Succeeding at a Career Fair A C A D E M I C A N D C A R E E R S E RV I C E S M S A B # C A R E E R S. U N K. E D U

Transcription

1 Succeeding at a Career Fair A C A D E M I C A N D C A R E E R S E RV I C E S M S A B # C A R E E R S. U N K. E D U

2 Succeeding at a Career Fair - Overview Before the Fair At the Fair After the Fair

3 Before the Career Fair KNOW YOURSELF What value can you offer an employer? Education & Training Experience Paid and Unpaid Skills KNOW THE EMPLOYERS Identify companies you are most interested in Learn what they do Philosophy, Goals, Mission Company links on the career fair website careers.unk.edu Determine how your skills fit with what they need

4 Before the Career Fair Update Your Résumé Must look professional, error free, and easy to read Include your most recent accomplishments Bring copies Plain white or ivory résumé paper Carry in a folder or portfolio so they don t get wrinkled The number you bring will depend on the number of employers you expect to meet with

5 Before the Career Fair DEVELOP / PRACTICE YOUR ELEVATOR SPEECH Short introduction Hi my name is and I ll be graduating in with a degree in. What is your immediate career goal? After graduation I m hoping to. Use your research I m especially interested in your company because. What can you contribute? Based on my experience in I believe I can bring to your organization.

6 Before the Career Fair Example of an ELEVATOR SPEECH Hi my name is Louie Loper and I ll be graduating in May with a degree in Organizational Communication. After graduation I m hoping to obtain a sales or marketing position with a Nebraska-based company. I m especially interested in your company because of your broad base of clientele, as well as your commitment to the growth and development of small businesses. I believe I can bring my familiarity with this area of the state, as well as a creative approach to gaining new business to your organization.

7 Before the Fair PREPARE FOR A MINI-INTERVIEW Review & Practice Standard Interview Questions o Tell me about yourself. o What are some of your strengths/weaknesses? o What are your goals? o What extracurricular activities have you participated in? o What kind of leadership experience do you have? Questions to Ask Employers o What type of person are you looking for? o What goals do you have for this position? o Could you explain the orientation and training process your company offers? o What do you like about working for XYZ?

8 Before the Career Fair PLAN YOUR ATTIRE Wear conservative business clothes Clean up and look your best Leave your coat at home or on the coat rack Avoid too much cologne/perfume Don t bring your backpack Bring a portfolio instead

9 Before the Fair - Women s Attire Knee length skirt or slacks Style your hair so it s away from your face Avoid too much jewelry Closed toe / heel shoes

10 Before the Fair - Men s Attire Wear a quality tie Clean shaven Black, Gray or Navy Suit Shoe & belt color should match

11 At the Career Fair - Overview Ditch Your Friends Target Businesses Network Professional Greeting

12 At the Career Fair DITCH YOUR FRIENDS Remember why you re there Cruising around in a pack (or even a pair) will not make a positive impression Will also make it difficult to focus

13 At the Career Fair TARGET THE BUSINESSES YOU ARE MOST INTERESTED IN Look at the map provided or survey the layout Identify location of your target businesses Meet with your top choices early, but not necessarily first While you and they are fresh Be considerate of employer s time

14 At the Career Fair BUILD YOUR NETWORK Up to 70% of all job openings are filled through networking Meeting recruiters can increase your personal connections and plug you in to the hidden job market Maintain eye contact, be positive and show enthusiasm these are all attributes employers look for in potential new hires

15 At the Career Fair PROFESSIONAL GREETING SMILE TECHNIQUE Shake Hands and Smile Make Eye Contact Introduce Yourself Learn and Use Names Engage in Small Talk Transition to Elevator Speech

16 At the Career Fair End the Conversation with a Purposeful Statement Thank you for coming to our career fair, I really appreciated learning about your organization. It was great meeting you and I hope to speak to you again in the future. To close: Ask for a business card Thank employers for their time Offer to follow-up after the career fair

17 At the Career Fair Avoid these Common Mistakes Coming straight from class not being dressed appropriately or prepared for the event Wearing clothing that doesn t fit properly Not having a purpose for being there Not knowing how to begin, or end, a conversation Showing up 15 minutes before the Fair ends

18 After the Career Fair - Overview Your work isn t over when you leave the fair Make Notes Follow Up with Thank- You Letters Evaluate Your Strategies

19 After the Career Fair MAKE NOTES ABOUT THE CONTACTS YOU MADE Who did you talk to? Company name and name of their representative This is where business cards come in handy What positions are they hiring for? What did you think about the organization?

20 After the Career Fair FOLLOW-UP WITH THANK YOU LETTERS Write a thank you to each employer you met with Remind them that you met at the career fair and provide some kind of detail to help them remember you Restate qualifications and interest Express interest in a more formal interview State that you will follow-up with a phone call.

21 After the Career Fair EVALUATE YOUR STRATEGIES Did you meet who you really wanted to meet? Were you responsive and enthusiastic? Did you make a good impression? Was your appearance appropriate? Did you collect business cards? Think objectively about your experience. Make some notes about what you ll do differently next time.

22 Questions? After the Career Fair