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BEFORE THE FAIR
1. Know what your goal is for attending the fair and design your entire effort around that aim
. (For example are you: Exploring various career opportunities and typical steps to success for those fields? Investigating specific companies so you can learn more about what they do? Practicing networking
skills for future career fairs?)
2. Determine which career fields are right for you:
- Speak with a counselor at the Career Center.
- Take career assessment inventories to help you determine potential career fits.
3. Research career fields and job titles of interest:
- Establish a realistic expectation of the careers you are considering by looking up definitions of job
titles, descriptions of day-to-day duties, required qualifications, researching the future outlook of the career, and investigating the salary ranges and benefits of various positions.
- Research the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (available in Career Exploration Office), the Occupational Outlook Handbook and the NACE Salary Survey (information available in Career Exploration Office).
4. Research companies, agencies or organizations that will be attending the Career Fair:
- Know in advance which organizations will attend
- Review the company web sites.
5. Take steps toward making a good impression
- Prepare a well-written resume in advance of the career fair. (Plan to bring 10+ copies of your resume to the Career Fair.)
- Draft a sample thank-you letter to send after the fair.
- Develop a list of questions to ask employers based on your research of their organization.
- Know what skills are needed for a career and know how to speak a "skills" language.
- Study the "corporate culture" of the organization and know how to use industry-related
terminology.
- Know how to relate your past work, academic and out-of-class experiences to the career field.
- Know how to express what you are looking for and what you want.
- Prepare a career log in advance to document Career Fair information (i.e. to whom have you given a resume?
Are they scheduled to return to Lee? etc.)
6. Anticipate problems before the event and be prepared for anything:
- Bring an umbrella or raincoat in case of bad weather.
- Consider the time you'll need to travel to the fair, plan for possible heavy traffic, and take into account
the availability and distance of parking to the facility.
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AT THE FAIR
7. Make a good impression:
- Arrive early and be the first in the door - often the first students in the door are perceived to be the
brightest and most motivated students.
- Dress professionally. First impressions count!
- Smile, make eye contact, shake hands firmly and confidently, and introduce self to include your full name,
major and graduate date. Establish rapport.
- Remember your body language…don't fidget, rock or look around. Act interested, focused and enthusiastic. Be
friendly, assertive, mature and sincere.
- Do not bring drinks or chew gum.
- LISTEN to what the recruiter has to say!
- Don't ramble. Provide a concise, well-prepared overall view of what you have to offer.
- Ask at least 2 intelligent questions of each organization, about such topics as: organizational statistics,
company mission, client base, internship or co-op opportunities, summer or part-time employment, full time career paths, trainee programs, benefits, hiring procedures, etc.
8. Make things easier on yourself:
- Network…while in line, talk to other students about which recruiters they've spoken to already.
- Stop at the Career Exploration table first…there is a reason we are there…we may have some helpful
information for you.
- Wear comfortable shoes.
- Speak clearly and loudly enough to be heard through the noise.
- Keep an open mind when speaking with recruiters.
- If provided, wear nametags prominently - list your name, class year and degree. This will help employers
remember you better.
- Bring 10+ resumes in a folder. You can separate resumes with different objectives by file for easy
accessibility. However, be prepared to sell your skills and characteristics in person. Recruiters will remember their impression of you as much or more than your resume.
- Bring something to carry company literature, business cards and giveaways. Don't be a 'freebies hog.)
- Carry a pen and note pad.
- Take notes that can help you to later recall your conversations with recruiters. Consider ranking
organizations ("A", "B", "C" etc.) and follow up immediately on all "A" organizations.
- Ask for the recruiter's business card for follow up.
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AFTER THE FAIR
9. Be patient: Some organizations may be "long-term" leads. Don't expect an immediate response.
10. Get organized:
- If you didn't already do so while at the fair, take notes about each organization on the back of business
cards or in a log before you forget important information.
- Organize company brochures and contact information so you can easily begin the process of following up with
employers.
11. Follow up with company representatives:
- Mail a thank you, cover letter, and resume as soon as possible to each organization you targeted for further interest to reinforce your good image and to "strike while the iron is still hot!"
- Approximately 2 weeks after mailing letters and resumes, call the recruiter to confirm receipt of your
letter and to express your continued interest in the company and desire for an interview.
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Note: This information was reprinted from the Univesity of South Carolina Career Center's website. http://www.sc.edu/career/pdf/cfstudentips.pdf
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