New Mexico State University

Public Service Career Showcase Career Services November 18, 2008 Corbett Center Ballrooms, 9AM - 3PM

Advice

Attending a career fair can be a frightening thought.  There may be hundreds of employers and students and you may have no real direction as to what you should be doing.  We can help you!  The staff at Career Services would like to make this experience as productive as possible, so you will succeed at a career fair and not be lost in the maze of people and information.

The best time of day to attend a fair is early in the morning when the employers are fresh and alert.  They have not heard the same questions over and over, and are thus likely to spend more time with you.  If you are thinking only juniors or seniors should attend career fairs, this is a common misconception.  All students should attend career fairs.  The reasons for attending may vary, from gathering career information to looking for co-ops, internships, summer jobs, or permanent, full-time employment. Career fairs offer insight into what employers expect of students while there are still several years to implement suggestions.  Many times the career fair tables are staffed by recent graduates who can offer advice to current students from a recent student's perspective.

The recruiters at a career or job fair are seldom the actual hiring managers.  The recruiters job is to review the candidates and locate people who meet the basic qualifications of the organization in order to be referred for further consideration.  The employer depends on the career fair representative to locate people who could qualify for employment.

Image is crucial at a career fair, perhaps even more important than an interview, since decisions are made much more quickly.  Students wearing t-shirts and shorts are not taken as seriously as those dressed more professionally.  Leave the backpack at home and opt for a briefcase instead.  A briefcase gives you a mini-office from which to operate.  It will provide storage for your resumes, cover letters, and transcripts, and offers a cleaner look than the typical plastic career fair bag.  It can also be useful for carrying the brochures you collect at each of the tables. 

Guidelines

	MEN	WOMEN
·	Dress slacks	Suit (skirt or pants)
·	White or blue collared shirt	Dress
·	Tie	Hose
·	Dress shoes	Closed-toe shoes

ü	View the list of Participating Employers from the Career Services web page.  Use AggieTRAK to determine the employer’s interview schedule.
ü	Print an adequate number of resumes on quality paper.
ü	Ensure that you have ample time to visit all the booths.
ü	Clean and press your clothing.
ü	Bring a pen and paper for notes.  Consider designing your own business cards; this may be a professional way to leave behind something that will set you apart from your peers.

ü    Sign in at the registration desk.

ü    Pick up a map of the table locations.

ü    Circle the employers who require you to visit them to schedule an on-campus interview (view NMSU AggieTRAK for a complete list). Then identify other booths where you might wish to leave a resume or gather information.

ü      Walk around the room to become comfortable with the booths and their locations.

ü      Gather information about the employers of your choice prior to talking with a recruiter.  This can be achieved by viewing their web pages in advance, or by walking by the booth and collecting literature.  If the booths are quiet, you may want to work the room with a friend.  Have the friend collect information for you, so you won’t be caught off guard and unprepared to respond to the recruiters' questions before you are ready.  Listen to what the recruiters are asking other candidates.  These same questions may be asked of you, and you will be ready because you have had time to think about your responses.

ü      Now you are ready to go out on your own, loaded with information and prepared to give them your very best.  Start by going to a few tables that are not on your top ten list, so you can get warmed up by talking with the recruiters and shaking hands.  Continue this until you are ready to approach one of the employers who are scheduling campus interviews.  If you have done your homework, you have determined what an employer’s needs are and how you can help fill those needs.

ü      The amount of time you will have with the recruiter can vary from seconds to minutes.  Use the short time you have to provide the employer with a clear and succinct description of exactly what you are looking for.  Establish common interests based on the information you read in advance.  

• Ask recruiters,  “What is the next step?”
• Request a business card of the recruiters for future correspondence.
• Extend your hand, thank them for their time, and inform the recruiters that you look forward to hearing from them in the near future.  If they are one of your top choices, do let them know that you have a strong interest in the company/agency and hope to be part of the team.

 

Stay in touch with the employers that interest you most; keep the lines of communication open.  A thank-you letter sent within a week of meeting the recruiters will help them to remember you.

• Thank them for taking the time to meet with you.
• Review key points that were discussed during your conversation.
• Explain how you would be an asset to the employer (address the keys points you discussed or from employer literature).
• Add new information that may not have been addressed during your quick meeting.
• Send a customized resume to reflect the skills you have to meet the needs of the employer.
• Check back after a few weeks to see if opportunities are available for you with their organization.

 

Best of luck!  If you need further assistance, please visit with a staff member or sign up for workshops from Career Services, Garcia Annex, Room 224, or call 646-1631.