Five Things to Take to the Career Fair

 from Military.com

A career fair
is a great place to gather information about potential employers and
make contacts that can lead to your first job. Here's some advice on
how to make the most of your time.

1. Copies of your resume
   (25 to 40 depending on the size of the event). Be sure it represents
   your knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) effectively. It needs to
   look professional -- easy to read format on plain white or
   cream-colored paper -- and be free of typos. If you are looking at
   several career options, you may want to have two or more targeted
   resumes with different career objectives!




2. A smile, a strong handshake, and a positive attitude. First impressions are important. Approach an employer, smile, and offer your hand when you introduce yourself.




3. A 30-second "sales pitch." Hand the recruiter a copy of your
   resume and be prepared to expand on it quickly! Share basic information
   about yourself and your career interests like this: "Hello, I'm Carrie
   Jones. I'm a senior here at Wonderful University and I'm majoring in
   English. I'm very interested in a marketing career. As you can see on
   my resume, I just completed an internship in the Marketing Division of
   the ABC Company in Peoria. I've also taken some courses in business
   marketing. I'm very interested in talking with you about marketing
   opportunities with your organization."




4. Information about the organizations that will be attending.
   Gather information as you would for a job interview. To maximize the
   brief time you have with each employer, you need to know how your
   skills and interests match their needs. And don't just concentrate on
   the "big names." There are often great opportunities with companies
   with which you are not familiar.




5. Energy! Career fairs require you to be on your feet moving
   from table to table for an hour or so. Each time you meet someone, be
   at your best, as refreshed as possible!

Five Things Not to Do at the Career Fair

1. Don't cruise the booths with a group of friends. Interacting with the recruiters on your own. Make your own positive impression!




2. Don't carry your backpack, large purse, or other paraphernalia with you.
   Carry your resume in a professional-looking portfolio or small
   briefcase works well. It will keep your resume neat and handy, and
   gives you a place to file business cards of recruiters that you meet.
   Usually you can stow your coat, backpack, or other gear in a coatroom.




3. Don't come dressed for rugby practice (or any other
   extremely casual activity). A career fair is a professional activity --
   perhaps your first contact with a future employer.




4. Don't "wing it" with employers. Do your homework! Research
   the companies just as you would for an interview. You'll be able to
   focus on why you want to work for the organization and what you can do
   for them.




5. Don't come during the last half hour of the event. Many
   employers come a long distance to attend the fair and may need to leave
   early. If you come late, you may miss the organizations you wanted to
   contact!

Five Things to Take Home From the Career Fair

1. Business cards from the recruiters you have met. Use the cards to write follow-up notes to those organizations in which you are most interested.




2. Notes about contacts you made. Take paper and pen with you
   to write down important details about particular organizations,
   including names of people who may not have had business cards. Take a
   few minutes after you leave each table to jot down these notes!




3. Information about organizations you have contacted. Most
   recruiters will have information for you to pick up, including company
   brochures, computer diskettes or CD's, position descriptions, and other
   data. You won't have time to deal with these at the fair!




4. A better sense of your career options. If you have used the
   event correctly, you will have made contact with several organizations
   that hire people with your skills and interests. In thinking about
   their needs and your background, evaluate whether each company might be
   a match for you.




5. Self-confidence in interacting with employer representatives.
   A career fair gives you the opportunity to practice your interview
   skills in a less formidable environment than a formal interview. Use
   this experience to practice talking about what you have done, what you
   know, and what your interests are.