Obviously, you want to focus on positive news -- bringing up the latest corporate scandal won't ingratiate you with the recruiter -- but try to find something that reflects on larger industry trends. If you have time, search for more information through industry publications and Web sites. Come up with your own theory about how the current event you've chosen might effect the company's position in the marketplace.
When you get your chance to talk to the recruiter, mention what you've read about the company, ask what he or she thinks, then share your brief, insightful opinion.
When recruiters go out in search of new hires, they're looking for two key characteristics: flexibility and loyalty [source: Craig]. The ideal employee will be somebody who can handle a wide variety of tasks, is open to evolving roles and will stick around for the long haul. It's expensive and time-consuming to recruit, hire and train new employees. If you want to impress, you need to convince the recruiter that you're eager to make a long-term investment in the company's success

Even better, come prepared with an example of a skill set that you're eager to acquire and how that new knowledge would directly benefit the company.

After asking about the desirable skills and attributes, pay close attention to what the recruiter actually says. Choose a few specific characteristics and try to tie them to specific examples from your professional or educational life -- internships, project leadership, daily responsibilities -- that show why you're the right person for the job. Share one or two of those experiences with the recruiter and point out the related entries on your résumé

What Type of Educational Background Do You Look For in Your Employees?

Job fairs don't allow much time for interaction with the recruiters. With a long line of impatient applicants waiting behind you, you need to