In order to make your time spent at the career fair effective, prepare in advance with the helpful tips and suggestions below.
Whether your goals for attending the fair are to search for a job or internship or to learn more about the firms and making connections with employers, the following tips can help you succeed.
Update your resume and bring copies with you to the fair
Your resume needs to be a top quality document that clearly illustrates your skills.
Need help? Visit the Resume Doctor, a drop in resume clinic. Bring your resume if you have one. No appointment necessary.
Rapson Hall Courtyard - 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 18, 2009
- Wednesday, February 25, 2009
You can also view the Design Resume Tips handout for additional ideas and suggestions.
Visit the St. Paul Campus Career Center during drop in hours for a quick resume critique:
Spring 2009 drop-in hours: 198 McNeal Hall, St. Paul Campus
Mondays 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesdays 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesdays 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thursdays 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Fridays 9:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Rapson appointments available: 107 Rapson Hall
Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Call 612-624-2710 for an appointment
Research firms and organizations
Look carefully at the types of employers who will be attending to ensure there is a fit with your interests. Narrow the list of employers down to those of most interest to you and research them before you attend. Research their available positions as well as current and past projects, services, size of firm and types of clients. A few resources you should use for your research:
- Company web sites
- University Library Business Reference Section: http://busref.lib.umn.edu/.
Prepare questions you will want to ask employers
Ask questions that show you have done your research. Some sample questions include:
- I saw the brief description for ___ position. Could you elaborate on the position further?
- What are the most important skills necessary to do the job?
- What are typical first-year assignments?
- What computer design programs does your firm typically use?
Portfolio/work samples
Bring several work samples. Consider bringing a few pieces of your best work. Quality is more important than quantity. Keep the samples in a portable carrying case and keep the size manageable for ease of handling. Firms will have NO time to look at anything "full size". Compress your originals into a portfolio format.
You may also choose to include design samples and images on the back of your resume and leave a copy with the firm.
Develop your “Elevator Speech” or “Personal Commercial”
To be effective at the career fair, you should develop a quick 30-60 second statement that summarizes your education, related experience and your job target. Practice your personal commercial and use it to introduce yourself to employers.
Dress professionally
Dress as you would for a formal interview; suits recommended
- Women: Always wear a shirt with a collar or high neck line, no open toe/heel shoes, select small or discrete jewelry
- Men: Suit or jacket with shirt and simple tie, clean shaven, polished shoes
Body language at the fair
Studies have shown that in the first moments of an interaction with an employer 55% of your impression is on how you look, 38% is based on your voice quality, and only 7% on the content of what you say. Clearly, content becomes important once the first moments pass, but this illustrates the importance of body language and voice in an interview. Be sure to follow the below tips:
- Stand up straight – no slouching!
- Be sure your handshake is firm yet not painful – no “wet noodle” handshakes either!
- Smile and look happy, your face may look too serious when you are nervous
- Avoid fidgeting with hair, jewelry or pens
- Make eye contact with the interviewer(s) throughout the interaction
Follow up after the fair
To have success at the career fair it is critical that you follow up with employers after the event.
- Send tailored thank you notes to those recruiters with whom you spoke at the fair. Since few people actually do this, it will help you stand out from the crowd and it will help the recruiter remember you favorably.
- Call employers to ask if they have any further questions about your resume and to ask for an interview. Some employers prefer to interview those candidates from the fair who take the initiative to follow up.