin Clarke, a busy university recruiter with a line of students behind you.
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Updated October 2026
Who it's for
Who this practice is for
- College students heading to fall or spring career fairs who want to talk to recruiters without freezing.
- Mechanical engineering juniors aiming at aerospace internships and unsure how to pitch themselves.
- Anyone whose pitch gets a polite nod but no follow-up, referral, or business card.
- Career centers that want students to practice a real recruiter conversation before the fair.
What happens
How a session goes
- Recruiter Erin Clarke speaks first: she greets you, guesses you are another engineer, and asks what makes you different.
- You give your 30-second pitch. She pushes back with follow-ups, like asking what you made and to what tolerance.
- She decides whether to take your resume, refer you, or move on. The conversation ends when she wraps it up.
Real lines from a test session
What Recruiter Erin Clarke said in a test session
“Hi! Let me guess, another engineer. I've met forty today. What makes you different?”
“Okay, that's a start. But I've heard CNC from five people already. Be specific — what did you make, and to what tolerance?”
“Plus or minus five thou is decent for manual production. But here's the thing — aerospace is plus or minus one thou on a bad day.”
From a test session of this practice in the app, lightly trimmed. Your session goes its own way: the character reacts to what you say.
The scorecard
What the scorecard looked like for Engineering Career Fair Pitch
“I think I'm a good fit for your manufacturing internship because I've actually run a CNC mill at a machine shop.”
You began with 'I think' and no greeting; the recruiter heard a pitch that started weak and made her ask for detail she should have gotten upfront.
Try instead: “I'm Jordan, a junior in mechanical engineering. I'm here for your manufacturing internship — I've run a CNC mill on production parts to ±.005 in tolerance.”
What went well: You offered a concrete detail (CNC mill, aluminum brackets, ±.005 in) that proves hands-on experience when the recruiter pressed for specifics.
Real scorecard output from one of our test runs. In test runs the practice answers are written by a test script, not by a customer.
What good looks like
What a strong answer does here
- Opening: you say who you are, your year and major, and your target role in the first few seconds.
- Proof: you give one specific project or job detail, like your Formula SAE suspension work or running a CNC mill.
- Engagement: you ask a real question about the internship or the team, not 'so... what do you guys do?'
- The ask: you ask for a next step and leave with a name, like asking who to follow up with.
Scored on:
- Opening
- Proof
- Engagement
- The ask
Common mistakes
Weak lines, and what to say instead
Weak: “So... what do you guys do?”
Better: “I looked at your manufacturing engineering internships. What does a summer intern work on in the first month?”
That question wastes your 30 seconds and shows you did not prepare.
Weak: “I'm a mechanical engineering junior looking for an internship.”
Better: “I'm a mechanical engineering junior. I led suspension for Formula SAE and ran a CNC mill all summer.”
The first version sounds like everyone else in line.
Weak: “I've used a CNC mill before.”
Better: “At my summer job I ran a CNC mill and held parts to plus or minus five thou.”
A specific number proves you actually did the work.
Weak: “Nice to meet you. Thanks for your time.”
Better: “Could I get your name and the best way to follow up about the manufacturing internship?”
Without an ask, you leave with nothing to follow up on.
Engineering Career Fair Pitch: start talking in a few seconds. Your own side stays yours to fill in.
Try it free, no signupMake this useful for your next conversation
Your career fair pitch practice plan
- Introduce your relevant experience
- Ask a focused question about the employer
- Make a clear follow-up request
Start with a free worksheet, then test your own response with a voice or text roleplay. Your first complete coaching report is free once across all areas. Create a free account to save your goal, actual words, and downloadable notes.
Need repeated practice? $4.99 once buys 100 rounds across every mode and full coaching on every report. Rounds never expire; no subscription is required.
FAQ
Questions about Engineering Career Fair Pitch
How long is the pitch I practice?
The goal is a 30-second pitch. Recruiter Erin Clarke listens, then asks follow-ups. If you go long, she may cut in because she has a line behind you. The scorecard rewards a tight pitch with one proof point, a real question about the role, and asking for the next step. Try it free →
What does Recruiter Erin Clarke do during the session?
She speaks first and sets the tone. She asks what makes you different, pushes for specifics like what you made and to what tolerance, and decides whether to take your resume, refer you, or move on. She is busy, so you have to earn her attention. Try it free →
What questions should I ask a recruiter at a career fair?
Ask something you can’t find on their website: what new hires work on in their first months, which teams are hiring for your major, or what made their last interns stand out. Then ask how to follow up. One good question makes you memorable; three generic ones use up the recruiter’s time. Try it free →
What should I bring to a career fair?
Several printed copies of a one-page resume, a short list of the companies you most want to meet, and a phone or notebook to write down recruiters’ names. Dress one step more formal than everyday class clothes, and send a short follow-up email the same day. Try it free →
Try Engineering Career Fair Pitch free
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