Transcript Interview Skills & Attire

How to WORK a Career Fair
Internship & Career Services Center
North Carolina Wesleyan College
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Presentation Outline
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Preparation
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Research!
Your marketing plan
Dress for success
What will you say?
The day before
At the fair
Interview preparation
At the interview
After the job fair
ENCCA Career Fair details
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Research!
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Who will be at the fair?
– Easily accessed via the ENCCA website
www.enccacareerfair.org
– Complete list with contact information,
company overview, positions available,
and web address for each company
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Who do you want to visit with?
– View positions offered as well as
company websites to determine this
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Company Research
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This very important step will allow you to
answer and ask questions intelligently
Where can I find company information?
– Corporate websites
Look for “HR” or “About”, maybe “Strategic Plan”
 Also browse the consumer side of their site to be
up on what products and/or services they offer
and how they present themselves
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– Newspapers & Business Journals
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Look for current events and articles related to the
company
Your Marketing Plan
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How will you best market yourself?
– Polished resume on fine paper
(view ICSC resources for resume writing)
– Professional dress, clean, well-groomed
– Portfolio and pen
– Networking cards
– Collection of work samples
(see presentation)
– Prepare for what you will say
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Dress for Success
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General Guidelines
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Dress conservatively
Sensible, practical clothes that make you
look like you know how to focus on your
work
Make sure clothes look clean and neat
Do not chew gum while at the fair
Do not smoke before or at the fair (the
smoke smell will attach to your clothing)
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Women’s Appearance
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Conservative suit color (black, grey, navy)
Conservative blouse color (white, ivory)
Appropriate neckline
A tailored dress or coat dress is also
appropriate
Skirt/dress length should be between an inch
above or below the knee
Check slip length
Wear hosiery
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Women’s Appearance
(continued)
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Accessories add color and variety but less is
more in the job fair/interview situation
Heels should be no taller than 3”
Conservative shoe style and color (close toe,
black, navy, taupe, brown)
Be aware of manicure
Do not carry a purse, only a professional tote
or leather-bound pad
Wear make-up, but not too much
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Men’s Appearance
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Fit is critical to a suit jacket and pants
Dark blue, grey, or black
Button your jacket when standing and
walking, unbutton when sitting
A pressed, white, long-sleeved, cotton
shirt
– You should be able to fit 2 fingers
between the collar and your neck
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Silk tie in a conservative color/print
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Men’s Appearance
(continued)
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Tip of tie should reach center of belt buckle
Shoes should be black or brown
Socks should complement pant color
Belts – plain leather in black or brown (to
match shoes), 1”
Neatly trimmed facial hair
Clean nails
Polished shoes, no worn heels
Carry a brief case or leather-bound pad
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General Grooming Tips
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Deodorant
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Light on cologne/perfume
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Brush your teeth, use mouthwash
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Neat haircut
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Polished shoes
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Impeccably clean
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What will you say?
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Elevator Speech/Personal Commercial
– A 30 second impromptu “speech”
– Should provide:
 Your current status
(BIO major graduating in May)
 What your current employment goals are
(entry level lab technician)
 A snippet of what you already know about the
employer and how you may be a good fit
(My beliefs fit well with your company’s mission of improving
lives by developing innovative drugs.)
 A request for action
(Can you tell me more about your company and how I might 13be
able to contribute?)
The Day Before
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Prepare copies of resume
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Practice your speech/commercial
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Review top employers list and the research
you’ve gathered on each
Verify all clothing and accessories are ready
for wear
Get plenty of sleep!
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At the Fair
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At the fair
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Check-in
Plan your day
– A map & employer directory will be provided
– Be sure to meet with those you are most
interested in first – you don’t want to run out of
time and earlier candidates will get interviews
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Approach employers
– Be polite, wait until there’s a natural break in
conversation to introduce yourself
– Extend a firm handshake
– Use your speech/commercial
– Smile, make eye contact, be confident!
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Before leaving the
employer
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Leave your contact information
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Get their contact information
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Ask for an interview
Ex. - “I’d like to take your business card and
leave you with my networking card and
resume. Would it be possible for me to get
an appointment on your company’s
interview schedule this afternoon?”
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At the fair (cont.)
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Be polite and mature throughout the day –
you never know who’s watching nearby.
Check-out by returning your evaluation if
you will not return for interviews
Eat lunch on your own
Return to prepare for your interviews
Be on time to meet employers at their table
for your interview appointment
Once interviews are complete check-out by
returning your evaluation
DRIVE SAFELY!
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Interview Preparation
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Review Job Announcement
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Look back over the job announcement,
highlighting all mentions of duties and
specific skills
Try to form a picture of the individual they
are seeking
What is missing? Often times the
announcement is vague, you will want to
decide in advance what questions you have
so you can ask them.
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Review Your Skills
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Match your skills with those mentioned
in the announcement
– Plan specific examples you can share that
will exhibit your possession of these sills.
– Try to recall a time you have done
something similar to what they are
looking for.
– What transferable skills do you have that
will be helpful in this position? Give
examples.
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Practice
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Review a list of typical interview
questions and anticipate how you
might respond.
– Pretend you are the interviewer. What
questions would you ask?
See typical questions here.
– Do not try to script your responses.
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Participate in Mock Interviews with the
ICSP Coordinator in advance.
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At the Interview
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Behavior
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Arrive on time and report to the
employer’s table when the interview time
is announced.
Speak clearly and with good grammar.
Avoid verbal fillers (“uh”, “you know”,
“like”).
Answer questions with examples and
stories. Use humor if it seems
appropriate.
Feel free to take down a few notes.
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Body Language
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Firm handshake
Good eye contact
Erect posture (slightly leaning forward)
Relaxed and confident
Small facial/hand gestures
Avoid fidgeting
Smile
Be enthusiastic
Swallow yawns
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What Not To DO
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Don’t…
– Be late
– Ask about money
– Criticize prior job or boss
– Lie (better to say you don’t know an
answer)
– Slouch
– Cross your legs
– Interrupt
– Feel obligated to answer illegal questions
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After the Career Fair
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Evaluation & Action
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Immediately make notes
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What do you still have questions about?
What are the pros of the companies/positions?
What are the cons of the companies/positions?
How do you feel about your performance at the
fair/in the interviews?
– What could you improve on next time?
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Complete any follow-up instructions given to
you by the employers
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Send a thank you letter to the employer
within 24 hours
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Thank You Letters
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Express appreciation for the interview and
meeting the individual.
Comment on things that were mentioned in the
interview.
– If the employer had mentioned a current problem,
remind them of ways you can help.
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If there was something relevant you forgot to
say in the interview, mention it here.
Express your interest in working at the
company and that you look forward to hearing
from them.
Example
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ENCCA Career Fair Details
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Schedule:
9am – 12pm Information exchange
12pm – 1pm Lunch on your own
1pm – 4pm Interviews
Location:
McKimmon Center
1101 Gormon Street
Raleigh, NC 27695
Travel:
Notify me ASAP if you will need assistance!
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