How to Work a Job Fair Amy O’Donnell Career Development Lecturer [email_address] ST 2012 419-530-2422

Why do employers attend? They appreciate the attention Business Career Programs gives them Employers value UT COBA students Recruiters can promote their company, initiate relationships, screen and/or interview candidates It’s extremely cost-effective

They appreciate the attention Business Career Programs gives them

Employers value UT COBA students

Recruiters can promote their company, initiate relationships, screen and/or interview candidates

It’s extremely cost-effective

Why do students attend? It’s cost effective for them, too There are several employers and types of opportunities right at their fingertips They can pursue practical or full-time experience To practice their “pitch”

It’s cost effective for them, too

There are several employers and types of opportunities right at their fingertips

They can pursue practical or full-time experience

To practice their “pitch”

Job Fair Tools List of participating employers, http://stmain.st.utoledo.edu/bcpjobfair/students/JobFairStuInfoCtr.asp Nice vinyl or leather portfolio Business cards (vistaprint.com, Microsoft Design templates) Conservative, quality business attire Personal Pitch Thank-you cards

List of participating employers, http://stmain.st.utoledo.edu/bcpjobfair/students/JobFairStuInfoCtr.asp

Nice vinyl or leather portfolio

Business cards (vistaprint.com, Microsoft Design templates)

Conservative, quality business attire

Personal Pitch

Thank-you cards

Professional Wardrobe Men Dark tailored suit White or pale blue cotton shirt Tie-not too busy Black belt/shoes Dark over-the-calf socks Women Dark Tailored Suit Skirts knee length Neutral stockings Conservative shoes Limited jewelry/nail polish Cotton/silk blouse Leave the piercings, heavy perfume/cologne at home.

Men

Dark tailored suit

White or pale blue cotton shirt

Tie-not too busy

Black belt/shoes

Dark over-the-calf socks

Women

Dark Tailored Suit

Skirts knee length

Neutral stockings

Conservative shoes

Limited jewelry/nail polish

Cotton/silk blouse

Don’ts Go in cold Waste time in lines Make your “practice” employers obvious Get overwhelmed by giveaways Assume that if the Job Fair list isn’t inclusive of positions you wish to seek, that you’re out of luck

Go in cold

Waste time in lines

Make your “practice” employers obvious

Get overwhelmed by giveaways

Assume that if the Job Fair list isn’t inclusive of positions you wish to seek, that you’re out of luck

Do’s Take advantage of this opportunity to promote yourself to employers Research the employers Establish a prioritized plan before attending Develop and practice your Personal Pitch Use your “waiting” time productively

Take advantage of this opportunity to promote yourself to employers

Research the employers

Establish a prioritized plan before attending

Develop and practice your Personal Pitch

Use your “waiting” time productively

While you wait… Look for an opportunity to snag some company information off the recruiter’s table Listen to the pitch ahead of you, then customize your approach

Look for an opportunity to snag some company information off the recruiter’s table

Listen to the pitch ahead of you, then customize your approach

Personal Pitch Can be described as your: Introduction Greeting Opportunity First impression

Can be described as your:

Introduction

Greeting

Opportunity

First impression

Personal Pitch Components Eye Contact Handshake Name Major Coursework Related Experience Skills Achievements Knowledge of the Company The “Question”

Eye Contact

Handshake

Name

Major

Coursework

Related Experience

Skills

Achievements

Knowledge of the Company

The “Question”

Pitch Example (extend hand and greet) Good Afternoon, My name is Amy O’Donnell. I’m a junior Information Systems major with skills in system design and networking. My courses have given me a terrific foundation; however, I’d like to apply what I’ve learned for the benefit of a company such as yours. Can you tell me how I might pursue opportunities with your company?

(extend hand and greet) Good Afternoon,

My name is Amy O’Donnell. I’m a junior Information Systems major with skills in system design and networking. My courses have given me a terrific foundation; however, I’d like to apply what I’ve learned for the benefit of a company such as yours. Can you tell me how I might pursue opportunities with your company?

Before the Job Fair Attend workshops Get your wardrobe in order Brush up your resume Create a business card Practice your pitch Research, Research, Research

Attend workshops

Get your wardrobe in order

Brush up your resume

Create a business card

Practice your pitch

Research, Research, Research

Research Resources Job Fair list of participants Company websites People in positions similar to those you wish to pursue Carlson Library (on site or on the web)

Job Fair list of participants

Company websites

People in positions similar to those you wish to pursue

Carlson Library (on site or on the web)

Carlson Library Website Navigation From Carlson homepage, click Subject OhioLink, click Business OhioLink Database select Business Source Complete

From Carlson homepage, click Subject

OhioLink, click Business

OhioLink Database select Business

Source Complete

Make a lasting impression Develop your own “signature” Make a return visit to your favorites Follow through with your commitments—if you say you’ll follow up, do it !

Develop your own “signature”

Make a return visit to your favorites

Follow through with your commitments—if you say you’ll follow up, do it !

After the Job Fair Jot notes on your handout Write thank-you’s to promising contacts Perform any follow-up that’s been requested of you by recruiters Develop a strategy for follow-through Ask for help if you are uncertain

Jot notes on your handout

Write thank-you’s to promising contacts

Perform any follow-up that’s been requested of you by recruiters

Develop a strategy for follow-through

Ask for help if you are uncertain

Job Fair Resources CollgeGrad.com, http://www.collegegrad.com/jobsearch/11-0.shtml JobWeb.com, Career Fairs articles, Search JobWeb (http://www.jobweb.com/search.aspx?searchtext=job%20fair)

CollgeGrad.com, http://www.collegegrad.com/jobsearch/11-0.shtml

JobWeb.com, Career Fairs articles, Search JobWeb (http://www.jobweb.com/search.aspx?searchtext=job%20fair)