Career Fair Interviewing

1
Career Fair Interviewing More

• Touch the Future Career Fair

2
Informational Interviewing

• What is career fair/informational interviewing?
• A great way to help determine if a career pathway
  is right for you
• A method to see if you want to explore a pathway
  further

3
Why Career Fairs?

• Find out what a specific career path has to
  offer.
• Learn the positives and negatives.
• Find out what kind of training or further
  education is needed.
• See if a career fits with the lifestyle you want
  to lead.
• Develop relationships with experts in the fields
  youre interested in.

4
Career Fair Dos

• Shake hands. (Use the business handshake.)
• Smile.
• Breathe naturally and relax.
• Maintain eye contact when asking questions or if
  they ask you one.
• Be attentive to each response.
• Create additional questions as you go along.
  (There is no such thing as a dumb question.)
• Be polite. Say thank you at the conclusion.

5
Career Fair Donts

• Dont chew gum.
• Dont interrupt when someone is talking.
• Dont ask them how much money they make.
• You can ask about starting salary in that
  profession.

6
Practice!

• Business handshake
• Introducing yourself
• Thank you

7
Job Interviewing

• Different from informational interviewing an
  information exchange
• See Sample Interview Questions Handout
• Practice! Practice! Practice!
• Write out your answers.
• Anticipate difficult questions.
• Rehearse.

8
What Are You Trying to Say?

• Have an overall point in mind.
• Specific goals/skills to highlight
• Have examples of demonstrating those skills
  prepared!
• Specific events or activities with details
• Practice getting comfortable talking about
  yourself its not bragging!

9
Portfolios

• Help people visualize.
• Help you explain events or activities.
• Are NOT photo albums.
• May need to be left with employer if requested so
  be prepared.
• Are optional.

10
Ask Questions!

• Employers ask Are there any questions you have
  for us?.
• When can I expect to hear back from you?
• What are the typical hours/ time commitments of
  this job?

11
Getting to the Interview

• Allow LOTS of travel time
• Being late doesnt necessarily mean a poor
  result, but it rattles your nerves enough to
  throw you off for the rest of the interview.
• Map and practice
• If the location is unfamiliar, print a map, and
  make a practice trip to see how long it will
  take.

12
Appropriate Dress

• Match the highest expected standards of office
  dress.
• KEEP IT SIMPLE. Avoid
• open-toed shoes
• low-cut shirts
• tight-fitting clothes
• unnatural makeup
• piercing/tattoos in obvious places
• cologne
• gaudy or large jewelry

13
The Moments Before

• If waiting, try to find something to occupy
  yourself with.
• Turn your cell phone OFF.
• Check calendar.
• Read periodicals or office materials.
• Look engaged!

14
The Greeting

• Introductions- everyone in the room
• Business handshake

15
During the Interview

• Do your best.
• Be yourself.
• Have a conversation.
• Give as much information as possible.
• Show people just how great you are!

16
After the Interview

• Say thanks!
• In person, as you leave
• E-mail when you get home
• Hand-written note of appreciation
• Follow up with employer.