Sophomore Career Experience Preparing for Success at Career Fairs Presented by: Joe Furino Universit

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Sophomore Career ExperiencePreparing for Success
at Career FairsPresented byJoe
FurinoUniversity Relations Manager
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Agenda

• Reasons to Attend a Career Fair
• What to Expect at a Career Fair
• Before the Career Fair
• 5 Things to Prepare Take to a Career Fair
• Preparing a One-Minute Elevator Pitch
• At the Career Fair
• Things Not to Do at a Career Fair
• What to Take Away from a Career Fair
• After the Career Fair
• Simulation

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Reasons to Attend a Career Fair

• Investigate positions and career opportunities
• Meet representatives from the company
• Gather information get answers to your
  questions
• Increase your chances of interviewing with an
  employer
• Receive sound job search advice
• Develop a network

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What to Expect at a Career Fair

• Employers from specific geographic regions or
  company divisions
• HR professionals, hiring managers and alumni
• Most career fairs are held in large spaces
  (auditorium or outdoors)
• Tables are decorated with company information
• Expect to wait in a line to speak to the
  employers

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Before the Career Fair

• 5 Things to Prepare/Take to a Career Fair
• Game plan
• Focus on your ideal employer list
• Go with a mission, gather information first, and
  focus on meeting your target companies
• Plan on about 15 minutes with each company
• Copies of your resume
• You read it, have others proofread it, then you
  read it again
• Dont use creative fonts or a font size smaller
  than 10
• No pictures on the resume
• A smile, strong handshake, and a positive
  attitude packaged in professional attire!
• A one-minute Elevator Pitch
• Career Fair Guide (provided by career center)

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Before the Career Fair, Cont.

• Research your preferred companies
• Directories
• Web sites
• Annual reports
• Press releases
• Career opportunities
• Do your research on yourself
• Know your skills, accomplishments, experience,
  qualities, interests, needs, preferences and
  goals
• Does your profile match what the company offers?

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Before the Career Fair, Cont.

• Preparing a One-Minute Elevator Pitch
• Name
• Class (senior, junior, sophomore)
• Major Graduation Date
• Opportunities that you are seeking
• Relevant experience
• Something unique about yourself
• Prepare relevant questions
• Could you tell me more about your training?
• What is your company culture like?
• What does the hiring process consist of?
• What is a typical day/week like for an engineer?
• How would you describe the work-life balance?

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At the Career Fair

• 5 Things Not to Do at a Career Fair
• Dont cruise the booths with a group of friends
• Dont carry your backpack, large purse
• Dont come dressed for rugby practice
• Dont wing it with employers
• Dont arrive during the last half hour of the
  event
• What to Take Away from a Career Fair
• Business cards from the recruiters you have met
• Notes about contacts you made
• Information about the organization potential
  opportunities
• Self-confidence in interacting with employer
  representatives
• A better sense of your career options

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After the Career Fair

• Organize the brochures and business cards
• Review/make notes on the companies you've visited
  are interested in pursuing
• Develop a plan of action
• Within two weeks, follow up with companies that
  impressed you (phone, e-mail or letter)
• Send the employer rep a thank you note if you
  have their contact info
• Follow up with the Career Development Center
• Keep time open in the following weeks for
  interviews
• Revisit company website for updates and job
  opportunities