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Disclaimer: The entries contained within the Staff Blog should not be construed as advice; it is merely for information purposes and reflects the opinions, approaches, research, and experiences of individual staff members. Students are encouraged to attend Drop-in Advising to discuss their situation with a career advisor.
Take care to prepare for the fair
September 18 2009
Posted by Matt Wells, Graduate Assistant
Fall is my favorite season for a number of reasons -- leaves turn beautiful colors, football returns after a several-month hiatus, hot apple cider, and Career Fairs! We're getting ready to kick off another terrific round of career fairs here at the CDC, and so I thought it timely to write another entry about career fair preparation to remind you of some important tips for success.
Career fairs are an excellent resource to get your name, face, and resume on many employers' radar screens, and also gather information for yourself as you seek out opportunities that will be a good fit for you. I would encourage all of you to check out our three major career fairs happening this semester - Retail and Design, Life Sciences, and the Government career fairs.
Navigating a career fair can be intimidating...here are several tips to overcome this feeling:
- Do your homework: First, check out myIUcareers, and see with which employers you are especially interested in making contact. Do some research on each of these employers; take a look at our Researching Organizations guide for help on where to start.
- Know your objective: Why are you going to the fair? Are you hoping to land an interview for a job/internship? Expand your network? Gather information about companies of interest? Have a clear goal(s) in mind before you set out.
- Prepare a "pitch:" Compose a short (no more than 20 seconds or so) introduction saying who you are, what you bring to the table, and what you're looking for. Practice this many times before you go to the fair (in front of a mirror, for your roommate, etc.); it's a very effective way to start up a conversation with a recruiter without having to speak extemporaneously.
- Strategize your visit: Consider stopping by the booths of some employers you may not be particularly interested in first, as this will provide a low-pressure way to get your feet wet before you meet with your top targets at the fair (and you might uncover a great opportunity!). After you've met with representatives from each organization, remember to follow-up with them within the week by phone or email (the sooner the better) and thank them for their time, mentioning specific things that were helpful to you about your conversation. This is one more way to keep you fresh in the minds of potential employers, and also to extend professional courtesy (which is always a good idea).
- Dress for success: Make sure to dress in professional business attire. Your appearance is the first thing a recruiter will see, so make sure to make a good first impression. Maintaining a professional appearance can also help with your confidence level; I guarantee you will feel much more at ease in a tie, than in jeans and a polo shirt. Also make sure to maintain good eye contact while speaking, and greet each representative with a firm handshake (*With H1N1 being a major concern on campus this year, it would behoove you to bring--and make regular use of--hand sanitizer). (A good handshake, by the way, really does go a long way in setting a positive tone for the meeting.)
As always, come visit us for Drop-in Advising to have your resume critiqued beforehand, and further discuss strategies for your visit to the fair. See you at the fair(s)!
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