maximizing your career fair experience
TRANSCRIPT
Maximizing Your Career Fair Experience Cindy Broderius, M.Ed., NCC Assistant Director, Counseling & Programs January 14, 2015
Career Center
Steps to Maximizing Your Career Fair Experience
1. Prepare: what to do before a Career Fair
2. Ac=on: what to do at the Career Fair
3. Follow-‐up: what to do a(er a Career Fair
What is a Career Fair?
A career fair is a forum where a job seeker or career explorer meets with employers to learn about career opKons and work opportuniKes. The poten=al candidate (you!) and the employer exchange informa=on, assess if the company could be a good fit, and oPen a determinaKon is made as to whether or not there will be a next step.
The fair also offers employers an opportunity to meet a large number of poten=al candidates.
What does a Career Fair look like?
When is the Career Fair?
Thursday, January 22• 10am to 3pm • Wilson RecreaKon Center
Preparing for the Career Fair: Research
1. Check the Career Center website for a list of employers aVending the fair
2. Access eRecruiKng for up-‐to-‐date informaKon: posKngs?
3. Conduct employer research
4. PrioriKze a list of employers according to your interest
Research: What To Know about a Company
ü Services & Products ü Industry Standing ü Customers ü CompeKtors ü # of Employees ü Industry Trends
ü Revenues ü Projected growth ü LocaKons ü Rankings/RecogniKons ü News & Headlines ü Training Program
Where Do I Research? For Corporate: • Employer’s website
• Hoover’s online
• Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Fortune
• CareerBeam
• Duke Library Job & Career Research Guide e.g. LexisNexis
For Government: • USAjobs.gov For Non-‐Profit: • Idealist.org
And More Research!
UKlize social networking sites to locate employers, research the company, and learn
about job opportuniKes.
Prepare: Polish Your Resume • Objec=ve: To have or not to have… • NOT merely a list of job responsibiliKes • DO highlight qualificaKons, skills, and accomplishments • BRING 10-‐12 copies of your resume on resume paper (or 24 lb white) • Don’t be offended if a recruiter does not take your resume or asks you to apply on their website
Prepare: Have Your Resume Cri=qued!
Career Center Drop-‐in Advising Hours in Smith Warehouse:
• Weekly M-‐F 1:30pm to 4:30pm
Resume Reviews on West: • January 15 & 16 • 9:30am to 11am • Griffith Board Room in Bryan Center
Prepare: Career Fair A`re
Source:Tarelton State University Career Services
Prepare: Be Smart Perfume Cologne
Visible piercings Tattoos
Cell Phones
Prepare: “30-‐Second Intro” • Also known as an “elevator pitch,” your 30-‐second intro is your first chance to introduce yourself to someone and give them a short synopsis of your skills and experience with the goal of gekng them to ask you for more informaKon.
• Key Kp: PRACTICE!!! Out loud, in front of mirror, with friends, etc.
Your Approach: The Pitch • Name • Degree level, GraduaKon date, study areas (major/minor/cerKficate)
• State your interest in the company – Job FuncKon – Industry – What YOU have to offer, not what you want
Your Approach
• Highlight: internship, experience, and skills • Reason you selected this parKcular employer • Use informaKon from your research
Your Approach: The Right Ques=ons
• CharacterisKcs of ideal candidate • Hiring projecKons/trends • Staffing needs of your locaKon preferences • Travel opportuniKes/requirements • What are the next steps? NOTE: Speak posiKvely and enthusiasKcally
Examples: Ques=ons • How would you describe the ideal candidate for <interesKng posiKon>?
• I saw on your website that your company is involved in <interesKng new iniKaKve>. What impact do you expect that having on your company in the next few years?
• I noKce that your posted posiKons include <parKcular jobs>.How might I connect with someone in your company about my interest and skills in <a different type of job>?
Your Approach: Inappropriate QuesKons
• What jobs are you offering? • What is the salary for this posiKon? • What benefits do you offer? • What can I do with a major in… • What is your background? • Why did you select XYZ employer?
Examples: 30-‐Second Intro • Hello, Ms. Recruiter, my name is Candy Apple and I will
graduate in May 2015 with a bachelors degree in Psychology. I read that your company is looking to hire ambiKous students into your management trainee program and I wanted to speak with you more in depth about the program. I have been heavily involved on campus and served in several leadership roles through my sorority and feel that my recent internship working in customer service has equipped me with the skill set needed to be successful with your company. Can you tell me more about the program and how to apply?
• Charlie Wilder and the Career Fair (Elevator) Pitch • Dr. Gail Rooney and the INFOmercial
Drad Your Own 30-‐Sec Intro:
• Sketch out rough draP of your own pitch: – Basic info: Name, Major/Minor/CerKficate, GraduaKon Year
– Why that company: your interest, company mission/goals, new iniKaKves, etc.
– Which posiKons of interest (or general career goals)
– What YOU have to offer, e.g. related experiences, skills, etc.
• CriKque
Ac=on: At the Fair • Use your Kme wisely -‐ arrive early • Register your aVendance and make a nametag • Get a map of Wilson Gym to familiarize yourself with company locaKons
• Stash backpack, if brought one, in Career Center’s storage area; use padfolio to transport resume copies and store business cards you receive
• Check: hair combed, no wrinkles, materials organized
At the Fair, cont.
• Talk to lower priority companies on your list first • Exhibit professionalism 1) focus on the recruiter, not the freebies 2) wait your turn 3) allow space
• Be confident and network independently
Ac=on: Engaging Recruiters
• Be aware of non-‐verbal communicaKon, e.g. walk confidently with good posture, make good eye contact
• Shake hands with recruiter if offered • Use your pitch, tailored to recruiter, to begin conversaKon; listen carefully
• Smile and show your enthusiasm! • Have fun learning about opportuniKes!
Closing the Deal: Follow the Lead
• Ask for a business card from the recruiters before stepping away from the conversaKon
• Determine follow-‐up: know the next step in the process
• Say “Thank You” as you conclude conversaKon • APer stepping away from recruiter, jot down
notes on conversaKon for later reference
Ader the Fair: Follow-‐up Send thank you notes to all recruiters you met:
• Indicate your appreciaKon for Kme/advice/interesKng Kdbit of informaKon from conversaKon
• Share steps you may have taken since talking • E-‐mail vs. hard copy; 24-‐48 hours aPer fair
Ader the Fair: Apply
• Follow employer’s preferred method for applying for posiKons within organizaKon
• CriKcal: stay organized and pay aVenKon to applicaKon deadlines!
Video Clips of Career Fair Advice
• Mark Strom ’11 with Cisco: transformed a career fair conversaKon with an engineering recruiter into a job in finance
• Adedayo Aderibigbe ‘10 with Accenture: be acKve—have conversaKons!
• Melissa Desnoyers with GE Healthcare: we’re here to have conversaKons
• Karla Morrison with T. Howard FoundaKon: what NOT to do at a fair
Remember to... • Bring 10-‐12 copies of your resume. • Carry a padfolio. • Check in so we (and employers) know you’ve aVended!
• Wear your name tag on your right. • Network independently. • Be professional and confident. • Show enthusiasm. • Turn your cell phone on silent.
Note to self: Imagine the Possibilities!
Ques=ons?
Get your resume reviewed!
Resume Reviews on West Jan. 15 & 16 9:30-‐11am Griffith Board Room (BC)
@ Smith Warehouse M-‐F 1:30pm to 4:30pm
Contact Us
Facebook.com/DukeCareers
Career Center
Twitter.com/DukeCareers
(919) 660-‐1050 hVp://studentaffairs.duke.edu/career