1 How to “Work” the Engineering Career Fair David McMahon ’69 Associate Director.

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How to “Work”the Engineering

Career Fair

David McMahon ’69Associate Director

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Your Goals of theCareer Fair

•Increase exposure to potential employers

•Gain insight into a company & its employees

•Differentiate yourself from competition

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Check Available Research

•Utilize available resources• SEC Website

http://sec.tamu.edu

• HireAggies.com job postings

http://HireAggies.com

• Internet & web sites

• Co-ops/Interns/Grads

working for company

• Professors• Current events/projects

http://finance.yahoo.com/

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Career Center Resource

HireAggies.com

You have already paid for it!!!!!!

No charge to Employers!!

How Employers “Grade” TAMU Students - 2014

Research Company Websites – Priority List

Feedback from

Students Employers

Company overview 80% 97%Products/Services 56% 77%Career Opportunity 75% 68%Location 46% 45%Financial 15% 13%Division 25% 6%11

Career Direction

• What brings that sparkle to your eye or fire in your belly?

• What are the 3 to 5 things you see yourself doing with your degree for my company?

• What in my job description excited you, that you see yourself doing?

• Why are you the best person to fill my job, not just qualified to do my job?

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Realistic Expectations Needing Improvement

Employers’ Feedback•72% Oral communications

•71% Written communications

•64% Entitlement attitude

•63% Constructive criticism

•42% >40 Hour work week

•41% Pay for performance

•41% Not automatic promotions

•26% Professional dress13

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Why Should They Hire You??

•What does their company do for a living?•Praxair, Air Liquide

•What do you want to do with your degree?

•How can you support their efforts?

•Determine “match points”, where your experience fits company’s needs

•Write down “match points” & questions

•Remember, the companies are shopping for good buys

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Decisions! Decisions!

•Decide which companies to visit beforehand Prioritize companies1st two visits, lower tier

•Do homework on companies Outlook for industry Primary products of company Hiring majors Current events/projects

http://finance.yahoo.com/

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The Resume Game

•Make sure it is GOODResume Reviews @ ETB & CHENResuMania @ 2406 MSCWalk-in service

•DO NOT automatically give out Some companies cannot take resumesBusiness card?? Flash Drive??

•End of conversation-ask if you can leave it with them

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Why Employer Tells You to Send Resume Electronically

• Demonstrates Student’s continued interest in Employer via an email.

• Student can remind Employer of the conversation and elaborate on the position(s) he/she is interested in.

• Employer gets to see the Student’s writingskills, follow-up, and attention to detail.

• Employer now has an electronic copy of the resume that can be moved immediately to the hiring managers without waiting for a recruiting trip to end.

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Dressing the Part•Business casual,

- suit is not necessary

•Don’t be too casual - dress up a bit

•Men-nice slacks, pressed shirt

•Women-casual outfit or simple dress

DON’T LOOK LIKE YOU JUST ROLLED OUT OF BED!!!

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Dressing the Part•Wear comfortable shoes

•If you wear a tie, button the collar and pull-up the tie

•Don’t wear tennis shoes with a nice suit

•Backpacks are OK, but don’t carry your skateboard

•Don’t leave your sunglasseson top of your head

YOU ARE PRESENTING THE PROFESSIONAL IMAGE OF YOURSELF

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Dressing the Part•Even the Men in Black had white

shirts

•Ties and scarfs that are professional, not bright and gaudy

•How tall do you need to be?

•Dress “professional”, you are not “clubbing”

•Don’t wear hats, you are inside a building

YOU ARE PRESENTING THE PROFESSIONAL IMAGE OF YOURSELF

• Check out how the Employers are dressed

• They are “role models” for their companyHairBeardsGroomingPiercingsTatoos

• Do you see yourself dressed that way to interview and/or work for the company?

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Dressing the Part

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The Booth Visit•Expect visit of 2-10 minutes

•Don’t overstay, be alert to line backing-up

•See and Be SeenExpress interest in companyMeet a company repLeave resume

•Differentiate yourselfKnow questions you wish to askUse notes with company information & questions.Share “match points”

•Be prepared for company rep to ask

“Why did you stop by our booth?”

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First Impressions

•Introduce Yourself

•Shake Hands

•Make eye contact

•Don’t squirm/fidgit

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Self Introduction

•Speak up!

•Well planned and conciseName – first and lastAcademics – what major and yearEmployment aim – Co-op, Internship, or

Full-timeCompany insight vs. your career directionWhy are you interested in them?

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Handshakes – First Impression

• Jellyfish weak

• Half a hand maintains distance

• Knuckle cruncher power play

• Two handed familiar approach

• Winner

firm handshake with eye contact

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Things To Talk About...•Make small talk

“First time at the career fair?” “I see you’re an Aggie. What class are you?” “How was your trip to A&M?” Welcome dinner, golf, company informationals,

professional society meetings

•Why you are interested in company Researched information

company website Current events

http://finance.yahoo.com/

•What are typical job duties for your major?

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Things To Talk About...•What kind of training program for New Hire Engineers?

•What is more important – M.S./P.E./MBA?

•What locations/divisions are they interviewing for?

•Potential to transfer to other locations? International

assignments?

•What do they recommend you do to enhance employment with

their company?

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Things To Talk About...•Does your company encourage higher education after you go to work?

•Do you have plans for expansions and opportunities in the future?

•What personal skills, qualities, or experience are you seeking for this position?

•How much travel is involved in this position?

•What is the normal career path after this position?

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Things To Talk About...•What is hiring process for the company?

•Do they post jobs and schedule interviews through HireAggies.com?

•What is impact of Industry trends on hiring and

career paths?

•Don’t skirt GPA issue, if you’re asked

Graduate Student Considerations

• Masters Students•Many companies have MS/ME Full-time jobs

• Not many Internship opportunities

• Limited sponsorships for International Students

• PhD Students• Specific technology niches being sought

• Recruiters probably don’t know about needs

• Improved sponsorships for International Students

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Standing Out In a Crowd

•If booth is crowded, come back later

•Company can talk to 4-5 at a time

Attend at non-peak hoursEarly morning During classes

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Avoid “Open Mouth – Insert Foot” Syndrome•What part of “No!” do you not

understand? Move on!!

•Be Discreet Watch what you tell others

about different companies

•Be Consistent Don’t tell different companies

different things

•Avoid “Aggiespeak”

•Do you know how to say “Excuse me”?

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Bargain Shopping 101

•Don’t wander from booth to booth looking only for “freebies”

•Talk to employers BEFORE you load up on goodies

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Go the Extra Mile!!! Volunteer

Help set-up/take-down booths Help carry boxes

Additional meeting opportunities Attend other events

associated with Career Fair Attend company presentations

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Do You Know How to RSVP??

• Some think R.S.V.P. on an invite means, "Respond only if you are planning to attend."

• R.S.V.P., short for the French "respondez s’il vous pait," means "Respond please." That's respond please if you plan to attend and respond please if you can't make it.

• Respond to an invitation within a week. Not when all possibilities of a better offer have been exhausted. When you do, say, "I am responding..." not "I am R.S.V.P.-ing."

• Honor your commitments. No one likes to host what we called in the music business, the "Peter Brady Party." (Named after an episode of The Brady Bunch, where Peter had a birthday party and nobody showed up.)

Culture and Manners Institute, February 2015

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Remember Me?

Get Business Card At end of conversation

Make notes during breaks Specific details & information

Follow up with a thank you emailWithin 24 – 48 hoursOnce a month after that

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ONE LAST THOUGHT...

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ANOTHER LAST THOUGHT...