TheWorldJournal.com

How to Work a Career Fair
By Meghan Carpenter, TheWorldJournal.com

Researching employers, creating a resume and rehearsing how you will present yourself during the fair are the three keys to finding success at a career fair.

Elena Mayberry, Program Director for Internships and Corporate Relations at the College of Computer, Mathematical and Physical Sciences urges students to follow the motto of "research, resume, rehearse."

The most important parts of a career fair happen before the actual fair itself, Mayberry said, the most vital being research.

"It's doing their research," she said. "They have to find out who's going to be there. Explore, see what's on the company's website and what kind of jobs they're recruiting for."

The Career Center Web site has a sortable database of all employers registered for the fair, with short descriptions and links to company Web sites. Students should use the database to make a list of tables they are interested in visiting.

Students also need to think outside the box about potential employers. Mayberry said to "look for some of the smaller companies as well. It's part of the research. If you're a computer science major, you don't only need to look at programming. Look outside of the traditional stereotypical company."

Creating and refining your resume is also critical. Mayberry said even if a student does his research really well, if a resume has a big glaring error, there's trouble.

"If you say something wrong, maybe people will forget it," she said. "But a resume, it's there, it's in writing. Really check that document."

Being able to walk up to an employer and immediately know what you're going to say is also important. Mayberry stressed "you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. Practice ahead of time how you're going to present yourself. You have a limited amount of time" with the employer and you don't want to say "umm" over and over.

After you register at the fair, Mayberry said they're going to give you a map of where the employers booths are, usually in alphabetical. "Go off to the side somewhere and look at the map," she said. "Look at the companies and scope out a plan."

Some companies, especially computer companies, are so popular, they have long lines the day of the fair, Mayberry said. These companies frequently have information sessions the night before, where you can go and "hand in your resume and say 'I'm going to try to stop by your booth, but I understand there's going to be a big line," Mayberry suggests.

What you wear makes a big first impression. Mayberry said you don't have to be in a suit, although she suggested business majors should be, and you want to avoid company logos and philosophical statements.

"Wear nice clothes, a collared shirt, clean and pressed is good," she said.

Finally, while talking to an employer, Mayberry said to "find out how to follow up and do it. People don't do that, and it's the people who do that are hired."

The biggest mistakes students make are not making eye contact, mumbling, forgetting to shake hands and not following up, Mayberry said. But she also said most mistakes can be fixed with a simple, and sincere, smile.

Melissa Dickenson, a junior double degreeing in Chemistry and Criminology, said she might go to the fair, but has already been to a criminal justice career fair this semester. Still, she said it's a good experience to go.

"They're good because you have to dress up. It's basically a relaxed interview," she said.

Mayberry said career fairs are important even for freshmen who don't have anything on their resume.

"Freshmen can go just to explore and see what companies are there. It's a dry run, like taking the SAT the year before it's important so you know what it's like. A lot of companies may say 'we're only taking juniors,' but it doesn't hurt to know for the future."

© May 6, 2003