Navigating The College Recruiting Fairs

College Recruiting Fair Advice for Almost Grads

If you are graduating this spring and have no plans to attend campus job fairs, you are missing your best chance at landing a job.  Campus recruiting events are the single most important way to launch your career.  Companies know the value of these events and recruit heavily from them.  It’s “one stop shopping” as they can immediately get a sense of personality and worth from a quick conversation.  It’s time and money saving for them – you should take every advantage.

Treat it like a job interview.  Dress appropriately—no jeans, cutoffs, tank tops.  Wear a nice pair of slacks or skirt and tailored shirt.   Girls, modest make up.  Bring multiple copies of your resume in a backpack or better yet, hip new messenger bag.  Do some research ahead of time.  Find out which companies will be participating and check their websites.  That way you’ll have something specific to talk about (ie, product line, services etc.) with each company’s recruiting team.  THIS WILL MAKE YOU STAND OUT from your peers. 

Be warm, friendly and approachable.  SHOW ENTHUSIASM!  Collect business cards and send follow up “thank yous” within 24 hours.  Here are some conversation starters:

What to say after HELLO!

            Be confident

·      Fake it!  (pretend) and reality will follow

·      REMEMBER a time when you felt completely confident

·      Firm handshake, eye contact, watch your body language

·      SMILE!!  Be gracious and POSITIVE

·      Be positive and no negative comments allowed!

            Focus on them, not you

·      Be interested vs interesting.  What can I learn from this person?

·      Listen without trying to figure out what to say next—follow up questions.

·      Be sincere

·      No scoping out the room to see who else is there

·      No ONE WORD ANSWERS

            Sharing what you have

·      Offer help with something (phone charging?)

·      Do favors

·      Share information – advice  (Know the layout of the hall

Conversation starters:

·      What brings you here?

·      Where are you from?

·      What do you think of Florida?  Weather?  A lot different than Minot, ND isn’t it? (or wherever the person is from..)

·      What company are you with?  How long have you been with Widget Makers?

·      What do you do with the company?

·      How long have you been working (managing, whatever) with widgets?

·      What do you hope to get out of this conference?

Keep it going- building conversation:

·      How did you get started in the widget field?

·      What do you most enjoy about your profession, interest, location or ??

·      How does your company differ from XYZ?

·      What products do you make?

·      Is this your first trip to NPE?  Annual event? 

·      How has the NPE been helpful to your career?

·      How did you get started in_______?

·      What trends do you see in______plastics in med devices?

·      You mentioned________.  What got you interested in this area?

Gracefully moving on…..

·      It’s been good talking with you.  I appreciate you taking the time to talk with me.  I’m going to walk around and meet some new people.

·      Here comes Kristen.  Have you two met?  (exit left…)

·      Let me take you over to Kristen.  I’ll introduce her.  (exit right)

·      It’s been interesting talking with you.  Do you have a card?

·      The questions should be focused on the other person, instead of you.  Getting the focus off you dilutes the anxiety of networking.  Remember, networking is learning about the other person to see how YOU can be helpful to him or her.   

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