UND Career Fair Success

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UND Career Fair Success

• Career Services
• Cooperative Education
• 280 McCannel Hall
• www.career.und.edu

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What is the role of a Career Fair?

• For Employers
• Inform and answer questions from prospective
  employees about career options at their company
• Opportunity for company publicity
• Opportunity to interact with prospective
  employees
• Opportunity to collect resumes from prospective
  employees

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What is the role of a Career Fair?

• For Students
• Opportunity to find out about different companies
  and career options
• Opportunity to make a company contact and an
  outstanding first impression
• Opportunity to submit a resume or obtain a
  company application
• An opportunity to stand out if prepared!

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Basic Preparation Prior to the Career Fair

• Resume - 100 error free
• Professional image - clean, pressed, and
  polished
• A plan - know what companies you want to visit
  with
• Research - find out the basic info about a
  company
• An understanding of the 3-minute interview

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Resume

• 100 error free - no exceptions
• Objective should be targeted to the companies
  identified in advance
• Have additional copies of your resume with a
  general objective for companies you may not have
  planned to visit
• All resumes should be printed on high quality
  paper, not photocopied

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Professional Image

• Its not just what you are wearing
• Attitude
• First Impression
• Introduction and Handshake
• Preparedness
• Resume
• Portfolio, note pad
• How you are dressed

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A successful attitude

• See your goal
• Understand the obstacles
• Clear your mind of doubt
• Create a positive mental picture
• Embrace the challenge
• Stay on track
• Show the world you can do it!!!

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Guidelines for Men

• Suit -- Navy or Gray are the most conservative
  or
• At least a shirt, tie, and slacks
• White or pale blue shirt
• Tie that complements suit
• Shined shoes with matching belt
• Pen for your shirt pocket

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Guidelines for Women

• Suit - or pants suit Navy, gray or black is
  appropriate
• Blouse - white, off-white or cream is appropriate
• Natural hose
• Shined shoes - heel height is important
• Keep jewelry to a minimum

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A plan

• What is your purpose for attending?
• To learn about the company
• To network
• Develop current or future employment leads
• Who are the top five companies you want to visit
  with?
• What companies do you want to see if you have
  additional time?
• In what order will you visit these companies?

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Research

• Find out about the companys products or services
• Read through job descriptions to understand
  technical abilities needed now or in the future
• Find out the location of offices
• Find out if they have a co-op/intern program
• Read press releases for current events that you
  may discuss with a recruiter
• See if the companys website has a realistic job
  preview

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Understanding the 3-minute interview

• You are your own salesperson,
• everyone is selling something
• What are you selling?
• If you dont know,
• how will an employer?
• Differentiate

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The 3-minute interview

• Run the numbers and the need for
• differentiation becomes apparent
• 6 hour Career Fair
• 60 minutes/hour
• 3 minutes/interview

120 interviews/recruiter/fair
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Differentiate to add value
Company Research

Value
Preparedness
for an employer

Understanding your skills and abilities
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How to differentiate yourself?
Differentiate by moving from
Saying Had an experience Knowing Aware
Showing Outcome of the experience Applying Doi
ng
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Ex. Differentiation

• On a scale of 1(least value) to 5 (most value)
  rate the following
• A) I have developed strong communication skills
  by developing promotional brochures at my
  part-time job, the brochures are similar to the
  promotional material your company developed for
  the Healthy Heart campaign. Additionally, I have
  fine tuned my public speaking skills through
  Toastmasters presentations, so that I may be
  better prepared to speak at outreach events such
  as the Healthy Heart Walkathon.
• B) I have good communication skills
• C) I often blurt things out and my writing skills
  rival that of a third grader

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Ex. Differentiation

• 1 Employer cant verify it, and you have
  provided nothing to prove that you actually have
  the skills
• 5 Provides a specific example relating to the
  employer
• 2 You cant talk or write, but at least your
  honest, have a sense of humor, and know your
  limitations

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Differentiation Tips

• Create talking points for each company
• Not scripts
• Write them out, keep in a portfolio, and review
  before visiting with each company
• Tie together examples of
• Your skills/experiences
• With your knowledge of the company
• To fulfill the needs of the employer
• Show the connection between what you bring to the
  table, and what they desire
• Preparing ahead of time will put differentiation
  into action at the fair

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At the Career Fair

• No one will know how great you are unless you
  take the initiative to get out and meet them
• Your plan comes into action
• Visit those employers you have targeted in
  advance
• First you may want to warm-up by visiting a few
  companies that are not in your top five, this
  will allow you to get a feel for what to expect
  and increase your confidence

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At the Career Fair

• Collect as much information as you can about each
  company, especially contact information
• Takes notes after each visit with an employer so
  that you dont confuse information
• Dates/deadlines
• Application process
• Personal info about a recruiter

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Questions to ask recruiters?

• What they enjoy most about working for XYZ
  company?
• What the hiring process is like?
• What qualities XYZ company looks for in college
  students/graduates?
• What is the typical career path in XYZ company
  for ABC position?
• Does XYZ company hire interns/co-op?
• Does XYZ company plan to interview on campus?
• Do current opening exists?
• How will future openings be announced, and when?

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After the Career Fair

• Relax
• Evaluate your impression of the company and the
  impression that you made on the recruiter(s)
• Follow up, Follow up, Follow up -- in an
  appropriate manner and time
• Remember - A company contact is not truly a
  company contact if it is never used, follow up to
  establish a relationship

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A final reminder, plan for and expect SUCCESS

• See your goal
• Understand the obstacles
• Clear your mind of doubt
• Create a positive mental picture
• Embrace the challenge
• Stay on track
• Show the world you can do it!!!

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Career ServicesCooperative Education

• Your Success Starts Here!
• 280 McCannel Hall
• 777-3905
• www.career.und.edu