Career Fair Success May-2012 Vs

7/31/2019 Career Fair Success May-2012 Vs

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Career Fair Success

134 Mary Gates Hall

(206) 543-0535

http://careers.washington.edu/


2/18

Overview

Why attend

What to expect

Preparation

Maximize your time

Follow-up


3/18

Career Fairs: Why attend?

Learn about specific employers & their application

processes

Explore career options & research areas of interest

Establish contact with employers [network!]

Practice your interviewing skills informally

Apply for jobs and internships

Score free stuff!


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Why Employers Attend?

97% provide job opening and company info to solicit

applicants and maintain visibility on campus

84% discuss company benefits

13% interview students and make job offers

~ National Association of Colleges and Employers

We will definitely be hiring new college graduates this year

~ 66% of employers surveyed at Spring Career Fair 2012


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What to Expect at Career Fairs

Most UW fairs are held in Hec-Edmondson Pavilion or in

Mary Gates Hall Commons

100+ employers attend at larger events; 15 - 25 employers

for smaller events

Employer reps standing/sitting at tables/booths

Several hundred students & alumni attending

Lots of noise! Lines for more popular employers


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Researching Employers

we spent a lot of time explaining what our company does and it would have beenimpressive for students to have approached us with that knowledge.

~ Employer at Spring Career Fair 2012

WHEN: BEFORE you arrive at the employers booth

WHY:

Be informed: Make a positive impression!

Feel more self-confident

Clearly articulate how/why youre a good match!

Favorable Impressions + Good Match = Potential Employment!

one thing I regret not doing prior to the career fair that I will do next time is just doing

basic research about the companies prior to going there. In that way, I think I will

definitely be able to appear more professional and engage in more in-depth

conversations with them since they will know that I know what I am talking about

~ Student attending Spring Career Fair 2012


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WHAT TO RESEARCH:

Type & purpose of organization, business, agency

Mission statement & core values

Reputation Recent articles

New initiatives, etc.

- Regarding student quality, half of the students were excellent, they had researched ourcompany, understood what we are looking for and could articulate how their study/work

experience could translate to our needs.

- Other students were not as prepared, asked simple yes/no questions.

The students that fell into the top description are going to be invited onsite to an open

house at our company.



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HOW TO RESEARCH:

1. Find out which employers are attending on fair websites

2. Identify those you want to meet

3. Research these organizations using: UW Libraries Company Research

VaultCareer Guides

CC Web Resources Company/Industry Research

http://www.vocationvillage.com/seattle-nonprofit.html Where to Turn: Health & Human Services in King County

Puget Sound Business Journal, Wall Street Journal, etc.

Online searching: Google, Bing

Organizations web page
http://guides.lib.washington.edu/content.php?pid=54852&sid=401739http://www2.bizjournals.com/circPro/orgAccess/uw3291647-fhs88328/details/market/seattlehttp://catalog.lib.washington.edu/search/tvault/tvault/1,50,83,B/limit?Ya=&Yb=&W=ba+++&U=&L=&NAME=T&VALUE=&I=&Ca=&Cb=http://catalog.lib.washington.edu/search/tvault/tvault/1,50,83,B/limit?Ya=&Yb=&W=ba+++&U=&L=&NAME=T&VALUE=&I=&Ca=&Cb=http://careers.uw.edu/Resources/Web-Resourceshttp://www.vocationvillage.com/seattle-nonprofit.htmlhttp://www2.bizjournals.com/circPro/orgAccess/uw3291647-fhs88328/details/market/seattlehttp://www2.bizjournals.com/circPro/orgAccess/uw3291647-fhs88328/details/market/seattlehttp://www.vocationvillage.com/seattle-nonprofit.htmlhttp://www.vocationvillage.com/seattle-nonprofit.htmlhttp://www.vocationvillage.com/seattle-nonprofit.htmlhttp://careers.uw.edu/Resources/Web-Resourceshttp://catalog.lib.washington.edu/search/tvault/tvault/1,50,83,B/limit?Ya=&Yb=&W=ba+++&U=&L=&NAME=T&VALUE=&I=&Ca=&Cb=http://catalog.lib.washington.edu/search/tvault/tvault/1,50,83,B/limit?Ya=&Yb=&W=ba+++&U=&L=&NAME=T&VALUE=&I=&Ca=&Cb=http://www2.bizjournals.com/circPro/orgAccess/uw3291647-fhs88328/details/market/seattlehttp://guides.lib.washington.edu/content.php?pid=54852&sid=401739


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What to Bring: Resumes Include your education and experience that shows how you connect

with the employer mission and positions

One page is usually best

Need help to get started?

Career Center Career Guide

http://careers.washington.edu/Students/Career-Guide

View CC online Resume workshop or

Attend CC in-house Resume workshop

Have your resume reviewed at UWCC during Walk-In Appointmentsor at the Resume Caf event with employers
http://careers.washington.edu/Students/Career-Guidehttp://careers.washington.edu/Students/Career-Guidehttp://careers.washington.edu/Students/Career-Guidehttp://careers.washington.edu/Students/Career-Guide


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What to Bring: Resumes & Notebook

30 copies of your resume some of which should betargeted to your preferred employers

A business notebook or portfolio:

Keep resumes, business cards, employer information

Keep your list of potential questions to ask (identifiedfrom your research)

Record info from your employer conversations


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What to Wear Business suits seem to

make the best first

impression

Business casual is

acceptable

Wear what you think will

make your best impression

and be comfortable

Plan where you might leave

your book bag if you dont

want to carry it at the fair


12/18

Plan your Career Fair Strategy Do your pre-fair research

Identify your top 5-7 employers

Upon arriving pick up an Event Map and locate your targetedemployers

Approach your lower priority employers firstto practice yourintroduction and conversation

While you are waiting, be alert to other conversations; mayidentify other potential employer contacts or pick up tips fromother students


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Before You Move On to the Next Table

Request recruiters business cards (or at least get their

names and contact information)

Ask who is the most appropriate contact

Ask about the best method for follow-up (email, letter,

phone, web page, Twitter)


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Meeting Employer Reps

Typical time spent with a recruiter: 3 - 7 minutes

Give a brief (30 second) personal introduction

Show how your background and strengths match withemployer needs

Offer your resume

Beyourself[i.e. authentic]


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Your Personal Introduction

Draft your own personal introduction

Mention your major,area of interests, relatedprojects, research, internship, work experience, orstudent affiliations

Indicate 2 3 strengths

Show enthusiasm about applying your background intheir work setting

Finish with a question to keep the conversation going

Practice!


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Questions to Ask Employers

What is it like to work for your company?

How do you decide to choose one candidate over another?

Can you tell me about your application and interview

process?

How might I make myself a competitive candidate?


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After The Fair: Follow-up

Send a thank-you note re-affirming your interest and

include a more targeted resume

Submit resumes & cover letters via HuskyJobs & employer

websites

Stay in touch with employers after your initial follow-up!

Send them your updated qualifications

48-58% of employers expectfollow-up (NACE*)

*(National Association of Colleges and Employers)

I have three folders full of candidates of varying levels of appropriateness for our

needs. At least 5 or 6 of them will be getting calls from us in the next week or two.



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Career Fair Success

134 Mary Gates Hall

(206) 543-0535

http://careers.washington.edu/

Career Fair Success May-2012 Vs

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