Prepare for the Fair!
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Prepare for the Fair!
Overview of the fair
Thursday, November 20 in the Friday Center
Each employer will have a table with signage, information, handouts, job descriptions, goodies, etc.
Expect to spend 3-5 minutes speaking to each recruiter; ideally, 1-2 hours is a good amount of time to budget for the entire event, depending on your priorities.
Preparing for the Fair
Do your homework – RESEARCH the companies!
Visit https://sites.google.com/site/ncmastersphdfair/for list of participating companies, and the positions they’re recruiting for.
Make a list to prioritize the companies that interest you the most.
Know your resume!
What to Wear & Bring
What to wear? - Those in a full-time job search should “suit up”- Those looking for internships/career exploration can dress in
business casual attire. - Plan out what you will wear in advance.- Comfortable shoes!
What to bring?- Bring plenty of resumes and carry them in a leather
“padfolio” or folder.- (Cover letters, work samples, and references are not
needed for a career fair).
Professional/Interview Attire: Male
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Trim sideburns to an appropriate length for your
industry. Determine whether or not facial hair is appropriate for your
industry.
SHIRT: White or blue collar style
TIE: Conservative color/design. The bottom of your tie should reach your
belt buckle.
SUIT: Gray, navy, or small pinstripes. Choose either a traditional 2- button,
double-breasted, or 3- button suit.
BELT: Leather/understated buckle
SOCKS: Should be color-coordinated with your suit and shoes. Try over-the-
calf dress socks.
SHOES: Wing tips, loafers, or lace-up
ACCESSORIES: Carry a small briefcase or pad folio to hold copies of resume,
references, etc.
JEWELRY: No more than one ring. No earrings.
Professional/Interview Attire: Female
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Pull hair back if it is distracting to you or others.
Minimal/subtle usage of makeup. Conservative or clear nail polish.
SHIRT: Collared shirt or basic shell in understated colors.
SUIT: Gray, navy and black in almost any style are appropriate. No short skirts (no
more than two inches above knee when sitting). Pants suits may be appropriate
for some industries.
HOSE: Neutral colored hose. No runs (carry an extra pair with you).
SHOES: No high heels. Low pumps are preferable.
ACCESSORIES: Purse should be small, simple, and ideally match briefcase, pad folio, and/or shoes. Carry a pad
folio to hold copies of resume, references, etc.
JEWELRY: No more than one ring on each hand. No dangle bracelets. Simple
earrings (diamond, gold, silver or pearl stud) that do not move after nodding
Business Casual Attire: Female
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Pull hair back if it is distracting to you or others.
Minimal/subtle usage of makeup. Conservative or clear nail polish.
TOP: Tailored shirts, blouses or sweaters/sweater sets. Blazer can replace
suit jacket. Fit should not be tight or low-cut.
BOTTOMS: Skirts or pants, but neither should be tight. Colors should generally be solid
(navy, black, gray, brown or khaki). No short skirts (no more than two inches above
knee when sitting).
HOSE: Not essential, but recommended if wearing a skirt.
SHOES: Should be leather or fabric in black, navy, brown, tan, taupe (to coordinate
with your other attire and accessories). No sandals, platforms, or chunky heels.
ACCESSORIES: Purse should be small and structured and color coordinate with your
shoes. Leather, microfiber and fine wovensare appropriate. No casual canvas and
straw bags.
Business Casual Attire: Male
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Trim sideburns to an appropriate length for your industry. Determine whether or not facial hair is
appropriate for your industry.
SHIRT/JACKET: White or light blue solid, or conservative stripes is your safest bet.
Polo shirts (tucked in) or sweaters are acceptable in more casual situations.
Blazer or sport coat can replace suit jacket.
BOTTOMS: Khaki or dark pants, neatly pressed.
SOCKS: Dark socks, mid-calf length so no skin is visible when you sit down.
SHOES: Leather shoes. No sandals, athletic shoes or hiking boots.
ACCESSORIES: Leather belt that matches leather shoes. Ties are
generally not necessary (but can be removed).
The Day of the Career Fair
Arrive early in the day, if possible (starts at noon): Recruiters will be more fresh – they get tired too! Lines will be shorter.
Make a plan of attack: Review map of company locations upon arrival. Identify where your target companies are located – BUT,
do not approach their booths first. Take a walk through to get acclimated to the
environment. Don’t forget the information sessions!
Approaching an Employer
How to approach an employer: Practice your handshake! Prepare a 30 second to one-minute
introduction. Match your interests with their organization/
positions Focus on where you’ve been and where
you’re going Smile! Thank them for being here
Elevator Pitch
Give your name and education Provide a summary of your early education and
experience List your accomplishments Connect your past experience and your current
undergraduate work to the future Ask a question
Examples
Unprompted intro samples:
“Hi – I’m Mary. Thanks for coming to the fair today. I am graduating in May with an MPH degree in Health Behavior, and I am interested in the Public Health Associate position I saw posted on the RTI webpage. I think it fits well with the internships and coursework I’ve been involved with at UNC. Can you tell me more about it?”
“Hi, I’m Joe. I’m a first-year studying Biostatistics, and right now I am just trying to learn more about the type of opportunities available. I am interested in working on teams, enjoy analyzing data, and have strong programming skills, so when I saw that you focus on clinical research, I thought I would come by and introduce myself. Can you tell me more about the work that you do?”
Practice
Give your name and education Provide a summary of your early education and
experience List your accomplishments Connect your past experience and your current
undergraduate work to the future Ask a question
The Day of the Career Fair
Approach your target employers only after you feel warmed up:
Introduce yourself with confidence and poise. Be the first to offer your hand and introduce yourself. Do not just hand the recruiter your resume.
Tell them why you’re interested in their organization: You should already know some key things about the
employer. Match your interests with their needs. Do not monopolize too much of their time If they are not there representing your area of
interest, ask them who you should follow up with.
Final Comments
Have a strong finish Ask about the next step in the hiring process:
Are they coming back to campus for interviews or information sessions?
Who should you follow up with? What is their hiring process like? Ask for a business card.
Make a final pitch If time permits and the lines are short, stop by your
targeted organizations one more time before leaving and say thank you again before you leave.
Follow up with an email or voicemail the next day to thank the recruiter for coming and to reiterate your interest in the employer.
Additional Tips
AVOID: Visiting tables with friends or in a group. Thinking linearly about employers. Approaching an employer and saying “what does your
organization do?” Only targeting the larger, more prestigious employers. Coming across as “better than thou.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNnzi4NcKKY
TIPS FOR INTROVERTS
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