JOBTALKSJOBTALKS

CAREER FAIR PREPARATIONS

Indiana UniversityKelley School of BusinessC. Randall Powell, Ph.D

Contents used in this presentation are adapted from Career Planning Strategies and used with the permission of the author.

Career CenterCareer Center

Career Fair PreparationsCareer Fair Preparations

C. Randall Powell, Ph.D.Indiana UniversityKelley School of BusinessBloomington, Indiana

Key Items to RememberKey Items to RememberPresentation Agenda…..Presentation Agenda…..

Know your employersKnow your employers Know what you wantKnow what you want Prepare an introductionPrepare an introduction Bring scannable resumeBring scannable resume Dress the partDress the part Arrive earlyArrive early Stay focusedStay focused Appropriate questionsAppropriate questions Ask for next stepAsk for next step Pick up business cardsPick up business cards Write thank-you noteWrite thank-you note Complete online application, if requestedComplete online application, if requested Practice, practice, practicePractice, practice, practice

Know your employersKnow your employers

Review the list of employers expected at Review the list of employers expected at the career the career

Focus research on the top 3 – 4 firms that Focus research on the top 3 – 4 firms that interest youinterest you

Good research is key to an effective job Good research is key to an effective job searchsearch

Advanced planning is essentialAdvanced planning is essential

Know what you wantKnow what you want

What What typetype of opportunity are you of opportunity are you interested in with a specific organization?interested in with a specific organization?

Where do you Where do you fitfit in the organization, even in the organization, even if it is not the specific job they are if it is not the specific job they are recruiting forrecruiting for

Don’t say Don’t say “what jobs do you have for me?”“what jobs do you have for me?” it shows lack of research and our career it shows lack of research and our career directiondirection

Prepare an introductionPrepare an introduction

Prepare 2-3 line scriptPrepare 2-3 line script Customize it to the needs of the companies Customize it to the needs of the companies

you are interested inyou are interested in Include name, your class and majorInclude name, your class and major Don’t forget your career interests and how Don’t forget your career interests and how

they relate to the target companythey relate to the target company Do you have relevant work experience?Do you have relevant work experience? Try to differentiate yourself in your introTry to differentiate yourself in your intro

IntroductionsIntroductions

Let me introduce myself: Let me introduce myself: My name is _______ and clearMy name is _______ and clear I’m ________ (slow and clear)I’m ________ (slow and clear) Consider: short version, first name onlyConsider: short version, first name only

FIRM HAND SHAKEFIRM HAND SHAKE LOOK AT THEM, SMILELOOK AT THEM, SMILE HAND THEM A RESUMEHAND THEM A RESUME

Opening LinesOpening Lines

I’m so glad you’re here!I’m so glad you’re here! I’d love to work at your I’d love to work at your

companycompany I’ve been researching your I’ve been researching your

organizationorganization Great/Exciting/wonderful Great/Exciting/wonderful

displaydisplay What a great company!What a great company! Could I have a second of Could I have a second of

your time?your time?

Your ResumeYour Resume

Resume should be scannableResume should be scannable White paperWhite paper Easy to readEasy to read

Avoid fancy fonts or symbolsAvoid fancy fonts or symbols Include relevant key wordsInclude relevant key words

Dress the partDress the part

WomenWomen Dress/SkirtDress/Skirt Heels Heels Make-up?Make-up?

MenMen Khakis or dress pantsKhakis or dress pants No tennis shoesNo tennis shoes Tie or jacketTie or jacket

The career fair is not an interview, but go dressed as it if were. This is your first impression on the employer.

Arrive EarlyArrive Early

Come early while employers are Come early while employers are freshfresh

Go first to the booth of employers Go first to the booth of employers you have identified in advanceyou have identified in advance

Don’t arrive 30 minutes before the Don’t arrive 30 minutes before the end of the dayend of the day

Stay focusedStay focused

Don’t get diverted by the “goodies” at each Don’t get diverted by the “goodies” at each boothbooth

Remain focused on your target employersRemain focused on your target employers You are at the fair to make contactsYou are at the fair to make contacts Be sure to express interest in the company Be sure to express interest in the company

– not in the giveaway being offered.– not in the giveaway being offered.

GreetingGreeting

Greet each employer with a smile Greet each employer with a smile and firm handshakeand firm handshake

Use your prepared script to Use your prepared script to introduce yourself and express your introduce yourself and express your interestinterest

Make eye contactMake eye contact Be positiveBe positive

Ask appropriate questionsAsk appropriate questions

If you have time, use it wiselyIf you have time, use it wisely Don’t waste time asking questions that Don’t waste time asking questions that

could be answered with a little researchcould be answered with a little research Don’t ask “What does your organization do?”Don’t ask “What does your organization do?”

Ask questions that show you have done Ask questions that show you have done your homework/researchyour homework/research ““What does XXX value in its employees?What does XXX value in its employees?

Be considerate of othersBe considerate of others

Remember that other students will want a Remember that other students will want a chance to talk with the recruiter – be chance to talk with the recruiter – be considerateconsiderate

Makes a good impression – be concise, Makes a good impression – be concise, direct, politedirect, polite

Leave with an understanding of follow-up Leave with an understanding of follow-up procedures—right short notes quicklyprocedures—right short notes quickly

Ask for next stepAsk for next step

Ask how you can follow-up and what the Ask how you can follow-up and what the next step is in the hiring processnext step is in the hiring process

Ask specifically for considerationAsk specifically for consideration Be persistent and politeBe persistent and polite Walk away with specific instructionsWalk away with specific instructions

Graceful ExitsGraceful Exits

May I have your business card, please?May I have your business card, please? I enjoyed meeting youI enjoyed meeting you Great! See you then!Great! See you then! Is it okay if I apply directly?Is it okay if I apply directly? Could you recommend anyone in your Could you recommend anyone in your

organization that may be interested in my organization that may be interested in my abilities?abilities?

Write a thank-you noteWrite a thank-you note

Send a thank-you email to every employer Send a thank-you email to every employer you speak to at the career fairyou speak to at the career fair

Try to reinforce how you differentiate Try to reinforce how you differentiate yourself and how your skills match with yourself and how your skills match with what the firm is seekingwhat the firm is seeking

Online applicationsOnline applications

You may find that employers request that You may find that employers request that you complete an online applicationyou complete an online application

The online applications is part of the The online applications is part of the process, do not ignore requestprocess, do not ignore request

Quick ReviewQuick Review

Before the career fairBefore the career fair Research companiesResearch companies Prepare “one-minute” commercialPrepare “one-minute” commercial Prepare questionsPrepare questions Know general types of positionsKnow general types of positions One-page scannable resumeOne-page scannable resume Be organizedBe organized

Quick reviewQuick review

During the career fairDuring the career fair Look professionalLook professional Walk aroundWalk around Make eye contactMake eye contact Ask questionsAsk questions Be enthusiasticBe enthusiastic Collect business cardsCollect business cards Make notesMake notes

Quick reviewQuick review

After the career fairAfter the career fair Email thank-you note with attached résuméEmail thank-you note with attached résumé Complete online application, if neededComplete online application, if needed Prepare for interviewPrepare for interview

Finally, Practice, practice, practice!Finally, Practice, practice, practice!

If you would like If you would like to learn more, to learn more, Career Planning Career Planning StrategiesStrategies textbook will textbook will supply additional supply additional information on information on this topic.this topic.