Student perspective: CMCI Career Fair
Getting involved on campus doesn’t have to mean joining a club or group! In fact, there are plenty of free events, programs or workshops to attend. This week I attended the College of Media, Communication and Information (CMCI) Career Fair. This event was meant to help students in CMCI, like me, prepare for when we go out into the real world. Take it from someone who’s been in your shoes, it’s never too early to start career prep and it certainly does not hurt to attend a career fair even if you are unsure what path you are going to go down. Here is some helpful advice and tips for when you attend your first career fair.
About the CMCI Career Fair
The CMCI Career Fair took place in the UMC and hosted over 20 companies, agencies and organizations who are hiring for summer internships and jobs. Each employer had their own booth set up and students were able to walk around to each booth, getting the opportunity to chat with employers about internships, jobs and experiences. Career fairs are a great opportunity for you to learn about and engage yourself in real world professional experiences such as networking with employers.
My experience
This was my second time attending a career fair. I attended my first one as a sophomore, however I had done zero preparation beforehand and had no idea what to expect. Even though I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do yet and wasn’t very familiar with the career fair process, it was still very beneficial. I was able to learn how to engage in small talk with employers and got to use this as practice for my second time around.
This time, in order to make the most out of my experience, I did a little bit of preparation beforehand. I made sure to print out 15 copies of my resume to hand out to employers at the fair. In addition I practiced my “elevator pitch” - a quick, confident and to-the-point speech that summarizes why I would be the best candidate for the position.
Once I got there, I focused on the employers that I was the most interested in and went straight up to their booths without any hesitation. I introduced myself, told them what year I am in school, what I am majoring in and what sort of opportunity I am looking for. Then, before I knew it, we got caught up in a conversation and shortly after I moved on to the next booth. It was great networking experience and job preparation for the future.
Why you should go
Even if you aren’t looking for an internship right now, you should go to career fairs to network and make new connections. Networking can be as simple as striking up a conversation about your career interests. I can not stress to you enough how important it is to network on your career journey. Even if you are still unsure of what career path you would like to go down, it gives you a chance to help practice communicating with people. Career fairs are the perfect opportunity to practice these skills!
Tips for attending career fairs
- Before you attend a career fair, look at the list of companies that are going to be there.
- Know who you want to see - pick companies that are the most relevant to you and will be the best use of your time.
- Go in with a game plan, and have your best elevator pitch ready.
- Try to connect with the employer, be confident and energetic and consider how you will set yourself apart from others.
For more information on career fairs, visit the Career Services website to learn how to prepare and master these tips. Remember, it’s never too early to start practicing these skills!
