It's mid-September at Virginia Tech which means the Career Fair season has arrived. Over the next few weeks several career fairs and other employer events will be going on around campus and students will be working hard to make positive first impressions. The keys to making a good impression are to be PREPARED and PROFESSIONAL. Here I will share 5 ways to be both prepared and professional to make sure you stand out in the crowd.
Be PREPARED:
1. Your Resume: Have a well-written and error free resume that communicates your experience, skills and accomplishments. Your resume should highlight your education, leadership, and student involvement, as well. Keep your resume to 1 page and print it on resume paper. Make sure to have it reviewed by someone else before you start handing it out. Career Services advisors review resumes through Walk-in Advising every weekday between 12-3 PM in the Smith Career Center or by individual appointments.
2. Research the Organizations: Take the time before the Career Fair to research the organizations that will be attending. Go to the website of the fair and view the list of employers in attendence. If you are not familiar with some of the organizations be sure to visit the company website to learn more so you can have a conversation with the company rep. Identify and prioritize the companies you want to visit. Make sure you have done thorough research on the organizations at the top of your list.
3. Elevator Pitch: Prepare your one minute introduction, aka the elevator pitch. Express your interest in the position or organization, why you are qualified and what you can do for them. And, don't forget to practice your elevator pitch before the fair.
Be PROFESSIONAL:
4. Dress in appropriate business attire. It's always best to be over-dressed so err on the side of too formal. Remember, you are trying to make a great first impression looking as if you have put a lot of time and effort into how you are presenting yourself is a good thing! If you don't have a suit try to get as close to "that look" as possible. Try pants or slacks with a jacket or blazer and stick with business casual. When in doubt, it's a good rule of thumb to dress for the position you aspire to have.
5. Follow-up and Thank you! Ask the recruiter for a business card and follow-up with a thank you note. Make a quick note on the back of the business card to remember exactly what you spoke about so you can mention it in your follow-up. Believe me, all of those recruiters and organizations will begin to run together after a long and busy day at a career fair. A personal note to thank the recruiter for his/her time and expressing your interest in the position may just be the difference in getting called for an interview.
What are some other Career Fair strategies that work for you?
