How to Succeed At The Career Fair

PREPARE FOR THE CAREER FAIR AS IF IT WERE A JOB INTERVIEW!

You may be meeting your future employer for the first time, so make sure you make a good impression.

BEING OVERLY PREPARED IS A GOOD THING

Before the career fair, there are a number of things you should do to prepare yourself for meeting with potential employers.

Visit the Career Development Website to obtain a list of the companies who will be attending the fair.

Which employers most interest you? Are companies advertising positions that you

want to apply for?

Create a list of companies that you want to visit at the career fair.

1. FIND OUT WHO IS ATTENDING

2. VISIT THE WEBSITES OF THE COMPANIES YOU WANT TO TALK TO Having background knowledge about the companies you want to visit at the career fair will help you build common ground with employers.

Building common ground gives you more to talk about.

3. PREPARE QUESTIONS FOR THE COMPANIES TO SHOW INTEREST Preparing questions shows the company

that you are interested in them and that you did your research.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MIGHT ASK:

“I read about your management training program on the company website. What do you look for in candidates for that program?”

This will show employers that you are a serious job candidate.

Planning appropriate

answers to certain questions will also help you.

4. ANTICIPATE QUESTIONS FROM THE COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES

“What do you know about our organization?”

Knowing information about a company, including what they are well known for or if they have been in the news recently, will once again show that you have done your research and that you are a serious job candidate.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO PREPARE FOR

“What do you want to do after you graduate?”

• Employers want to know that you have at least thought about life after graduation.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO PREPARE FOR

Look like a professional when meeting employers for the first time.

5. PLAN YOUR ATTIRE FOR THE DAY

If you wouldn’t wear an outfit to an interview, don’t wear it to the career fair.

Avoid: Jeans Sweatpants Shorts Mini skirts Skorts Sun dresses Halter tops Sweatshirts T-Shirts Open-toed shoes Flip-flops

PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE FOR WOMEN

PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE FOR MEN

Avoid: Jeans Sweatpants Shorts Logo shirts Cartoon Shirts Sweatshirts T-shirts Athletic Shoes Flip-flops

There are several tasksfor you to complete onceyou arrive atthe career fair.

ONCE YOU ARRIVE AT THE CAREER FAIR Now that you have prepared yourself for the career

fair, it is time to start meeting employers.

1. CHECK IN WHEN YOU ARRIVEWhen you arrive,

prepare your name tag. Include your full name, major, and date of graduation.

You are going to meet numerous employers who will be giving you important information.

Carrying a notepad and a pen with you not only makes you look prepared, but it will help you keep track of the information you receive.

2. CARRY A NOTEPAD AND A PEN WITH YOU

3. HAVE SEVERAL COPIES OF YOUR RESUME ON HAND

Have a different copy of your resume for each employer that you want to meet.

Tailor each objective statement to meet the needs of each employer that interests you.

Making eye-contact with employers is a good way to show that you are serious and that you are trustworthy.

Don’t forget to SMILE!!!

4. MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES

5. LISTEN CAREFULLY

Listen carefully to the representatives you interview with and follow their lead.

All your preparation before the career fair will pay off in your interviews!

6. GATHER BUSINESS CARDS Business cards are

great for networking and provide you with contact information you may need in the future.

Do you have a target date for filling the job?

Is there an application or any additional documents that I need to complete in order to apply for this job?

Do you need any additional references?

7. ASK ABOUT THE HIRING PROCESS FOR EACH COMPANY

When the interview is over, offer a firm handshake, and express your appreciation.

8. OFFER A FIRM HANDSHAKE

AFTER THE INTERVIEW Send a thank-you letter or email to every employer you

interviewed with at

the career fair.

This step is not only a courtesy, but will keep your name in the employer’s memory.