As the economy continues to stagnate and jobs continue to be scarce, more and more people are turning to job fairs to find work. However, with dozens of employers and thousands of jobseekers participating in some job fairs, how does one person make himself or herself stand apart from the crowd? How does one cut through the often-chaotic environment to make an impression on an employer?

The answer can be found in five steps suggested by experts from DePaul University’s Career Center. Taking time out from preparations for their annual Fall Collegiate Job and Internship Fair, the experts provided a checklist for anyone planning to attend a job fair in the near future.

1. Research: Attendees should research the companies that will be participating in the job fair in advance through online or library resources. Narrow your focus to six or seven companies you are most interested in, and prepare to meet representatives from those firms.

"People often try to take on too much at a job fair, but you can’t meet with every employer present," said Karen Allen, director of the Career Center at DePaul. "Keying in on the companies that best match your skills is a more productive approach than haphazardly wandering the floor."

2. Create a business card: Jobseekers should produce personal business cards (available at most copy and printing shops) to complement their resumes. A card with the jobseeker’s contact information, a link to an online resume, and bullet points with that person’s three most important skills will help serve as a reminder to the recruiter after the fair is over.

3. Develop a 30-second "commercial" for yourself: Time is limited at a job fair, so jobseekers should prepare a short sales pitch about their skills and experience to present to employers. The pitch should be developed ahead of time and touch on educational background, volunteer and work experience and career goals.

"Recruiters will see hundreds of candidates over the course of a week," said Allen. "It’s crucial that you are able to articulate to them, in a very succinct manner, how you would benefit their company."

4. Refine your personal visual presentation: On the day of the event, attendees should make sure they are dressed for success in neat business attire. They also should mind all of their non-verbal cues: have good posture, maintain eye contact with the recruiter, smile frequently and have a professional handshake.

"Prospective employees have only several seconds to make a solid first impression with the interviewer," said Hilarie Griffith, events manager for job and internship fairs at DePaul. "How you present yourself visually is the primary determining factor in whether that first impression will be positive or negative."

5. Follow up: Immediately following the fair, jobseekers should fill out any online application forms required. During the week following the fair, they should send or e-mail a thank-you note to the employer. After three weeks, jobseekers can follow up with a phone call to inquire about the status of their applications.

DePaul’s annual Fall Collegiate Job and Internship Fair for students and alumni will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 3 at Navy Pier’s Grand Ballroom. More than 60 employers currently are scheduled to attend.

For more information on DePaul’s upcoming job fairs or networking events, please visit http://careercenter.depaul.edu.