Your university is holding a job fair and several companies will be represented. Find out how these eight simples steps can help you stand out from the crowd and land your first job.
1. Research
Contact the school’s career development center or check their website for a list of companies attending the fair. Spend time gathering information about the companies you are interested in by visiting their website. Find out what services or products they offer and read their most recent press releases and their blog. By familiarizing yourself with the company, you are prepared to ask informed questions about their business.
2. Develop A Plan of Action
Depending on how many students attend the job fair and how long the fair lasts, visiting all the booths may not be possible. Prioritize the list of companies attending and determine which ones you must meet during the fair. Visit those first and then the companies that are lower on your priority list. Don’t waste valuable time standing in line to meet someone at an organization that you are not really interested in working for. The job fair organizers will probably collect resumes from all the students and create a resume book for the companies that attended the fair so don’t stress out about missed opportunities.
3. Know Thyself
So you want to work in marketing, digital media, or business. Come to the fair prepared to talk about your interests. What aspects of marketing interest you? Do you want to create videos for websites or develop and design websites? Are you interested in human resources or finance? Recruiters will ask you specifics to determine where you might fit within the company. Avoid generalizations and broad statements like “Digital media is constantly changing” or “Marketing is very important in today’s business climate”. Statements like these will not impress recruiters.
4. Make Your Resume Presentable
At a recent job fair that I attended, I was given poorly photocopied resumes as well as resumes with typos and handwritten corrections. Take the time to proofread your resume for errors and make quality photocopies at a retail copy center. A sloppy resume is unacceptable and will definitely be passed over.
5. Wear Your Best
Even if you do not have a suit, you can still look your best by wearing a business casual outfit. Men should wear slacks, a button-up shirt, and a tie. Ladies should wear dress pants or a skirt with a nice (not too revealing) blouse.
6. Create Talking Points
Avoid stumbling through your experiences by writing a few talking points. Depending on the amount of students at the fair, you may speak to a recruiter for about 3 – 5 minutes. Your talking points might include relevant internships, classes, and/or projects. Mention your GPA (if it is above 3.0) and any honors or recognition you have received while in school as well as your involvement in clubs or organizations.
7. Make Eye Contact
Maintain eye contact throughout your meeting while listening and speaking. This communicates that you are paying attention and fully involved in the discussion.
8. Ask For Business Cards
Once you wrap-up with a recruiter ask for their business card. A big part of any job search involves networking and follow-up. The next day send a short e-mail restating your talking points and interest in the company. Include your contact information and attach your resume. Recruiters do not give business cards to every student they meet, so take advantage of this opportunity.
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