Transcript Slide 1

Prepare for the Fair
How to Make a Career Fair Work for You
Presented by Clark University
Career Services
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What is a Career Fair?
• Career fairs are face-to-face
meetings between jobseekers
and employers.
• Fairs provide opportunities to speak with company recruiters,
submit resumes, or simply gather information about career
opportunities.
• It is also a chance to grow your network of career contacts.
• Two-thirds of all people get their jobs using informal search methods
such as networking with people and making direct contact with an
employer! (careerchallenge.com)
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Benefits of Attending a Career Fair
• Learn about the variety of
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positions available in a
particular career field.
Talk to someone currently
working in your field of interest.
Learn about internship and/or
employment opportunities
Establish employment contacts.
Practice interacting with
employers.
Tips and Strategies:
Before the Career Fair
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Research Participating Employers
• Look at the list of companies that
will be in attendance.
• Research those that sound
interesting by reading their
website and talking to anyone you
know who works or interns there.
• Jot down some informed questions
to ask the company representative
based on what you learn.
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Prepare a Resume
• Develop a polished, professional-looking
resume and have it ready to present to
employers.
• Bring to the fair several copies of your
resume printed on high quality paper.
• Career Services will help you write your
resume and will critique your drafts. You
may bring it in any afternoon during drop-in hours
(Mon. – Fri. 12 to 4 p.m.).
• Use this link to get started on creating your resume!
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Prepare for a Positive First
Impression!
• Dress appropriately.
• Shake hands firmly and
maintain good eye contact.
• Be positive and enthusiastic.
Show that you are interested
in what the recruiter says.
• Wait until you are leaving the
table to take the “freebies”
offered.
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Plan Your Attire
“Business casual” attire is
expected at an on-campus fair;
for other fairs, a suit may be
necessary. If in doubt about
what to wear, opt for more
dressed-up rather than less.
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Master the Business Handshake
• First impressions are critical and employers may make
assumptions about your professionalism based on your
handshake.
• Your handshake should be firm – not weak but not too strong!
• Practice shaking hands with friends and ask for their feedback.
LEEP Center staff are also happy to assist.
Practice Introducing Yourself
• Be prepared to present a 30 second commercial about yourself
indicating your year in school, your major, your area of
interest, and the type of position you are seeking (full-time
entry level, internship, summer).
• Ex: “Hello, my name is ______. I am a senior at Clark, finishing
up my degree in Psychology and Gender Studies. I’m
interested in beginning a career in human services and I read
that your agency provides services to families in crisis. I’d like
to learn more about the entry-level career opportunities you
have available.”
• Go on to speak about your particular experiences and
accomplishments relevant to the job.
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Prepare for Interviews
• Every time you speak with an employer,
no matter how briefly, consider it an
interview—demonstrate confidence,
interest, and enthusiasm.
• Try to anticipate the kinds of questions
employers will ask you.
• A common question is something
like, “What are you here for today?”
• Tailor your answer to your interests and the company’s interests.
• Prepare to ask the employer questions as well!
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Sample Questions to Ask
Employers at a Career Fair
• What coursework or fields of study do you look for in
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successful candidates?
Does your company hire on a continual basis or just at certain
times of the year?
Approximately how long does the hiring process take?
Are graduate degrees preferred? If so, in what areas?
Is there a G.P.A. requirement in the recruiting process?
What would your organization consider the most important
qualities in an employee?
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Sample Questions to Ask
Employers at a Career Fair
• What personality traits are important for success in your
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company?
What opportunities are there for an entry level employee to
participate in professional development activities (e.g.
trainings, conferences)?
How long have you been with this company? What made you
choose to work here?
For how many years does the entry-level employee typically
stay with your company?
How many employees work in X department?
Do you expect your employees to relocate or travel?
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Tips and Strategies:
The Day of the Career Fair
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Arrive Early and Independently
• Arrive as early as possible to see
those recruiters you expect will be
busiest.
• If you come late you may miss the
organizations you wanted to contact.
• A professional image is easier to
maintain if you speak to employers
alone.
• Avoid traveling through the fair in a
group of friends.
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Maintain the Professionalism You
Practiced
• Approach the recruiter with a smile and
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offer a hand when introducing yourself
displaying a friendly, confident attitude.
Maintain professional space and behavior.
Avoid taking “freebies” until after your
conversation.
Hand the recruiter a copy of your resume
and expand on it quickly with your
“commercial.”
Speak naturally; avoid presenting your
introduction as a speech.
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Prepare to Follow-up
• After a brief discussion with the recruiter,
collect the organizational literature and the
recruiter’s business card.
• Ask about the next step in the recruiting
process or the preferred method of follow-up.
• Immediately after leaving the table, jot down
notes about your conversation as well as
names of contacts you spoke with who may
not have had a business card.
• This will help remind you of information to
reference in a thank you letter.
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Tips and Strategies:
After the Career Fair
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Follow-up with Contacts
• Once you’re home, you should begin
preparing thank you notes!
• In the letter, thank the recruiter for his/her
time, restate your interest and
qualifications for the position, recall
something that you discussed, express
your interest in a second interview, and
indicate when you will follow up.
• Send your thank you notes by the next day.
• Following-up via email is okay as long as
you keep the letter professional.
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Improve Your Resume
• Use what you learned at
the fair to improve your
resume.
• Add qualifications or
details that best illustrate
your fit for that industry or
position.
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Remember the Career Fair FIVES
(adapted from JobWeb.com)
Five things to TAKE TO
a Career Fair
Five things to TAKE AWAY
from a Career Fair
1. Copies of your resume,
1. Business cards from the
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notepaper, and a pen.
A smile, a strong handshake,
and a positive attitude.
A 30-60 second “commercial”.
Information about the
organizations that will be
attending.
Energy and enthusiasm!
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recruiters you have met.
Notes about contacts you
made.
Organization information.
A better sense of your career
options.
Self-confidence in interacting
with company representatives.
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Questions? Contact Career Services at:
508-793-7258
Or come to drop-in hours:
Monday through Friday 12 – 4 p.m. in the
LEEP Center at Dana Commons