How to Rock the Job & Internship Fair

Before:

·        Start off a good and prepared morning with Breakfast. It is essential that you don’t skip the most important meal of the day as it would help you stay energized and focused for all the job and internship opportunities you will encounter at the fair.

·        Set out a Business Casual outfit the night before. There should be no rush when getting dressed in the morning. You want to make sure that you have time to try on a pair of pants and iron them properly for the next day. Also, pay close attention to the dress code. If it's business casual, the clothing choice may consist of light or dark neutral colored shirts, slacks, skirts, ties and closed shoes.

·        Research who will be attending the fair. This is a strategic way to prepare yourself by finding out what types of companies/organizations will be attending, especially those in your field of interest.

·        Print out Resumes. Approximately 10 to 15 copies of your resume would help set you to that about amount of companies/organizations you will get to know at the
fair. Make sure to proofread your resume before printing them out. It should be
simple and clear to understand but don’t be afraid to showcase your qualities
and strengths gained from your work experiences in your resume. An alternative
to resumes is business cards. They are convenient for the recruiters and you
can simply add your name, email, phone number, and title-major.

During:

·        Introduce yourself with a firm handshake. It is important to make a good first impression. I have learned some tips on how to introduce myself without awkwardness by watching others introduce themselves awkwardly. It happens, but it’s good to practice.  First thing to keep in mind when introducing yourself is to stand up. You don’t want to be slouching or appear unsure of anything, make sure that
when you walk up to meet someone you appear confident and whilst talking to the
recruiter stand with good posture. Second, remember to smile as it helps put you and the recruiter at ease when introducing each other. Third, make sure to say your name loudly and clearly and practice this one in order to avoid mumbling or saying your name too loud. Finally, remember to give a firm handshake. I was told that a firm handshake can tell the person that you are hardworking, caring and attentive. So keep in mind these tips as you practice to becoming a pro at introducing yourself.

·        Make sure to visit everyone. You should try to meet every company/organization that focuses on your field of interest. I would set a goal to meet up to 10 recruiters and if any time remains, I would strive to visit the others that I wanted to meet as
well.

·        Make personal connections. During the fair, you will be networking with many recruiters so it important that you keep note of every important piece of information that was shared by you and the recruiter. Also, if you have done research of the
company/organization prior to the fair then use what you took from the research
to ask questions on the background of the programs offered or of the recruiter
in terms of how they got the job and/or ask for their tips to take in mind as
you develop your career goals. This way of building rapport with the recruiter
can show that you are really interested in working for that company/organization and it may open an opportunity to be interviewed for a potential position.

After:

·      Organize all information collected at the fair. Make sure that you take a moment to keep all brochures, business cards, or any noted details in order so that it is easier to track down the contact information of a recruiter from a company/organization that may have an internship opportunity that you want to follow up on.

·        Send out thank you emails. It is preferable to do this 24 hours after the fair. Make sure to mention who you are and thank the recruiters on taking their time to speak with
you. Also, point out details from your conversation and any questions you wanted to ask them further on your field of interest.

·         Time to move up the ranks. If during the fair you noted or was told that to be a potential candidate for a job that you are interested in, you must have a specific type of skill or knowledge on, let’s say computer software. Then start preparing to accomplish that requirement so that you are prepared for that job and many other job opportunities.

·         Consider this fair as a trial run for the next one. It is very good to use these
types of events to help prepare yourself on the next event because staying
proactive with your job search will get you closer to a successful career path.

Job & Internship fairs are important, professional, but a great and exciting opportunity to building a successful career and future. Do the best you can!  

Allison De La Rosa, Career Peer’ 16