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repetitive questions like many of your
peers and you won’t have to rely on off-
the-wall, uncomfortable jokes to help
you “break the ice.” Preparation will set
you apart professionally versus being
remembered for being awkward.
ASKING THE QUESTIONS
Keep your strong first impression going
by asking your questions strategically.
Preparing and practicing questions in
advance will make this easier. Ease your
way into the conversation. Start with a
firm handshake, eye contact, and a
professional greeting.
Have an elevator pitch prepared
about yourself. Include your name,
major, graduation date and career
objective. Practice this in the mirror,
with your roommate, and in your head;
basic information about yourself can
just disappear when you’re nervous.
Then begin by referencing the open
roles they are recruiting for, ask about
the specific requirements, and how
the position fits into the overall goals
of the company. Follow that with any
questions you have about recent news
regarding the company; try to focus on
positive, reputable media. Ask about the
future of the company: where do they
see the company in the next several
years? If you’ve found news
regarding recent awards or recognition
the company has received, ask about
those. If you have an interest in
community service work, ask if the
company provides opportunities for
employees. Remember to be conscious
of your time and the representative’s.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Before you walk away, ask what the
next steps are in the process. If your
conversation has gone well and you
think you’d like to further explore
employment, then this is a critical step
that you’ve been preparing for, so don’t
let it slip away.
Offer a copy of your resume but
understand that the representative
may not be able to accept it and may
direct you to their website to submit
a copy. This is where those personal
business cards come into action. Tuck
your resume back in your padfolio and
ask, “Can I offer you my card instead?”
which also gives you a chance to ask for
their card. Their card will be nice when
it comes to following up after you’ve
completed the online application or
other instructions they’ve given you.
There could also be a possibility that the
representatives are staying on campus
to conduct interviews the next day and
you can sign up for an interview slot
right there on the spot.
This is the point where you may
accept any material or swag item the
company is handing out. Then find an
area of the fair where you can tuck away
for a moment to jot a few notes about
the conversation and review your notes
for the next booth you plan to visit.
Note the sentence reads, “accept any
material or swag item the company is
handing out,” but don’t come to a career
fair thinking it’s a free shopping spree to
grab giveaways at each booth. Coming
to a career fair equipped with an empty
bag to fill is not appropriate preparation!
For many companies and students,
career fairs are the number one way to
network with employers. The simple
act of attending and visiting with a few
companies will allow you to make
significant progress in landing a student
work experience or career you want.
Going a step further by preparing will
decrease your perspiration and increase
your success, and the rate at which you
achieve that success. Lastly, be prepared
to have an open mind about the
information you learn and the
opportunities you discover. Sometimes
the best decisions in life are those you
never thought you’d have to make!
Comic by Becca Schwartz
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