Job fairs or career fairs can greatly help your job search or waste a lot of time. There really is no other place that allows you to meet with so many companies, with so many living human beings – that being said – the opposite is also true.

Look at it from the recruiters point of view; they see hundreds, perhaps more, over the course of a day or two. That can be amazing, even for the most seasoned recruiters.

But you have to go through all the noise and confusion of a job fair. Some time ago, at a job fair at a nearby convention center; 135 companies support about 5000 job seekers – wow.

So, here’s how to make the most of your time at a job fair and stand out from the competition.

Pre-registration. Always take advantage of pre-registration, whether by mail or online. Pre-registration often also includes the submission of a resume, which the job fair will pre-distribute to all participating companies. In any case, you will save time when you arrive.

Research. Take the time to examine which companies will be there and make a list. You must determine in advance which companies you want to approach. And be sure to keep this list manageable. By manageable, I mean keep your list to around 10 or less. With that list, again, take the time to look at your websites, your mission statements, your list of accomplishments, etc. You want to know enough to talk about the position and the company intelligently.

game plan. Every good NFL team will write down which plays they run first. You need to write down which companies to watch first and what your opening statements will be. You must have a good and attractive lift statement. And be flexible when you get there. Recruiters are going to receive a stack of resumes. You want your resume facing down or facing up. If you get to a booth and there are a lot of people there, you might want to come back later. Don’t get lost in the middle.

business dress. You must wear a clean, respectable and conservative business suit.

Arrives early. This is easy. That being said, in some cases, you may want to meet with a few towards the end of the day. Yes, many recruiters may be exhausted by then, but it can also provide you with an opportunity to make a good last impression. Again, as said before, you have to avoid being in the big middle.

act professionally. You’re on stage all day. The gentleman at the next urinal might be the recruiter you see next. And don’t discount the networking opportunity this presents. You need to be positive and upbeat all day, with no negative comments about how many people there are or how long the lines are.

Follow up. This is where everything counts. I guarantee that most job fair attendees will just put down their resumes and wait. They will not investigate or have a game plan. And they definitely won’t. You must be different. At the very least, immediately send a short thank you to everyone you meet.

Good luck