The Spring Career & Internship Fair starts this week. During three days, you will find 300 employers looking for you. Years ago, when I was a student at the university, I thought the fair wasn’t important enough to pull me away from the computer, student group activities or books for that matter. Other than the many giveaways, I didn’t see a point in even going. However, now that I am on the other side of my college degree and it is my full-time job to meet with employers, I realize from them the countless opportunities I missed out on by not “working” the fairs.
If you have not participated in one of the countless preparatory workshops regarding the fair, or did not take a moment to meet one-on-one with a career advisor, you may not realize what I know now. Here are some insider suggestions, outside of the usual baseline tips (e.g., dress business professional, create a resume and practice your 30-second commercial) that employers tell us work:
1. The fair is first and foremost a networking opportunity. Collect as many business cards as you can and make a good first impression, so when it is time to apply for a position you can stand out by referencing that connection in your cover letter.
2. If you find yourself waiting in line to speak with an employer, make your time count — listen to others’ conversations and incorporate what you hear from the employer into your own exchange.
3. Do not ask the employer “what kind of positions do you have” or “what is your organization all about?” Research the organizations that are expected to attend the fair beforehand. Surprise them with your knowledge, and impress them with the initiative you took to research their mission, purpose, clients served, etc. At the very minimum, log in to Careers4Terps (www.careers.umd.edu) for a full listing of employers attending the event. The mission statements, positions offered, majors sought and website are all just a few mouse clicks away.
4. Yes, the recruiter may ask you to apply online. The reality is that everything these days is online, so why wouldn’t this also be the case for reviewing candidates? When you do apply online, use the knowledge you gained from speaking with the recruiter at the fair to highlight what’s really important from the organization’s point of view. And don’t forget to reference that conversation you had with the recruiter in your written materials; this is “legal” insider information that can be used to your advantage.
5. Try to get on their interview schedule. Many employers are at the fair to encourage top candidates to get on their interview schedule as part of our On-Campus Interviewing Program. Each academic year, we host hundreds of employer visits to the campus that take part in this program. Most OCI positions are post-graduation full-time positions, although employers also recruit for part-time positions and internships by scheduling an OCI visit.
6. Use the fair to put a face to your application. With the current economy, if your application materials are generic, the employer will move on to the next candidate. Put yourself in the position of the recruiter (who is speaking with and scanning resumes from hundreds of applicants), and ask yourself what would make you stand out in their mind.
Still not convinced about going to the fair? Don’t take my word for it then, listen to the Northrop Grumman recruiter when he says, “Going to the career fair? Why not? Why do you think we employers go? Here’s a hint … to recruit entry-level candidates for job openings! Remember, a good positive attitude goes a long way in being successful while at the fair … bring it with you!”
The Spring Career & Internship Fair is this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and will be held in the Stamp Student Union from 12–5 p.m. More than 300 employers will be available during this three-day period, including 212 employers recruiting for non-technical positions and 202 employers looking to fill technical positions. More than 100 employers are looking to hire for both types of positions. Be prepared to stand out by visiting www.careers.umd.edu/FairPrep today … because you truly can’t stay in school forever.
William Jones Jr. is the Associate Director for External Relations at the University Career Center & The President’s Promise. The center can be reached at ucc-studenthelp@umd.edu.
