You've got the Career Fair Jitters! Here's how to overcome them

Chantae was so nervous, she had to get Brittany to put on her name tag for her. She really needed to find a summer internship to get experience and make some bank, but she had never been to Connection before. Why oh why didn't she go to this fair last year when she was in her first year? Then this wouldn't feel so intimidating because she would at least know what to expect. All these students in suits looking so sure of themselves elevated her fear. What could she do to calm her nerves?

Sound familiar? 

Here are some tips if going to a career fair fills you with dread too.

Have a plan of attack for what want to say about yourself and to employers you will speak with. Plan and practice your introduction. Practicing your introduction is the only way it will be smooth. Tape yourself, stand in front of your mirror, or try out your elevator pitch on your friends. What makes you special that an employer would want to know about?

Visit employers' web sites and check out their NEWS section or Press Releases. This is a great place to develop questions you have for each employer. As you get to the fair, find a map of employers and study where your target list of employers are located. Wondering how many to talk to? An easy way to decide is to consider the time you have to spend there. For example, if you allow 10 minutes per employer, and you can only be there for 3 hours, then target 18 employers, maybe with 9 on your A list whom you research more, and 9 on your B list where you at least visit their web sites and know what they do.

Apply to openings before the fair. Visit Hokies4Hire and your A list employers' web sites and apply to openings before you attend fairs. This will make your conversation so much better because you can ask questions about the job you already applied for. This also demonstrates to employers you are genuinely interested and you have initiative.

Observe first. Get in a long line at an employer's booth. Listen to recruiters and questions they ask. Compare various students' introductions and questions. Then, get out of that line before you are at the front and go visit a couple more booths, and repeat this process. Why? You will be comfortable with the environment and have a better idea of what to expect.

OK, are you ready now? 

Take a deep breath, AND...

Start with some employers on your B list. That way if your introduction is kind of rocky, it's not the end of the world. As you talk to more employers and your elevator pitch gets more smooth, move on to your A list of employers. Let employers know through questions or discussion that you have done research on their organizations.

Before you leave each employer, ask for a business card. If they don't have one, then ask for an email address and/or phone number. Find out how you should follow up with them. Then, DO IT.

Master the follow up. Ten days to two weeks after the fair, call or email the employer. The call on your end can go something like this:

"Hi this is Chantae Smith. I met you two weeks ago at the Connection Job Fair at Virginia Tech. I applied online as you suggested, and wanted to check on the status of my application. Is there any other information you need from me to consider me for an interview? I'm really interested in the internship at Altria and wanted to make sure my online information came through properly."

That's a start!

What other tips do you have for Chantae? If you want to practice your introduction before you enter the fair, come see us at the Career Services booth at Connection.

Let employers know how YOU can add value to their organization. YOU GOT THIS!

It's February! Show employers some love at career fairs!

When you think of February in the United States, what comes to mind? Candy, hearts and flowers for Valentine's Day? President's Day? Ground Hog Day? One less month of winter? On our campus, February means career fair month.

This year there are seven, yes, 7!, fairs on campus and one fair for sports enthusiasts we've linked to that is occurring elsewhere. The only spring fair sponsored by Career Services, the Connection Job Fair, is for all majors and for students seeking internship, co-op, or full-time positions. Currently, 130 employers are registered to attend. Curious about who is attending? Visit this site to do your research and discover which employers seek your major.

Want to improve your performance at career fairs this month? Try these methods to show some love to employers at fairs you attend.

Present a well written resume to employers. To fine tune your resume, meet with advisors at these various locations and times . Print your resume on finer quality paper containing cotton or linen fibers. Your resume is your ad--make it look good! Have a copy of your unofficial transcript and list of references with you in case an employer asks for them. Carry all of these in a padfolio.

Research employers you want to meet. Create a target list of employers and visit their web sites. A great place to check out is their NEWS. Write down questions you want to ask as you meet with employers. After all, a career fair is a mini interview, where both the employer and you should ask questions. Unsure what to ask? View suggested questions to ask employers .

Practice your introduction. As you walk up to an employer and shake hands, you want your introduction to be polished. The only way for that to happen is for you to work on your introduction. Need help creating your elevator pitch? Visit one a past post to work on your introduction.

