What to expect from the LCF Careers Fair 2026: a guide for students

Open exclusively to current LCF students, the Graduate Futures LCF Careers Fair 2026 will take place on Wednesday 3 June at London College of Fashion (LCF), UAL.

This day is about opening up new conversations and exploring your direction. Wherever you are in your journey, it’s a chance to step into the industry, start building connections, and gain a clearer sense of what might come next.

On the day, you’ll have the opportunity to meet a wide range of employers, brands and companies, from global luxury houses to media organisations and recruitment specialists. This year’s line-up includes names such as Louis Vuitton, Barbour, Hearst and Shiseido, alongside many others working across fashion, beauty, media and retail.

Visit the Careers Fair to connect with industry professionals, ask questions, and learn how different career paths evolve.

Insights from Graduate Futures

To help students prepare for the Careers Fair, we spoke with Melanie Mitchell, Graduate Futures Consultant (Careers), who supports students throughout their studies and into industry, to get their perspective on some of the most common questions.

What do students often misunderstand about careers fairs?

A big misconception is that careers fairs are all about handing out as many CVs as possible, as a numbers game. However, employers aren’t expecting you to have everything figured out or to be perfectly polished. It’s much more about having genuine conversations, showing curiosity, and being open to learning about their brands. Many students put pressure on themselves to “perform,” when really, the careers fair is about making connections and learning more about life inside some of the world’s leading names. You might not gain a job directly from the careers fair, but you’ll certainly get expert insights and discover more about potential upcoming job opportunities and internships.

What makes someone memorable to an employer, beyond their portfolio?

If you’re engaged, asking thoughtful questions, and really listening, that makes for a great first impression!

Something that really makes you stand out is demonstrating brand awareness. That doesn’t mean knowing everything about a company; it’s more about showing that you’ve taken the time to understand who they are. For example, you might mention a recent brand campaign, the kind of aesthetic they’re known for, or even who their target audience is. It can be as simple as saying, “I really like how your brand approaches sustainability,” or “I noticed your last collection focused on…” It shows you’re genuinely interested, not just going from stand to stand.

So introduce yourself, chat about your studies, experiences, and interests, and have a level of brand awareness.

How can students approach the fair if they’re unsure about their direction?

I’d say that it’s completely fine to be unsure about your direction, and probably more common than you’d think. You don’t need to have a clear plan to benefit from the fair; it’s all about connecting and exploring. Students should approach employers with curiosity, ask about different roles, and get a better sense of what might suit them. Sometimes those conversations help you figure things out in a way you wouldn’t on your own. I think it’s also important to remember that all the brands joining us genuinely want to be there and have a real interest in supporting emerging and graduate talent.

Brands aren't just there to recruit, they’re there to connect, give advice, and spot potential, so it’s worth approaching them with that in mind. If you are unsure about what roles you want to apply for, do take the opportunity to book a 1-2-1 consultation with the Graduate Futures Careers Consultant or attend our workshop series before the Careers Fair to help you prepare and make the most of the opportunity. These workshops are timetabled in CELCAT for all final year students.

What should students be thinking about after the fair?

It’s extremely important to connect and follow up with the people you spoke to at the fair - even if it's a quick LinkedIn connection message to say, “thank you for your time, it was great to meet you.” It’s a good idea to upload your CV and/or portfolio to LinkedIn if you haven’t already, so when employers look you up, your profile really represents you well.

If you had a deeper conversation and there were next steps, ensure you complete these straight away! Also, take some time to reflect on the event: what conversations stood out and why; what did you learn; and has anything changed in terms of your interests or direction? Did you meet any brands that weren’t on your target list but now are?

Final words from Graduate Futures

If there’s one thing to take away, it’s to be prepared and be yourself!

Do your brand research, have your CV and LinkedIn ready, and consider how you introduce yourself, but don’t overthink it. The most important thing is displaying genuine interest and staying open in your conversations. That’s what's going to really help you stand out - not being perfect, but being real and making the effort to connect.

• Read more LCF Stories
• Find out more about Graduate Futures