I’m Naman Pandey — this is the Ready Set Do Podcast — and in this episode I talk with Hrohaan Malhotra, a Data Scientist at Wells Fargo who actually landed his role through a career fair. If that sounds lucky, it isn’t. Hrohaan rewired the usual career-fair playbook: he didn’t show up to collect business cards — he showed up to build one great, memorable interaction. That single idea changed everything.

Here’s the distilled playbook we unpacked — practical, no-fluff, and proven.

Start with a 30–60 second elevator pitch that does one job: communicate your unique value. Treat the pitch like a headline for your future self — name, current focus, one concrete win, and the role you want. Practice it until it sounds like a normal sentence, not a scripted announcement. Career centers and recruiters recommend short, targeted pitches that tie your skills to employer needs. Center for Career Development

Research before you show up. Don’t wander booth-to-booth. Make a short list of companies you actually want to talk to, learn one recent thing about each, and tailor your opening line. Recruiters notice curiosity that’s informed, not generic. Harvard career services calls this deliberate preparation a game-changer. careerservices.fas.harvard.edu

When a recruiter seems uninterested, don’t freeze or plead. Use the signal. If they’re distracted, ask one smart, specific question about their team’s current priorities or a recent announcement — that tiny pivot can flip boredom into engagement. And if it doesn’t, move on quickly and follow up later by email with a short note and a one-line reminder of what you discussed — timely follow-up often outperforms a long on-floor conversation. Remote-First Coaching+1

Charisma matters — but not in the fake, theatrical sense. Warmth, confidence, and curiosity make you memorable. Show energy, listen actively, and mirror small signals (eye contact, brief smiles). Research shows charisma helps form quick rapport and increases the chance a recruiter keeps your name after the fair. PMC

If you’re an international student: be prepared and transparent about your visa status. Employers legally evaluate work authorization, so learn your options, bring clear answers, and use campus career services to surface employers who sponsor. NACE and university career centers offer practical guidance so you’re not blindsiding recruiters or yourself. Default+1

Finally — the tactic Hrohaan swears by: convert means creating one memorable reason for the recruiter to follow up. It could be a specific project you’d add value to, a concise idea to improve a product, or a thoughtful question that only someone with your background would ask. Leave them with one clear next step: a time to talk again, a referral name, or a direct ask to apply to a particular opening. Small clarity, big results.

If you want the full conversation (real examples, exact phrases Hrohaan used, and the “rizz” moment that seals the deal), tune in to the episode. You’ll walk away with concrete lines to practice, and a mindset that treats career fairs like conversion labs — one focused, prepared interaction at a time.

Listen, try one tactic at your next fair, and tell me how it goes. Full episode and links at readysetdopodcast.com.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro + Background
(01:55) How Hrohaan Got his Job at a Career Fair
(04:31) Crafting the Perfect Elevator Pitch
(07:19) How To CONVERT At A Career Fair
(11:05) When Recruiters Aren't Interested in Talking To You
(16:25) Rizz Will Get You Very Far
(20:56) Re-defining Success Criteria for Career Fairs
(26:13) Navigating Conversations and Selling Yourself
(29:05) Advice for Intl Students