Surgery Careers Fairs
A successful careers fair requires considerable planning. Follow our tips below to create an event that meets the goals of both students and surgeons.
- When to hold you careers fair
- Who to invite
- Exhibitors
- Sponsorship
- Location
- Catering
- On the day
- Gather feedback
- Looking for your next event challenge?
When to hold your careers fair
You should schedule the fair for a date when most students and surgeons can attend. Avoid the main holiday season and before exams. Give yourself plenty of time to organise larger fairs; around six months’ lead-time is appropriate.
Who to invite
Most surgical careers fairs are attended by representatives from each of the ten surgical specialties (one or two surgeons from each), relevant organisations such as the British Medical Association (BMA), Medical Defence Unit (MDU), Medical Protection Society (MPS), journals, related societies and the RCS careers team.
You should invite surgeons, organisations and speakers well in advance of the event, confirming details closer to the date. If you can’t find a Consultant to attend, a Specialty Trainee is an ideal substitute.
Exhibitors
Get exhibitors to confirm their needs in writing; check who requires notice boards, power points, tablecloths and signs. Be sure to provide exhibitors with clear instructions regarding space available, schedule, other programme information, parking and number of expected delegates. It can be helpful to call surgeons a week or so before to confirm they’re happy with their event duties and if they need anything on the day.
Sponsorship
Ask companies such as the MDU, MPS etc. to sponsor the fair or pay for their stand to help keep costs down. Organisations such as RCS who provide careers advice are unlikely to pay for stands but may be able to provide limited sponsorship – you can always ask!
Location
Your career fair location is crucial: you should book the space for the event before recruiting exhibitors. A large open space for stands and refreshments such as a hall of foyer area is suitable.
Check that the venue has poster boards and enough tables and chairs.
Draw up a floor plan of where each specialty/exhibitor stand will be located. Ensure you keep a record of who has accepted and who is still outstanding.
Catering
Depending on your funds, you may want to provide catering for all attendees or just exhibitors. This can be anything from a cup of tea and biscuits to full buffet and wine. Be aware of the time of day the careers fair is taking place. If it runs over a mealtime it would be beneficial to provide something more substantial, if only for exhibitors.
On the day
Give members of your organising team specific responsibilities. T-shirts and badges will help you stand out to exhibitors and students. Get the room ready as early as possible, arranging the tables and chairs as per the floorplan, print out clear signs and bring extra drawing pins. Make sure your stall is ready before the other exhibitors arrive. Most importantly - enjoy yourself!
Gather feedback
Feedback from exhibitors and delegates will help you make your careers fair even better in the future.
Looking for your next event challenge? Try a surgical conference.