Making the Most of your Career Fair Experience

The AU Career Fair is just 2 ½ weeks away, and I expect that you are all prepared and ready to go. Right? Okay, maybe not, but I am here to help! Just follow these steps and you will be well on your way to making the most of your Career Fair experience.

Pre-Career Fair
What to do during the weeks before the Career Fair:

1. Perfect your resume.
When employers are receiving hundreds of resumes, it is essential that yours stands out from the rest. It should be easy to skim and error-free. Also, be sure to make your career-related experiences show off all of your capabilities. The Career Assistants in the CDC are here to help!

2. Do your research.
Homework for a career fair? That’s right! Take the time to familiarize yourself with the companies that you are interested in so you know what opportunities they have available. By knowing about what the company has to offer, you will be more prepared to explain to them why you would be a good fit.

3. Practice your elevator speech.
I am sure you are asking, “What’s an elevator speech?” I wondered the same thing when I first heard the term. An elevator speech is what you would tell an employe about yourself in the length of time it takes to ride an elevator. It should include your name, major, year in school, past or current internships/jobs and career goals. Have this well rehearsed so that you know exactly what you are going to say when you first approach an employer.

During the Career Fair
Here are some tips to keep in mind while meeting employers at the Career Fair. Really, it is this simple:

1. Dress to impress.
2. Smile.
3. Make eye contact.
4. Give a firm handshake.
5. Be confident, assertive, honest, and enthusiastic.
6. Use the recruiter's name and give your well-rehearsed elevator speech.
7. Tell the recruiter what type of position you are looking for and what your career goals are.
8. When appropriate, display knowledge of the company.
9. Ask any questions you may have.
10. Offer a resume.
11. Ask for a business card.
12. Thank them for their time and information.
13. Shake their hand firmly.
14. Make notes for later review and follow-up.

Post-Career Fair
If there’s a position that you are really interested in, I suggest that you follow up!

1. Send the employer a thank you note within 48 hours.
This thank you note should remind them of how and where you met. Also, reiterate your qualifications and interest in the organization.

2. Send an extra copy of your resume.

3. Call the employer to make sure that your application is complete.
Taking the extra steps to ensure that you have provided the organization with all of the right materials will help speed up the application process and help you stand out from the rest.

Now start working on your resume, doing your research, and practicing your elevator speech because the AU Career Fair will be here before you know it! You do not want to let this opportunity pass you by! For any additional information, please stop by the CDC.