With fall here it is important to start looking for internships and jobs. The best places to look are career fairs. Going to a career fair can be overwhelming, kind of like impressing a date. Preparation, looks, and follow up are all necessary for success in both realms.

When you go out on a date for the first time you need to be prepared. First you might talk to your friends about your date or check their Facebook. The point is you want to know information about them ahead of time to hopefully impress them. With a career fair, it is very similar. Before the event you must always do your research. Find out the companies that are going to be at the fair. Go to their websites and find out the basic information about their operations, locations, and opportunities. The first question many companies ask is “so tell me what you know about us.” You do not need to know everything about them, but definitely a good knowledge of what they do. This is your time to shine and impress them with your preparation.

Dress to impress, if you want to impress a date then you need to be looking and feeling good. If you are going to a party you “dress to impress”. The same rules apply with career fairs. The first impression is important, we all have our own styles but at a career fair it is necessary to look professional. A suit and tie with shiny shoes are always a must. When you are looking good you are feeling good, and this will help you stand out.

After you first meet a date you are interested in, it’s important to follow up with them. Once again these same rules apply with job fairs. When you get back to campus you must follow up with a thank you note to the recruiter. They meet a lot of people at a career fair, so how else will they remember you? Some people have different rules on follow up, but with career fairs it needs to be that same day.
Like anything hard work and effort always pay off. So the more time you put into preparation, looks, and follow through the better chances your chances of getting that great opportunity. We at Career Development are always here to help students prepare, so stop by our office on the second floor of Bagby today.

Related posts:

1. New Year’s Resolutions for Career Development
2. Through the Looking Glass
3. Finding a Place in the Hampden-Sydney Culture
4. Coming Soon to a Dorm Room Near You