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Career Fair Tips The Career Fair is designed to
assist students looking for summer, full-time, part-time positions,
co-ops, and internships.
Before the Career
Fair
During the Career
Fair
After the Career
Fair
Questions To Ask
Representatives At the Career Fair
You May Want to
Ask
Before the
Career Fair
- Research the organizations that
might be of interest to you. Obtain and
read literature about the organization(s).
- Be prepared to ask questions of
the representatives. Practice out loud - it helps.
Know yourself. Try to identify specific experiences that have
demonstrated your strengths.
- Backing up all your skills with
specific examples will make you a stronger candidate.
- Know what type of position you
want with the organization. If you don’t know, they won’t either.
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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 their nametag.
- Smile and be polite – enthusiasm
is an important quality.
- Dress
appropriately/professionally. A suit is not required, but ratty
jeans will not make the right impression.
- Body language often can speak
louder than 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, suck on candy or anything that
will interfere with your ability to speak clearly.
- Communication is Critical Listen
carefully to what the representative has to say.
Avoid using filler words such as “um”, “like”, “you know”.
- Show confidence in your voice.
The facility may be noisy and if they can’t hear you, they won’t
remember you.
- Offer a resume if you have a
professional looking one. If you don’t have one, offer to send it.
- Ask for a business card or write
down the representative’s name. It is also appropriate to ask what
the hiring procedure is.
- Explore all your Options:
Speak with organizations that you had not considered
before.
- Take the initiative and engage in
meaningful conversations with representatives.
Representatives will be attending to provide information
about their organizations and career fields. Representatives are
excellent resources in your career search and decision-making
process.
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After the Career
Fair
- Mailing a thank-you letter
promptly is appropriate. It will bring attention to your name.
This is why asking for a business card is crucial.
- You can send an initial or
additional resume with your thank you letter - again, point out
your strengths.
- If sending an application, make
sure it is complete and legible.
- When calling, be prepared and
know/practice what you are going to say beforehand.
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Questions To Ask
Representatives At the Career Fair
- 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.
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You May Want to
Ask:
- How many employees does your
company have?
- What goals does your company have
for the future?
- What kind of entry-level
positions exist within your organization?
- How many employees are in my area
of interest (which is…)?
- Does your company hire on a
continual basis or just certain times of the year?
- How long does the hiring process
take?
- What does your organization
consider the five (5) most important qualities in an employee?
- Are advanced degrees important -
if so, in what areas?
- What courses do you suggest in
order to be a successful candidate?
- Is there a GPA cut-off in the
recruiting process?
- What personality traits are
important for success in your company?
- As an entry-level employee, what
can I expect to be doing 2, 5, 10 years from now?
- What made you choose this
company?
- How long have you been with the
company?
- What has your organization
accomplished of which you are especially proud?
- How many years does the
entry-level employee typically stay within the company?
- What percentage of applicants are
eventually hired?
- What is the retention rate in the
company?
- Do you expect your employees to
relocate?
- Don't read directly from this
list of questions at the Career Fair. If you are well prepared.
You can truly be yourself.
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