Why bother attending a campus job fair?
When you apply for a job or internship online, it can take days, weeks or even months before you hear back from a single employer about your candidacy—if you hear anything at all. And aside from your cover letter, you have no way of connecting with recruiters on a personal level.
Who: Students and alumni
What: Just in Time Career Fair
When: Wednesday, April 4, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: University Memorial Center, Glenn Miller Ballroom
Bring your Buff OneCard to sign in at the event.
Attend a career fair and learn immediately from dozens of recruiters about current job openings, skills most in demand and more, while making a personal connection. But that can only be successful if you have prepared ahead of time. Even though conversations with recruiters don't count as formal interviews, they can lead to one or, worse, deter them.
These tips can help you improve your chances of standing out to employers at the final career fair of the year Wednesday, April 4.
Map out your tour
More than 70 employers will be at this week’s career fair, and, odds are, not all of them are best-suited for your career path. Save time and energy by finding out which employers will be attending. Handshake will always display the employer list on the event page.
Career Services is testing a new tool for this week’s career fair called Chimer. This student startup helps you figure out what companies best match your career interests. Answer 10 questions and you’ll get a list of employers that are searching for exactly what you have to offer. Visit www.chimerfair.com to test it out!
Kick-starting your job search after spring break
In the next six weeks, you're not only grinding to complete your course work but also trying to figure out what to do this summer. Here are a few tips to help you plan your job search attack.
How to prepare your elevator pitch
Your "elevator pitch" or "30-second intro" is one of the most important things you'll need to prepare before attending a career fair. Get pointers on your perfect pitch and where to go from there.
Research the companies that interest you
Learn the basics about the employers you're targeting. At a minimum, you should know one or two of their most important products or services and any upcoming projects the company is working on. A brief visit to the companies' profile on Handshake or website should provide you with the information you need.
Know what you want
You should be able to tell recruiters what kind of work you want to do. You don’t need to cite specific positions or job titles, but you should have an overall feel for the kind of job or internship you desire. We know many students are not 100 percent sure of this before graduation or summer begins, but stating your uncertainty doesn’t score points with recruiters.
If you truly feel lost, make an appointment with Career Services to gain some direction.
Practice your pitch
It can be really intimidating to walk up to a recruiter and just begin talking about yourself. By preparing a 30-second introduction and a few follow-up questions, you will not only feel more prepared but also appear more confident to employers. Follow these steps for preparing an elevator pitch.
Gather your materials
Print multiple copies of your résumé—some employers ask you to apply online, but having a paper copy to hand them while you talk can be helpful. Bring a small carrying bag or a portfolio with a pen and paper to take notes after you’ve spoken to employers.
