Monday, September 29, 2014

Career Fair Advice: "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail"

The highly anticipated Tufts Career Fair is coming up. Too soon? Not ready? Didn't we just get here a few weeks ago? These are some of the thoughts cycling through students' minds as we brush off the cobwebs from summer break. As we reset to "school mode" many of us should take advantage of the Career Fair. It's a great start to ensuring a successful year and may be just the spark you need to get the ball rolling.

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Presidential swag

Career Fairs can be a little scary. That, I will admit. The hundreds of recruiters and organizations can seem overwhelming, especially as it's held in the Gantcher Center. An important realization about the Career Fair is that these employers aren't only there for you to meet them, they are there to meet you! Here is a list of the companies attending the Career Fair on October 1st. This is the largest number of employers ever to attend the Tufts Career Fair, so be sure to look over the list before you attend.

Let's walk through the steps toward guaranteeing you will take full advantage of the the Career Fair.

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"Even Tom Brady needs help with his resume"
PREPARATION:

One of my favorite quotes is by late UCLA Basketball Coach John Wooden. He said, "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." Preparation for the career fair is the first step to victory.
  • Business Attire & Things to Bring
    • Here's advice from Pinterest on what women and men should wear to a Career Fair.
    • First impressions are key to ensuring you are "swagtastic."
  • Resume Critique
  • Preparing an Introduction
    • Your script should be tailored to each company you approach.
    • Make lists of talking points referring to your skills, experiences, and past projects that are relevant to that particular company.
    • It's your own personal elevator pitch. Be sure to follow the structure of this short video made by Mississippi State.
    • Practice out loud!
  • Personal Branding
    • Ask your friends three words that define you. (Hopefully, they are positive!) You can use these descriptors to market your appeal to companies.  Make this your new motto.
    • Here is PriceWaterhouseCooper's take on personal branding that can help you stand out among other applicants.
  • Researching Companies
    • Review the list of organizations and the positions they're looking to fill, and see which ones jump out at you.  Then, do your research.
    • Conducting company research is a science.  Quintessential Careers has an EXCELLENT Guide to Researching Companies, Industries and Countries.
    • Come up with smart questions that you're really interested in getting answered, tailored, of course, to the company.
    • Even if the company doesn't offer the internship/job you are looking for, you can still approach with a smart question. Opening doors to a networking opportunity is an easy task for the Career Fair!
DURING THE FAIR:

Relax. The most time-consuming part is the preparation, and that's over! Now it's time to reap the benefits of your hard work and test your intro. When all else fails, just be yourself. I attended a Pre-Law Panel last week, and one of the main themes that the admissions counselors covered was being genuine. Recruiters don't have cardboard cut-outs of who they will and will not hire. Usually, they look for people they think will thrive within the company culture, have the skills needed for the position and who they can see themselves working with. Here are some Dos and Don'ts to make sure that you've covered all the bases.

TO DO:
  • Walk around the entire Fair to get an idea of where the companies you want to target are located
  • Find your first company to practice using your script
    • Practice makes perfect right? So find a company just to dust off the cobwebs, so you can get ready for other companies later
  • Ask questions
    • Questions reveal that you are serious about the job and you realize it's not just a one-way conversation
    • Engage the recruiter and display how much you know about the company. Ask them about their own career path 
    • Good questions to ask:
      • How can I better market myself to be the type of candidate your company is looking for?
      • What specific skills are you looking for? Technology skills? (Excel, Photoshop, etc.)
      • How can I best prepare myself for entering this industry or company?
      • What was one of the best projects you've been involved with at the company? the most challenging?
      • What type of tasks will an intern/entry-level employee be involved with?
      • What's the workplace culture like?
  • Ask if they are taking resumes and provide a copy
  • Ask for a business card or email so you can follow up with questions
NOT TO DO:
  • Drop your resume off without a conversation
  • Interrupt other conversations
  • Just go for the giveaways
  • Include too many filler words 
    • Avoid words such as "like" "actually" and "umm". You want to demonstrate good communication skills, and these words don't add value to the conversation. ("like" is one of my Dad's pet peeves).
    • TIME Magazine just wrote a post on how one word can immediately destroy your credibility. So choose your words wisely!
AFTER THE FAIR:

Don't forget the follow-up. This is one of the most important things about networking in business! Don't be afraid to follow-up, thanking them for their time speaking with you at the fair. In the message, be sure to distinguish yourself so that they remember you by referencing your conversation. Attach your resume to the follow-up email.  Final step: Apply!

Carpe Diem,

Nicole Brooks
Class of 2016