“Anytime students are talking with their families about what they're learning, that really pleases me.”
Humanities Assistant Professor Margaret Wiley
Career Fair Strategies
Before the Career Fair
Research the employers and graduate school that might be of interest to you.
Read employer literature in the Career Library and on the web.
Be prepared to ask questions of representatives. Practice out loud; it helps.
Know yourself.
Try to identify specific experiences where you have demonstrated your strengths.
Backing up all your skills with specific examples will make you a stronger candidate.
Know why you want to work for their company. If you don't know, they won't know either.
Develop a strong resume and bring several copies for distribution.
Attend a Job Fair Preparation and Resume Critique session.
During the Career Fair
Make a good first impression.
Make eye contact immediately when introducing yourself.
Give a firm handshake to get you off to a good start.
Remember the representative's name; if not, casually refer to his/her name tag.
Smile and be polite - enthusiasm is an important quality.
Dress nicely; were a suit if possible, jeans will not make the right impression.
Body language can often speak louder than the spoken word.
Do not fidget or play with your hair.
Do not rock from side to side.
Do not look around when talking or being spoken to.
Do not chew gum.
Communication is critical!
Listen carefully to what the representative has to say!
Avoid using filler words such as, "um," "like," and "ya know."
Show confidence in your voice. The room will be noisy, and if they can't hear you they won't remember you.
Be articulate and sell yourself.
Offer a resume if you have a professional looking one. If you don't, offer to send it.
Ask for a business card or write down the representative's name.
It's okay to ask what the hiring procedure is. You want to make sure you are doing it right.
Explore all your options!
Speak with employers and graduate schools that you had not considered before.
Take the initiative and engage in meaningful conversations with representatives.
Representatives are here to provide information about their companies and career fields.
Representatives are excellent resources in your career search and decision-making process.
After the Career Fair
Mailing a thank you letter is not only appropriate, it can also bring attention to your name.
You can send an initial or additional resume in your thank you letter; again, point out your strengths.
You can also call to make sure that your application is complete.
When calling, be prepared and know/practice what you are going to say beforehand.
Career & Graduate School Fair Questions
First and foremost, questions should be natural. Be yourself. Don't rifle your questions; maintain a natural flow. Before beginning with your questions, be sure to introduce yourself and establish rapport with the representatives. Listen carefully to their answers. Be courteous. Before leaving, be sure to close the conversation and thank them.
Questions You May Want to Ask Employer Representatives
1) How many employees
does your company have?
2) What goals does your company have for 2000 and beyond?
3) What kind of entry-level positions exist within your company?
4) How many employees are in my area of interest (which is…)?
5) Does your company hire on a continual basis or just at certain times of the
year?
6) How long does the hiring process take?
7) What does your company consider the five most important qualities in an employee?
8) Are graduate degrees important? If so, in what areas?
9) What courses do you suggest in order to be a successful candidate?
10) Is there a GPA cut-off in the recruiting process?
11) What personality traits are important for success in your company?
12) As an entry-level employee, what can I expect to be doing 2,5, 10 years
from now?
13) What made you choose this company?
14) How long have you been with the company?
15) What things has your company accomplished of which you are especially proud?
16) For how many years does the entry-level employee typically stay with the
company?
17) What percent of applicants are eventually hired?
18) What is the retention rate in the company?
19) Do you expect your employees to relocate?
Questions You May Want to Ask Graduate School Representatives
1) How many students
are in the department?
2) How many professors are in the department?
3) What courses should I take in order to be better prepared for graduate school?
4) What is the GPA cut-off for the department?
5) What graduate admissions test is required for this department?
6) What is unique about your graduate program?
7) What types of employment opportunities do graduates find?
8) What type of financial aid is available?
9) What is the retention rate of your graduate school?
10) What types of assistantships are available?
11) Can I pursue a graduate degree part-time, or is full-time attendance expected?
12) What personal attributes would make me a successful student?
13) What is the student-faculty ratio?
14) How accessible are professors to students?
15) What is the application process like?
Don't read directly from this list of questions at the Career or Graduate School Fair!
If you are well prepared, you can truly be yourself.
