One of the best ways to locate part-time, full-time, or internship opportunities is by networking with employers face-to-face. Career Development Services hosts a number of on-campus recruitment events every semester to provide individualized and group interactions with local employers. Check out our upcoming events, and don’t forget to stop by the Cohen Student Union between 11 – 2 p.m. for Recruitment Wednesdays!
Make Job Fairs Work for You
Attending a job fair gives you something a job board or website can’t – personal interaction with a recruiter. The reality, however, is that recruiters may see hundreds of applicants over the course of the event. Therefore, your goal is to make a good impression on the recruiter. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of job fairs.
Before the Fair
- Research company information (mission, vision, stakeholders, available positions, history, etc) and see what jobs are posted on their site. As you prepare for the fair, make a list of the employers you want to talk with first.
- Wear professional business attire.
- Bring a portfolio, multiple copies of your resume, your own business card.
- Make sure hands are free to shake hands, get business cards, and write down information
- Plan questions to ask the employer
- Prepare elevator speech, write it out, and practice it before the fair
- Prepare objective before coming to the fair. Is it networking? To get an internship? A job?
- Arrive to allow adequate time in the fair and get the employers when they are fresh
- Strategize which employers you want to talk to and when
During the Fair
- Do not necessarily pre-qualify companies just because they are not in your field: For example, even though you are a Marketing major, you should consider speaking to the recruiters from the hotels, since they may have a marketing department. Likewise, accounting majors may consider inquiring about the opportunities with a hospital.
- Make a lasting impression, give the employer an engaging elevator pitch. For example:
“Good afternoon. My name is John Smythe and I am a Finance major graduating this Spring. I visited your website when I saw that your company was attending the fair, and I’m very interested in learning more about the types of opportunities you are recruiting for.”
- Determine the employer’s next steps: just collecting resumes, looking to hire right away
- Make sure to maximize your opportunity at the Career Fair; meet as many employers as possible, this is a great opportunity to build connections
- Despite the name “Career Fair,” you are not trying to get a job at the event. You are trying to get an interview. Try to build rapport with the recruiter by expressing genuine interest in the company. Describe your qualifications and see if they match the requirements of the positions they are hiring.
- After speaking with the recruiter, get his/her business card and ask if you can send your resume directly to them, since hopefully you have made a good impression. If they direct you to an online application process, ask them if there is anything you can do to stand out or for other advice for getting a “foot in the door.”
After the Fair
- Follow Up: The reality is that fewer recruiters are accepting paper resumes at job fairs. They are increasingly directing job seekers to online application processes. So, the real work may actually begin after the job fair. If you writing a cover letter, mention in it that you met “Sally Jones, the recruiter from your company, at the FGCU career fair, and she indicated I may be a good fit for the Account Executive position.”
- Send a thank you email to follow up with the employer and reinforce the points you made and what you learned from them at the Career Fair
- If you do not hear back within a week, try to reach out again to see if there is an opportunity for you