Career Fair Advice
- Thread starter MLawrence
- Start date
The last company I worked for hired several people thru career fairs. We even traveled to other states looking for the right candidates. Not saying MLaw shouldn't go on the ISUCMS site, but career fairs are not, IMO, a waste of his time.
If you're serious about getting a job, you'll do both. Once you're out in the real world, who you know is just as important as what you know. So get to the career fair, network, and make an impression.
Completely agree.
I knew recruiters that would give interviews to students they met through career fairs or recruiting events. I got the feeling that the resume was more of a formality for some of them just as long as there weren't any glaring red flags on it.
Research the companies that you are interested in ahead of time. Ask them lots questions. Markets they serve? Company culture? Types of skills they are looking for?
Candidates are judged as much by the questions they ask as the answers they give.
Candidates are judged as much by the questions they ask as the answers they give.
My post was about the ISU College of Business Career Fair. I can not speak for the others on campus.
I go down and help recruit at the Engineering Career fair and here's what I'd say to somebody trolling around.
1. If you're a fresh. or a soph. you're probably not going to get an internship but use it as practice to talk with a recruiter or interview. If you sound confident and can talk to me without holding your breath because of nerves that will go a long ways when you are a jr or sr and have a realistic chance at getting an internship or job.
2. Have the career services office proof read your resume they will make the thing bleed and you'll be better for it. A lot of places are asking for resumes to be submitted online now so be prepared for that. For places like that unless your resume is exceptional it's going straight to the recycle bin after we talk.
3. You don't need a suit because I won't remember what you're wearing anyway but at least come business casual. Don't be the guy in the batman t-shirt because I will write that down.
4. Have some chewing gum and drink water because I don't want to smell your taco bell from lunch.
1. If you're a fresh. or a soph. you're probably not going to get an internship but use it as practice to talk with a recruiter or interview. If you sound confident and can talk to me without holding your breath because of nerves that will go a long ways when you are a jr or sr and have a realistic chance at getting an internship or job.
2. Have the career services office proof read your resume they will make the thing bleed and you'll be better for it. A lot of places are asking for resumes to be submitted online now so be prepared for that. For places like that unless your resume is exceptional it's going straight to the recycle bin after we talk.
3. You don't need a suit because I won't remember what you're wearing anyway but at least come business casual. Don't be the guy in the batman t-shirt because I will write that down.
4. Have some chewing gum and drink water because I don't want to smell your taco bell from lunch.
I skipped the Ag Career fairs senior year. Worthless, imo. Got a couple interviews once or twice, but all my internships and current job came from networking.
If this is an ISU career fair, sure go, do your thing. But hit up former professors, advisors, any contact you have who might possibly have a former student/friend/coworker who could help you out.
I actually just got a call today from a coworker who is doing exactly that for a friend of hers looking for work in our industry. Asked me who I thought would be the best person for her friend to contact in my department.
der, maybe I should clarify, for my industry, networking is everything.
My husband was CprE and did get his internships through the career fair. Current job came from the mass uploading of resumes on all those websites - monster.com and such.
My husband was CprE and did get his internships through the career fair. Current job came from the mass uploading of resumes on all those websites - monster.com and such.
Career fair will be what you make of it. If you put in the time beforehand to research companies and have talking points and good questions you'll have a leg up on others. If you just think you're going to show up with a resume and a suit on and it's going to automatically get you a job you're probably going to leave upset.
This was my experience a well. A majority of companies will just ask that you submit your resume online. I just had a well written resume and cover letter and just submitted them online to a lot of places. If I found a job that looked halfway interesting I would spend a couple minutes looking over the company, their line of work, etc. and if I liked what I saw I submitted my paperwork. If I got an interview I would then spend the more time looking into the company. This process worked in 2009 and again in 2010 when I needed find a job closer to home.
Was a business major and never attended career fair.
After graduation I had an interview with a company that my friend worked for that went well and got a 2nd an interview. I also took the time and went through CMS and submitted 5 or so resume/cover letters. That's where I got an interview and for the company I work at now
After graduation I had an interview with a company that my friend worked for that went well and got a 2nd an interview. I also took the time and went through CMS and submitted 5 or so resume/cover letters. That's where I got an interview and for the company I work at now
Concentrate on Fortune 500 companies.
Avoid retail companies: Target, Enterprise, clothing firms, mall outlet stores.
Ask the big companies if they have an interest for the right person in a discipline that isn't a perfect fit, on the surface. Companies looking for Business majors need Communication majors too.
Seek out a paying internship.
Seek out a trainee position after graduation.
Be willing to relocate.
Dress professionally.
Talk professionally.
Drop the filler words: like, you know, anyways, umm.
Introduce yourself with a handshake, ask the first question and then listen.
If there is an interest, ask for a follow up, or an interview. Don't walk away empty handed.
I remember a classmate in engineering when I was at ISU. He was a goth type guy, always had a black trench coat, long black hair etc. I remember seeing him at the career fair and he apparently decided that morning to shave half of his goatee and one eyebrow. I would recommend not doing that.
I agree with most saying the career fair isn't that important. Most are there to get there companies name out there and then through your resume in a box to scan into their system. Depends on the company though some, especially the smaller ones, are doing more to look for people at the fair.
These have mostly already been mentioned, but here's some things imo that would get you to stand out above the rest:
- Have a good gpa and activities no your resume (too late to change this now, but since the majority of the time your resume is just going in a box to get scanned and they aren't going to remember you later it may be the most important one).
- Research the company ahead of time and ask good intellegent questions related to the company. If you look sharp and prepared you will stand out. If you just walk up and say so what do you guys do and do you have any free pencils, not so much.
- If the conversation is going well ask about next steps. How do I get an interview? Can I follow up with someone? Etc. Don't be pushy, but try to get some action to make yourself just a resume in the box.
I'd focus on a handful of companies your are really interested in and research them well. Hit them first and spend some good time at their booths. When you are done with that walk around and get free stuff.
I agree with most saying the career fair isn't that important. Most are there to get there companies name out there and then through your resume in a box to scan into their system. Depends on the company though some, especially the smaller ones, are doing more to look for people at the fair.
These have mostly already been mentioned, but here's some things imo that would get you to stand out above the rest:
- Have a good gpa and activities no your resume (too late to change this now, but since the majority of the time your resume is just going in a box to get scanned and they aren't going to remember you later it may be the most important one).
- Research the company ahead of time and ask good intellegent questions related to the company. If you look sharp and prepared you will stand out. If you just walk up and say so what do you guys do and do you have any free pencils, not so much.
- If the conversation is going well ask about next steps. How do I get an interview? Can I follow up with someone? Etc. Don't be pushy, but try to get some action to make yourself just a resume in the box.
I'd focus on a handful of companies your are really interested in and research them well. Hit them first and spend some good time at their booths. When you are done with that walk around and get free stuff.
