During the Fair: • Adjust your plan based on the format of the fair: virtual or in-person • Dress for success and make sure you have access to a pen, paper, and your resume • Practice your Elevator Pitch with employers you are not as interested in before talking to your top employers • Start each conversation with a smile and greeting, introduce yourself, and have your Elevator Pitch ready ▪ Be sure to politely ask for contact information of the employers who are of interest to you • Take notes about each organization you are interested in - name of recruiter, positions available, locations, dates, etc After the Fair: • Connect with employers you are interested in on LinkedIn • Follow up within 24 hours with a professional “thank you” email; attach a PDF of your resume to the email Need more information? Watch these excellent Candid Career videos: • Creating your Elevator Pitch • Juggling Job Offers • Salary Negotiating • Tips to Impress at Virtual Career Fair
3.2 Expanding Use of Career Fairs
How to navigate a fair when actively seeking employment? Before the Fair: Develop a plan of action (see page19 for Career Fair 1.0 information) • Use the Handshake app to create a list of employers to visit including the booth locations for in-person events • Research their websites to discover the mission/goals/purpose of the organization ▪ Be aware of current initiatives, projects and programs ▪ Understand what types of positions they are seeking ▪ Follow the LinkedIn profiles of the companies you are interested in • Update your LinkedIn profile with current, relevant information • Update your resume and upload it to Handshake so employers can view it – this is especially important for Virtual Career Fairs; bring copies to in-person Fairs • Select professional attire that shows you are career ready • Create and practice your “Elevator Pitch” What is an “Elevator Pitch”? An “Elevator Pitch” is an opportunity to sell yourself and make a positive impression in a 30 second sales campaign - think of it as your first interview! • The key is to be confident, concise, and friendly with meaningful dialogue • Address your strengths – what do you want the employer to know about you? • Tailor your pitch to who you are talking to! • Think about the research you’ve done on the company and the position • What skills do you have that will make you an excellent candidate for THIS particular job? • Reference the “why” – why should this employer hire you over the fifty other people they have talked to at the fair? Create your “Elevator Pitch” Use these talking points to create your 30 second pitch: • Introduce yourself ▪ First and Last Name ▪ Major/Minor/Certifications • State your academic standing and what you are seeking ▪ Graduating? Or Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior ▪ Internship, Full-time, Part-time, Co-op? • What skills/experience do you have that would benefit a potential employer ▪ Work Experience: Internship(s), Non-major related Work Experiences ▪ Activities: Participation in Organizations, Leadership Roles, Volunteering ▪ Academic Preparation: Research, Special Projects, Study Abroad ▪ Applicable Skills: Technical Skills, Special Qualifications, Soft Skills
* 7 seconds - that’s how long it takes someone to form a first impression of you. — Will Rogers to make a fi rst impression. i You will never get a second chance
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