Job hunting might be a right of passage into adulthood, but that doesn’t mean it has to be the same long, nerve-wracking process generations before us endured. That’s why NET/WORK DC makes it so hungry jobseekers can skip the job boards, bypass automated resume readers, and go straight to the source with their skills.

At NET/WORK, talented job seekers and ready-to-hire managers chat face-to-face over current opportunities at innovative companies in their city. Bonus: Even if your perfect match isn’t in attendance this year, on-site resume reviewers will help polish your CV to perfection while you stop in for a free updated headshot. Plus, the promise of an after-party happy hour should make your conversations that much more laid-back.

Whether it’s your first time at a job fair or you’re looking for an edge among the competition, we went straight to hiring companies for their tips on how to walk away with an offer.

Grab some free coffee

Since NET/WORK starts after typical work hours, you may need an extra boost of caffeine for an evening of networking.

“Make sure you’ve got enough energy for two to three hours of meeting people,” says Josh Daniell, campus director at the Flatiron School. “Have some quiet time beforehand to recharge your batteries if you need.”

Coffee’s on us. Sip on some free joe while you prepare bullet points for the companies you plan to stop in for the evening.

Scan the careers page

Sure, 11 growing tech companies in D.C. will be in attendance, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re all a perfect fit. Check out our list of hiring companies here. From there, you’ll be able to do a little more digging on what companies you want to stop in the day of the fair instead of “winging it” on the spot.

Do a little research on careers pages ahead of time, but feel free to stop by and say hi even if there isn’t a direct match, notes Kristen Kofler, who manages talent acquisition at Capital One.

“We will have engineers of all levels on deck to answer questions,” she said. “Stop in and tell us what you’re interested in or working on in the tech space.”

Get some culture

Understanding the role companies are looking to fill is only half the battle. Long careers are built in workspaces you feel like you “fit.” So, along with that careers page you’re scanning through, make sure to hit the culture tab as well.

“I’m sure you’ve heard of a full-stack engineer, but at Aquicore we believe in hiring full-stack people,” said Cyrus Movaghari, senior talent manager at Aquicore. “We empower every person to own all aspects of their job and work across teams to get it done.”

Learning a company’s core values as well as the open positions they’re looking for will put you on a more direct path toward an offer. After all, this is the perfect place to expand on yourself beyond the bullets on your resume.

Be ready for anything

Sometimes, an opportunity can present itself when you least expect it. Keep an open mind to programs that might expand your resume even further.

Stop in the places you wouldn’t expect to see at a job fair like Virginia Tech. The school isn’t just looking for talented engineers, they’re promoting programs like an online master of information iechnology program that will give you the edge you need for next year’s NET/WORK.

Ready to take the next step in your career? Reserve your spot for NET/WORK DC below.