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Preparing for the Career Fair

Preparing for the Career Fair. What is the Career Fair?. The Career Fair is: A NETWORKING event The Career Fair is NOT: An event where students receive job offers Purpose: To meet employers that you want to work for To introduce yourself and make a good first impression

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Preparing for the Career Fair

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  1. Preparing for theCareer Fair Office of Career Management 150 Gerlach Hall 292-6024 fisher.osu.edu/career

  2. What is the Career Fair? • The Career Fair is: • A NETWORKING event • The Career Fair is NOT: • An event where students receive job offers • Purpose: • To meet employers that you want to work for • To introduce yourself and make a good first impression • To make contacts that you can follow up with during your job search

  3. The 3 parts of the Career Fair • A successful Career Fair has 3 parts: • Before the Career Fair: Preparation • During the Career Fair: Execution • After the Career Fair: Follow Through

  4. Before the Fair: Preparation Office of Career Management 150 Gerlach Hall 292-6024 fisher.osu.edu/career

  5. Things to do • Utilize FisherConnect: • Update your profile • Upload your current resume • Visit “Career Events” • “Drop Resum” to companies of interest • Get your supplies: • Portfolio • 30 Resumes • Career Fair Student Guide • Clean & Ironed Clothes

  6. Clarify Your Goals • Why are you going to the Career Fair? • Job or internship search • Looking to network with recruiters • What are you hoping to accomplish? • Get a feel for what companies and industries you want to pursue • Plan with the next steps in mind

  7. Select Your Companies • Set Criteria: • What industries am I interested in? • What geography can I work in? • What values am I looking for in a company? • What companies am I excited about? • Remember to not be too specific (Software companies in Kalamazoo) or too general (a big company in the US)

  8. Select companies and prioritize: Have to meet Would love to meet Want to meet Should meet Do your homework: Read up on your company’s news Review history Review company’s values and mission Look at info relevant to your major Selecting Your Companies (continued) Once you have chosen and researched companies of interest, prepare to introduce yourself with your PERSONAL COMMERCIAL!

  9. Your Personal Commercial is… • a professional, enthusiastic, and comprehensive introduction of yourself: • Initiate contact, firm handshake, smile • Name, major, year • State why you are interested in the company • State your intent and ask a question

  10. Now You have a Plan • That includes: • What you are there to accomplish • A priority list of your companies (with notes) • An outline of your commercial • BRING IT WITH YOU: Refer to the plan during the Career Fair to keep you on track

  11. During the Fair: Execution Office of Career Management 150 Gerlach Hall 292-6024 fisher.osu.edu/career

  12. Dress Professionally • A Career Fair is a Business Professional event: • Wear a clean and ironed suit • Look presentable (nice haircut/freshly shaven) • When in doubt go conservative • Finance and Accounting majors may want to wear white shirts • Use a portfolio – not a backpack • Take advantage of the coat check if available

  13. Strategize and Break the Ice • Get a map of the room and learn where your companies are located • Take plan and map and create an order of attack(be conscious of time and long lines) • Consider first approaching a low priority company to practice your commercial

  14. Speaking with Employers • How to approach and end conversations: • Initiate conversation (use your personal commercial) and have a firm handshake • Show enthusiasm by smiling and speaking clearly • Be as clear and direct as possible • End conversation with a thank you • Ask for a business card

  15. Speaking with Employers (continued) • What you need to accomplish: • Make a great first impression • Inquire about possible roles that fit your needs • Steps you need to take to apply • With whom you need to speak • Ask if they are taking resumes or interviewing on campus • Discuss their hiring process • Ask for a business card for later follow up

  16. General Notes • Pick up company info as well as giveaways • When accepting business cards do not put them away until you have walked away • Stay positive and enthusiastic • Have fun with it. Make sure you are relaxed and confident

  17. After the Fair: Follow Through Office of Career Management 150 Gerlach Hall 292-6024 fisher.osu.edu/career

  18. Immediate Follow Up • Pull together all the notes from the back of business cards – create a spread sheet • Send thank you emails to all employers you spoke to • Follow through on submitting requested information

  19. In the Next Few Weeks • Review your goals and company selection criteria • Create a method for managing and recording your follow up

  20. Long-term Follow Through • Research when your companies will be back on campus • Keep up on your company’s latest news • Maintain contact: emails, letters, phone calls • Set up informational interviews with your companies • Always keep their hiring process in mind • Think like the recruiter

  21. Additional Information • Additional questions? Please contact our office. • Fisher Office of Career Management • 150 Gerlach Hall • (614) 292-6024 or fisher.osu.edu/career

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