Because recruiting is a process that takes a long time to inform oneself and execute properly, it should be noted that the process should not be done overnight; give yourself at least two weeks to prepare everything stated below. 

 

How to Prepare for the Job Fair (Part 1)

 

Do Your Research:

• Be aware of who is going to be there

  • Learn about their company (look at annual report links in the "During Summer" page)

  • Why would you want to work there, and what makes the company a good fit for this reason?

  • What products or services do you like about their company?

• Polish up your resume: this is your professionalism and work ethic personified. To see resume tips, click here, or click the file "Resume Tips" to the left.

 

Appearance and Charm

• Dress for Success

  • Clothes laid out, primed, pressed, and ironed

  • Clean shaven, very conservative

  • Hygiene: Nails clean, hair styled conservatively, breath minty fresh

  • Shoes polished

• Firm Handshak

• Smile

• Look recruiter in the eye
   

Questions: What they may ask, what you may ask

1) What they may ask

• Tell us a little about yourself.

• What do you know about our company?

• Why would you want to work for our company? Why are you pursuing the field that you are? 

2) What you may ask

• Public vs. Private, about services that they offer, where the company is going in 5 to 10 years.

  • It would be impressive to make financial statements for the firm to showcase your ability as well.

• Focus on market share while maintaining quality? New Product development?

• Changes in their industry? (ex.- influx of certain regulations that have impacted the convenience or service of their work

• What are some of the biggest challenges that a candidate would experience working for your company?

• When talking with the professionals, be sincere, concerned, and interested; show that you have some depth. 

 

Questions: What NOT to ask

• Anything regarding Salary/Pay Scale/Benefits/Health

  • This comes off as presumptuous

• Can you tell me a little about your company?

  • This question comes off as ignorant and shows that you are not prepared.

 

Sales Pitch

• A 10-15 second summary of yourself to sell to recruiters.

  • Opportunity to get the 1st interview

• What is in a sales pitch?

  • Name

  • Profession/ occupation

  • Experience/accomplishment

  • What separates you from the job seekers? 

 

The Big Day: Job Fair (Part 2)

 

Game Plan

• You should stand in front of the mirror “Hi, my name is __________ , and I am looking to interview for [insert program here] with your organization.” 

• Get a sense of what you want to say

• There will be 10s if not 100s of potential job recruiters, depending on which job fair you go to. 

  • Highlight important firms that you researched 

  • Note them, casually walk up to them, and firmly shake their hand, and say your pitch

 

Step up to bat, and make it count

• You should have already researched for this event: do the things in Part 1:

  • Say what you know about the company: history, financial well being, new expansion/ relocation of the market

  • Important to sound intelligent and well versed about their organization AND the type of position you would like to interview for.

  • In this, you should take advantage of the accomplishments or experiences that you have had

 

After the 1-1 talk:  

Write down discussion topics you went through on their business cards that you took from them

• You will go through a lot of professionals

• It will be hard to keep track of all of their names and what you talked about with each of them. 

 

After the Job Fair (Part 3): 

 

Thank you e-mails

• Thank them for coming 

• Brush on the discussion topics that you had so they recognize you

• Send your email in the morning (6:00 AM- 7:00 AM preferred). If you can do this, your email will be on the top of the stack of emails they will have on their inbox. 

• Inquire about any summer leadership programs/ internship opportunities and if they can guide you to a recruiter (if one was not there at the event). 

• Do not be discouraged if they do not reply back right away. There will be hundreds of people in the same shoes as you, and recruiters will have to sift through their inbox. To avoid this, be the earliest one (6-7 AM). 

• If they do not reply back, try again in 2 weeks, and then in 1 month.

• Your goal is to have more face time with them (i.e. coffee/lunch) and possibly get into a program for the summer/winter.