Dress for success. What should you wear to a career fair? A suit is fine if you want to look most professional, but business casual attire is appropriate for fairs. Many of the employers you meet will wear more casual attire, so you can too. A nice pair of pants (or skirt or dress for women) and a nice shirt will make a good impression. Leave your 3 inch heels, tight skirt and revealing top at home.

Develop a plan of attack. At the fair, check in, placing your nametag on your right below your shoulder. Obtain a map of employer booths, finding your target employers. Before you speak with an employer, observe. Stand in a long line, listening to the conversation. Move to a few other long lines before you get to the front. Observing gets you more comfortable with how career fairs work. As you speak with employers, save your first choice employer for later to first work on your conversation skills. Ask for business cards!



Bonus! Final tip: Follow up after the fair. Go online if you need to apply. Write employers you meet a thank you note for speaking with you at the fair. Email or call employers a couple of weeks after applying. You will be much more successful in your search for a position if you follow up. And, your follow up demonstrates your interest and initiative.

You've got this! Go spread some Hokie love!!

Picking the Right Fork and Acing the Job Dinner Interview

You’ve just received an interview with your dream company, but it includes a meal. Would you know what to do? Or which fork to use first? On Wednesday, October 24, Career Services hosted its annual Dining Etiquette Dinner. We have some advice on how to successfully navigate a meal interview with a potential employer. 

 DO dress appropriately. Men should wear at least a jacket to the meal, while women should stick to a dress or skirt and avoid sandals.

DO order your meal first. Since you are the guest, it is custom for you to order your meal first. It is also expected that your employer will pay for the meal, since they invited you.

DO remember to use polite table manners. Be sure to wait for everyone else to be seated before putting your napkin on your lap or opening the menu.

DO act gracious. Avoid causing a scene by sending food back or fussing over small errors with the order. The employers are taking note of how you behave in social situations.

DO build bridges, not ramps! By this, we mean to always put your knives, forks, and spoons down by placing the entire utensil on the plate. Don’t rest them on the table like a “ramp”. 

DON’T discuss controversial topics such as politics, religion or sex during the meal.

DON’T slouch or place your elbows on the table. An upright posture shows that you are positive and attentive to the conversation with the employer.

DON’T forget to treat this as any other interview. It is important to bring copies of your resume, to research the employer and position beforehand, and to have questions prepared for the interviewer.

DON’T leave your phone on. It would be rude to the employer if your phone went off during the interview. Be sure to also keep it off the table and hidden from sight.

DON’T order alcohol, even if you are of age.

If you follow these Do’s and Don’ts, your interview should run smoothly. Remember that the priority of your interview is to be respectful and polite—treat the meal as you would an interview in a professional setting. One of the advantages to a lunch or dinner interview is that you can utilize moments of chewing to think of your answers before responding!

It's almost Halloween--but career fairs aren't so spooky!

Business Horizons 2014. Photo credit: Pamplin: College of Business Magazine 

Walking into a career fair can be a terrifying experience—the room is filled with other students competing to impress potential employers for the same opportunities you want. However, if you choose to prepare for this event, your experience doesn’t have to be so scary. In fact, you will find being prepared leads to confidence and success. You can use these tips for the upcoming FallConnection Job Fair on Oct. 14^th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Squires Commonwealth.

Research the employers beforehand

Do your homework before the career fair. You should research which companies are coming to the fair, what kind of positions they have available, what the company does, and what they are looking for. Create a list of the companies you know you want to approach.

Look over your resume – again

Not only should you be proofreading your resume for any mistakes or checking to see if all your information is updated, but you should also be sure to refresh your memory on your experiences. Be prepared to talk in-depth about any experience on your resume, because a recruiter may ask for you to explain further. Be sure to print many copies on resume-quality paper!

Have your questions ready

Avoid questions like, “What does your company exactly do?” or “What is the salary?” You can stand out to an employer with smart and thoughtful questions. Some examples of good questions would be, “What opportunities are there for collaboration” or “What does an average day look like for an employee at your company?”

Know what you’re going to say

Be sure to have at least a 30 second introduction prepared. This elevator pitch should include who you are, what you have done, what you can do, and what you are interested in from the employer. It can be a good idea to end your pitch with a question regarding the position or company, so that you are pulling the employer into a conversation. After you’ve figured out what you want to say, practice it until it becomes smooth and natural.

Remember, if you take the time to prepare for each individual employer, your efforts will be noticed!