How to WORK a Career Fair

1. ICSC The Key to Your Future How to WORK a Career Fair Internship & Career Services Center North Carolina Wesleyan College

2. Presentation Outline • Preparation • Research! • Your marketing plan • Dress for success • What will you say? • The day before • At the fair • Interview preparation • At the interview • After the job fair • ENCCA Career Fair details

3. Research! • Who will be at the fair? • Easily accessed via the ENCCA websitewww.enccacareerfair.org • Complete list with contact information, company overview, positions available, and web address for each company • Who do you want to visit with? • View positions offered as well as company websites to determine this

4. Company Research • This very important step will allow you to answer and ask questions intelligently • Where can I find company information? • Corporate websites • Look for “HR” or “About”, maybe “Strategic Plan” • Also browse the consumer side of their site to be up on what products and/or services they offer and how they present themselves • Newspapers & Business Journals • Look for current events and articles related to the company

5. Your Marketing Plan • How will you best market yourself? • Polished resume on fine paper (view ICSC resources for resume writing) • Professional dress, clean, well-groomed • Portfolio and pen • Networking cards • Collection of work samples (see presentation) • Prepare for what you will say

6. Dress for Success

7. General Guidelines • Dress conservatively • Sensible, practical clothes that make you look like you know how to focus on your work • Make sure clothes look clean and neat • Do not chew gum while at the fair • Do not smoke before or at the fair (the smoke smell will attach to your clothing)

8. Women’s Appearance • Conservative suit color (black, grey, navy) • Conservative blouse color (white, ivory) • Appropriate neckline • A tailored dress or coat dress is also appropriate • Skirt/dress length should be between an inch above or below the knee • Check slip length • Wear hosiery

9. Women’s Appearance (continued) • Accessories add color and variety but less is more in the job fair/interview situation • Heels should be no taller than 3” • Conservative shoe style and color (close toe, black, navy, taupe, brown) • Be aware of manicure • Do not carry a purse, only a professional tote or leather-bound pad • Wear make-up, but not too much

10. Men’s Appearance • Fit is critical to a suit jacket and pants • Dark blue, grey, or black • Button your jacket when standing and walking, unbutton when sitting • A pressed, white, long-sleeved, cotton shirt • You should be able to fit 2 fingers between the collar and your neck • Silk tie in a conservative color/print

11. Men’s Appearance (continued) • Tip of tie should reach center of belt buckle • Shoes should be black or brown • Socks should complement pant color • Belts – plain leather in black or brown (to match shoes), 1” • Neatly trimmed facial hair • Clean nails • Polished shoes, no worn heels • Carry a brief case or leather-bound pad

12. General Grooming Tips • Deodorant • Light on cologne/perfume • Brush your teeth, use mouthwash • Neat haircut • Polished shoes • Impeccably clean

13. What will you say? • Elevator Speech/Personal Commercial • A 30 second impromptu “speech” • Should provide: • Your current status (BIO major graduating in May) • What your current employment goals are (entry level lab technician) • A snippet of what you already know about the employer and how you may be a good fit (My beliefs fit well with your company’s mission of improving lives by developing innovative drugs.) • A request for action (Can you tell me more about your company and how I might be able to contribute?)

14. The Day Before • Prepare copies of resume • Practice your speech/commercial • Review top employers list and the research you’ve gathered on each • Verify all clothing and accessories are ready for wear • Get plenty of sleep!

15. At the Fair

16. At the fair • Check-in • Plan your day • A map & employer directory will be provided • Be sure to meet with those you are most interested in first – you don’t want to run out of time and earlier candidates will get interviews • Approach employers • Be polite, wait until there’s a natural break in conversation to introduce yourself • Extend a firm handshake • Use your speech/commercial • Smile, make eye contact, be confident!

17. Before leaving the employer • Leave your contact information • Get their contact information • Ask for an interview Ex. - “I’d like to take your business card and leave you with my networking card and resume. Would it be possible for me to get an appointment on your company’s interview schedule this afternoon?”

18. At the fair (cont.) • Be polite and mature throughout the day – you never know who’s watching nearby. • Check-out by returning your evaluation if you will not return for interviews • Eat lunch on your own • Return to prepare for your interviews • Be on time to meet employers at their table for your interview appointment • Once interviews are complete check-out by returning your evaluation • DRIVE SAFELY!

19. Interview Preparation

20. Review Job Announcement • Look back over the job announcement, highlighting all mentions of duties and specific skills • Try to form a picture of the individual they are seeking • What is missing? Often times the announcement is vague, you will want to decide in advance what questions you have so you can ask them.

21. Review Your Skills • Match your skills with those mentioned in the announcement • Plan specific examples you can share that will exhibit your possession of these sills. • Try to recall a time you have done something similar to what they are looking for. • What transferable skills do you have that will be helpful in this position? Give examples.

22. Practice • Review a list of typical interview questions and anticipate how you might respond. • Pretend you are the interviewer. What questions would you ask? See typical questions here. • Do not try to script your responses. • Participate in Mock Interviews with the ICSP Coordinator in advance.

23. At the Interview

24. Behavior • Arrive on time and report to the employer’s table when the interview time is announced. • Speak clearly and with good grammar. • Avoid verbal fillers (“uh”, “you know”, “like”). • Answer questions with examples and stories. Use humor if it seems appropriate. • Feel free to take down a few notes.

25. Body Language • Firm handshake • Good eye contact • Erect posture (slightly leaning forward) • Relaxed and confident • Small facial/hand gestures • Avoid fidgeting • Smile • Be enthusiastic • Swallow yawns

26. What Not To DO • Don’t… • Be late • Ask about money • Criticize prior job or boss • Lie (better to say you don’t know an answer) • Slouch • Cross your legs • Interrupt • Feel obligated to answer illegal questions

27. After the Career Fair

28. Evaluation & Action • Immediately make notes • What do you still have questions about? • What are the pros of the companies/positions? • What are the cons of the companies/positions? • How do you feel about your performance at the fair/in the interviews? • What could you improve on next time? • Complete any follow-up instructions given to you by the employers • Send a thank you letter to the employer within 24 hours

29. Thank You Letters • Express appreciation for the interview and meeting the individual. • Comment on things that were mentioned in the interview. • If the employer had mentioned a current problem, remind them of ways you can help. • If there was something relevant you forgot to say in the interview, mention it here. • Express your interest in working at the company and that you look forward to hearing from them. • Example

30. ENCCA Career Fair Details • Schedule: 9am – 12pm Information exchange12pm – 1pm Lunch on your own1pm – 4pm Interviews • Location:McKimmon Center1101 Gormon StreetRaleigh, NC 27695 • Travel: Notify me ASAP if you will need assistance!