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How to Make the Most of Career Fairs
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Short Description: question your work ethic if you hand in a poorly written resume. filled with mistakes. ... research so you can make an intelligent comment about the ...
Content Inside: How to Make the Most of Career FairsAdvice from a recruiter who has a lot of experienceon the other side of the career fair booth. By Pamela S. JoellCareer fairs can be a great place for you to meet potential employers, but you need to do more than print 30 copies of your resume,practice your handshake, and press your interview suit to succeed. Here are tips to help you get the most out of career fairs.Before printing multiple copies of your resume, havethe same. If you talk too long, you'l create a bottleneck in theothers proofread it for typos. Recruiters hate those! We'llflow of traffic. If you see students behind you waiting to speakquestion your work ethic if you hand in a poorly written resumeto the recruiter, move on. This is not an interview. You canfilled with mistakes. Also, don't use "creative" fonts or cram allimpress employers at other times. Maintain good eye contact,your awards and association memberships in by using a typeand offer a firm handshake and a few introductory sentences.size that is too small for the naked eye. Remember, substanceThat's the formula that works.is the key. Your job is to get through our first round ofscreening. For that, you need a solid, wel -written resume.Tell the recruiter your name, your class year, andwhether you're interested in a full-time, co-op, orStay away from creative, euphemistic phrases. A resumeinternship position. Follow with your career interest, yourI received for a sales position stated that the person's job (withmajor(s), and why you came to the company's table. It's okaya fast-food chain) was to "upsell" customers. I keep thinking toto flatter the recruiter, but be professional and focus the flatterythis day, "do you wanna supersize it?"on the company. For example, you can say, "I heard that XYZis pursuing a business strategy that includes merging businessTake time before the career fair to find out whichunits to create more synergy. I think that is a really strategiccompanies will be represented. At a minimum, read themove."career fair handout in advance. Learn something about theircompanies before you approach recruiters. Nothing ticks meDon't ask the recruiter personal questions. Suchoff more than a student who approaches my table and says,questions sound frivolous."So, tell me about your company..." I don't mind discussingmy company or its job opportunities, but I do mind doing all theDon't skirt the GPA issue. If you're asked, tell the recruiterwork. Worse, I'll think you're lazy if you haven't taken the timeyour cumulative and/or semester GPA. If you aren't sure, giveto research the company.an estimate. If your GPA is not stel ar it may not matter, butwe need to know what we're working with. Nothing is worseHave a game plan and focus on no more than threethan listening to your reasoning about how your GPA would becompanies that interest you. Again, do a little advancehigher except for the wind change in the month of December.research so you can make an intelligent comment about thecompany you are approaching. Try something like, "IWhen you give a recruiter your resume, ask what theunderstand that company XYZ may open a branch in ABC. Donext step in the process is. Recruiters worth their salt will beyou think that will expand its overall product mix?" When youable to tell you.engage a recruiter in intelligent dialogue, you stand out. Youhave limited time at the career fair, so use it wisely. GatherCareer fairs are wonderful places for students and employersgiveaways and competitive literature first, enter theto make initial contact if you invest the time to preparesweepstakes, then focus on the companies you've chosen.properly. Use these tips to help you get the most out of careerfairs. See you at the fair!Prepare a two- or three-line script for yourself. This partis tricky. Try to impress recruiters within the first few minutesof conversation. The problem is that others will be trying to doFor a listing of companies/organizations attending the Career Fair, please visit www.letu.edu/careerservices
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