Making the Most of a Career Fair

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Making the Most of a Career Fair

• Edgewood College
• Career Services

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Begin with the End in Mind.

• What are you hoping to get from it?
• Explore careers and learn about possible jobs and
  internships.
• Get answers to specific question you might have
  about a company.
• Increase your network.
• Gather contact information.
• Get practice selling yourself.

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Great Expectations you have them

• Your expectations
• Know that you will not get a job offer at the
  fair however, you can make a significant number
  of contacts to follow up with that may lead to an
  internship or job.
• Follow up is critical to making this a successful
  venture.

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Great Expectations employers have them

• Employer expectations may be
• Expect that you will be professional, willing to
  initiate conversation, and able to highlight your
  strengths.
• Collect resumes/ Get applications filled out on
  line.
• Building applicant pool/ Looking for a specific
  position.
• Expect that if you are interested that you will
  follow up.

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Before the Fair

• Identify and research prospective employers
• Map out fair strategy
• Have a clear career focus -What do you want?
  Information? An internship? A job?
• Prepare résumés
• Have a career portfolio

• Rehearse elevator speech
• Practice typical interview question responses
• Develop list of questions to ask recruiters
• Decide on proper career fair attire
• Get organized the night before

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Identify and research prospects

• Check out the Fair sponsors web site.
• http//www.wipccc.org/
• http//www.uwmadisonls.erecruiting.com/stu/cf-list
  ?aff20519
• See who will be attending. Keep an open mind.
  Research your top 5 10 alternatives. Find out
• Organizational structure and breadth
• Key products/services
• Organizational culture and values
• Hiring practices

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Places to do research

• Go directly to the companys web site.
• Talk to professionals and professors you know.
• Other websites
• www.RileyGuide.com
• www.quintcareers.com

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Dont make assumptions

• Identify your strengths and career goals.
• What are you looking for?
• Explore all the employers, at least on line, you
  never know what they are looking for.
• Develop and PRACTICE your Elevator Speech.

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Map out your strategy.

• Prioritize who you want to talk to.
• Know your strengths, and be able to articulate
  them
• Have examples, in your head, of demonstrated
  skills and abilities. Be able to describe them
  quickly.
• Listen to what the employers are asking people
  they are interviewing before you.

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FIRST IMPRESSIONS LAST

• This IS your first interview with prospective
  employers.
• Dress professionally.
• Be confident.
• No gum!
• Perfect resume (on resume paper)

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The Elevator Speech
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Hi, my name is ___________. I will be
graduating/I just graduated from
____________________with a degree in
_____________________. I'm looking
to_____________________.
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Examples
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The Elevator Speech

• I am Midas Touché, I am graduating in May from
  Edgewood College with my Bachelors degree in
  Economics. My goal is to work in a company like
  this one doing economic market analysis. My work
  at the student paper as a sales person prepared
  me to use my math, writing and speaking skills.
  I am a skilled problem solver and have excellent
  computer skills.

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At the Fair

• Get your bearings.
• Check out the final attendees list- it may have
  changed.
• Follow through with your plan.
• Make a good first impression.
• Be courteous, polite to everyone.
• Interested? Resume?

• Don't leave without contact information
• What is the next step?
• Jot down interview notes after you walk away from
  recruiter
• Always stay positive
• Network.

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Ask questions
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Strategic Planning Questions

• What kind of entry-level positions (or
  internships) exist within your organization?
• Does your company hire on a continual basis or
  just at certain times of the year?
• How long does the hiring process take? What does
  it consist of?
• What percent of applicants are eventually hired?
  What is the retention rate?

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Strategic Comeback Questions

• What kinds of skills and experience do you look
  for in the employees you hire?
• What are the characteristics of your most
  successful employees?
• Are graduate degrees important to advancing
  within your organization? Which ones?
• Which courses or experiences do you suggest to be
  a successful candidate?

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Key Company Information

• Are there specific career tracks within the
  organization? In other words, what can a typical
  employee (for the position I am seeking) hired in
  your division expect to be doing 2, 5, or 10
  years after hiring?
• What is your organization's culture like?
• For how many years does the typical employee stay
  with the company?
• Are there opportunities for ongoing training
  through your organization?
• Do you expect your employees to relocate? How
  much travel is involved?

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Recruiter Information

• Use personal questions with caution.
• What made you choose this company and why do you
  stay?
• How long have you been with the company?
• What's the one thing that most surprised you
  about this company?

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Take notes
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Why take notes?

• Organize your information.
• Recall specific topics to refer to in follow up.
• Help clear your mind for the next recruiter.
• Either take quick subtle notes after handing off
  your resume, or do note taking after you are
  finished with interview.

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More on notes

• These can assist you in your ranking process of
  the organization of the companies that you
  interview with.
• Jot down quick reactions to the companies as soon
  as you finish your interview.

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After the Fair

• Check in with your friends who also went.
• Organize your information.
• Follow up with companies you are interested in.
• Send thank you notes to recruiters you spoke to.
  
• Contact any other people you may have met that
  you would like to add to your network.

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Above all,

• If you are Exploring remember the places you
  interviewed. If you really liked what you were
  hearing start positioning yourself for
  internships.
• If you are looking for an Internship Follow up
  with the places you connected with. The ball is
  now in your court to follow up.

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If you are looking for a job

• You are in control. Follow up with everyone you
  spoke to.
• Pursue an interview with the places you are most
  interested in.
• Send thank you notes (not hand written, or cute
  note cards).
• If you said you would do something, do it.

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Preparation

• It is the best antidote for stress.
• Remember
• Make a good impression.
• Have your resume ready.
• Be positive.
• Be curious.
• Have fun.

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Thank you.

• For more information,
• Contact 206 DeRicci,
• or call 663-2281