Making the Most of the Minnesota Education Job Fair Career Development Center 209 Wigley Administration 507-389-6061 .

Making the Most of the Minnesota Education Job FairCareer Development Center 209 Wigley Administration507-389-6061 www.mnsu.edu/cdc

Date and Logistics

Monday, April 15, 201310:00am-3:00pm

(Interviews run until 5:00pm)Minneapolis Convention Center

1301 Second Avenue SouthMinneapolis, MN 55403

http://www.mcucsa.org/mnedfair/

Directions• From the South (I-35W)

Follow downtown exit signs to the 11th Street exit and follow 11th Street to 2nd Avenue South. Turn left on 2nd Avenue South and go 1 block to Convention Center.

• From the West (I-94)Take the 4th Street exit from I-94 and proceed to 2nd Avenue South. (Do NOT turn right onto 2nd Avenue North.) Turn right on 2nd Avenue South and go 8 blocks to Convention Center.

• From the West (I-394)Take Downtown exit (12th Street): follow 12th Street South to 2nd Avenue South and turn right. The Convention Center is on your left

• Additional driving directions

Parking

• There are multiple parking ramps in the area.

• Select one that is near, but have a backup plan as they fill up quickly.

• Bring enough cash for all-day parking, they may not take credit cards.

• $25 should be plenty for all day parking in Minneapolis.

• Click here for additional parking rates.

Preparing for the Fair-What to Bring• Review the check list prior to the event• RESUMES! 25+ If you need guidance on

developing your resume, visit the CDC Job Search Handbook

• Review school district registrations• Padfolio ($10 in the CDC)• Notepad & pen• Notes on any school district research you have

done or correspondence you have received from districts

• $$$$ and other personal necessities• Mini-interview portfolio for use in interviews• Bag or a purse, not both• HINT: Keep materials streamlined, don’t

overload yourself with too much to carry.

Preparing for the Fair-What to do• Gather information on districts you are

interested in

• Rehearse your “1-2 minute verbal resume”

• Be ready to talk about your strengths AND provide examples of these!

• HINT: A great resource to research districts in addition to their website is Yahoo Directory of k-12 Schools

Preparing for the Fair-What to Wear• Dress conservatively and professionally• A suit is not absolutely required, but a safe bet

and makes a great first impression• Women (Click here for Video)

– Close-toed heals (comfortable shoes!)– Limit jewelry and makeup– Be aware of skirt length and revealing necklines– Pantyhose with skirts is a must!

• Men (Click here for Video)– Clean shaven/trimmed– Dress socks (no white athletic socks)– Tie is a must– Matching belt and shoes

Preparing for the Fair-What to Wear

When You Get to the Fair

• Drop by the MSU registration table & pick up your name badge, map of the layout, and schedule of district presentations

• Orient yourself to the facility and find a quiet area and review your district info, plan your strategy, etc.

• Break away from your group of friends if you arrived with one and take on the fair independently

• Don’t be intimidated by the initial “rush” of candidates!

• Observe how other candidates are approaching and interacting with districts…learn from them!

Plan of Attack

• Get there early and expect to stay all day

• Create a prioritized list of districts you most want to visit

• Try not to make the district you really want to work for your very first or very last stop

• If the line for a district is long, it may be more efficient to check back later in the day

• Give yourself some time to eat, take breaks, and write down notes throughout the day

General Guidelines at the Fair

• Maintain professionalism throughout the entire event—even when at lunch or walking to your car

• Take time between booths to write down some notes, get a drink, and collect your thoughts

• Reflect after each interaction with an employer and think about what went well and what you can do differently

• Pace yourself—you don’t have to visit all your booths in 30 minutes, but you also want to leave time for interviewing

• Be confident while also being yourself• Utilize positive self-talk and encouragement• Relax, deep breaths, and you will do great!

Approaching the Booth…

• Respect the privacy of others as you approach the booth

• Remember, you are “on stage” at all times, which includes standing in line and moving around the booth area

• Make eye contact immediately when introducing yourself

• Give a firm handshake to get you off to a good start

• Remember the recruiter’s name. If you forget, casually refer to their nametag.

• SMILE and be polite--show your enthusiasm!

Approaching the Booth Cont.

• Do not fidget or play with your hair• Do not look around when talking or being spoken

to• Do not chew gum!• Listen carefully to what the recruiter has to say!• Avoid using filler words such as “um”, “like”,

“you know”• Show confidence in your voice• Offer a resume• Ask for a business card or write down the

recruiters name• Ask what the hiring procedure/timeline is for that

district, you want to make sure you are doing it right!

What to Say…

• Introduce yourself with confidence!– Name – Licensure area– What you know about their school district– Provide them with a resume– Share some of your experiences that are relevant

such as where you are student teaching, volunteer experience, etc.

– Ask questions about their organization and positions available

– Get a business card!

• Watch this video on Career Fair Success

Winding Down…

• Double check to ensure you’ve talked to all the districts of interest and you have their contact information

• Make any last minute notes from the day

• Ensure you have all of your belongings and you’re not leaving anything behind

• Regroup with friends, but remember to keep all talk positive and be professional

You Got an Interview!? GREAT!

• Have a 3-point agenda: 1) what am I looking for? 2) what do I have to offer this district? 3) what questions do I have for this particular district?

• Be a good listener as well as a good talker! Take your cues from the interviewer (when do I end my response? When is the interview over?)

• Generate & maintain interest by smiling and responding with SPECIFIC & CONCISE answers/examples…keep your voice lively, maintain a pleasant tone, & use humor appropriately

• Respond truthfully, while always painting a positive picture of yourself (ex. “I have not yet had the opportunity to…but in a similar situation I…”)

Interviewing Cont.

• Request school district information if you do not already have it, also request application materials & a copy of the interviewer’s business card

• Ask about the hiring process and a timeline…determine actual and potential openings

• Offer a firm handshake at the end of the interview

• Walk away with confidence, remember, you are still “on stage”!

• HINT: Immediately following the interview, go to a quiet area an make notes on topics of conversation, contact names, follow-up procedures, etc. Don’t rely on your memory for this!

• Watch a video

After the Fair

• Congratulate yourself on a job well done!• Send a thank-you letter within 3 days of the

event• Write to any prospective employers you are still

interested in whether you talked with them at the Fair or not

• Follow-up with any employers in which you said you would

• Debrief--what would you do differently the next time?

• Keep good records of contact including dates of your emails/phone calls and copies of all application materials which you send

• Don’t measure your success by the number of interviews that you have at the fair--all of your hard work will pay off, just be patient!

Additional Websites

• CDC Website with specific Education links (click on the link below, then “Education” and scroll down for K-12)http://www.mnsu.edu/cdc/students/jobs_and_internships/search_coe.html

• Yahoo Directory of K-12 Schools: http://dir.yahoo.com/Education/K_12/Schools/

• U.S. Department of Education for Teachers: http://www.ed.gov/teachers/landing.jhtml?src=fp

Good Luck!See you at the Fair!