IS THIS YOUR FIRST CAREER FAIR?
As a college student or soon-to-be graduate, we know that getting a job is top of mind. Career fairs are a great opportunity to meet and network with potential employers. It’s also a good way to hone your interviewing skills and your personal pitch.
Here are our career fair tips to make the most of your experience:
- Research attending employers.
Find out all the companies that will be at the career fair (listed above) and create a priority list of the employers you want to meet with. - Update your resume.
Make sure that your resume is up-to-date and highlights your most marketable skills. Bring no less than 10 copies of your resume with you. You can also bring other materials like a portfolio or list of references, if applicable for your field of study and future line of work. - Prepare for interviews.
Prepare an “elevator speech” or personal pitch that is concise. Your elevator speech should have a handful of reasons why and how you would add value to the company. - Dress professionally.
This includes dress pants, skirts, button-down long sleeve shirts, sweater sets, blouses, and clean shoes. In general, err on the side of caution and try to overdress as opposed to dressing too casually. - Ask employers questions.
You can ask questions about a specific role you may be interested in, their corporate culture, the hiring process, recent company news and more. Asking questions and coming prepared shows the employer that you did your research and you are genuinely interested. - Get the employers’ contact information and follow-up.
If you had a great conversation with someone, follow-up and let them know! The employers and interviewers at the job fair will have talked to many students throughout the day. A follow-up email – especially one that includes something specific from your conversation – will keep you top of mind. - Stay positive.
Your body language will speak volumes about your interest in the company and being a part of their team. If you have a small notebook, take notes about what they say. You can use these notes when you follow-up with the employer, too. And remember: this is a learning experience!
Need help updating your resume or thinking of questions to ask employers? Our Career Services department is here to help, contact SCC Career Services Advisor Wayne Cole at wcole@eicc.edu, 563-441-4021 or in Room 3101 at the Belmont campus.