Walking around the room for the STEM career fair, I was reminded of a bazaar. Crowded and hot, the people move about, looking for what interests them. Men and women in suits go up to the merchant’s stall, filled with curiosity. However, at this bazaar, it is the merchants doing the buying and the browsers doing the selling: selling their skills, selling their personality. They move onto the next stall, onto the next merchant, and sell themselves again in hopes of better prospects.
When I went to the STEM fair, I tried to come prepared. Wearing our nicest clothes and bearing freshly printed resumes, reciting lines for employers and wiping our anxious hands dry on our trousers, we readied ourselves for the first fifteen seconds that it takes for an employer to make a judgement on what kind of person you are: how confident you are, how organized you are, how intelligent you are.
What Are Career Fairs?
“Every degree is predicated to get a job.” says Ryan Whitfield, the director of the career fair and associate director of employer relations. He finds career fairs to be one of the most important resources a student can have. At the career fair, they learn what the job market is seeking and how to apply themselves to employers.
Career fairs are planned over the course of a year. During that time, employers seeking young professionals register and pay a fee for a spot to present themselves. Spots sell out quickly, usually a month in advance. Director Whitfield finds that the biggest constraint with the fair is the lack of space. If it were a larger room, even more companies could attend, providing more options for those seeking jobs.
Due to the nature of the career fair, it is the employers who are seeking workers. They have a strong desire to take time to prepare for the fair to find future employees, so there is a strong chance they will potentially hire those who attend the fair. The career fair is always a great success.
Preparing for Career Fairs
You may be asking, “how can I get the most out of attending a career fair? How can I make a good impression?” Well, to answer that question, you must come prepared.
Before going to a career fair, try to research what companies will be showing up and which ones you would be interested in working for. Make notes about the companies to help you keep track of them. Find out what sorts of positions they desire, and what the culture of the workplace is. Keeping these facts in mind, make personal resumes for each company. Try to tailor each resume so that each one displays the skills and projects that most relate to the company.
If you would really like to stand out, write a cover letter. This will not only help you explain how your skills will relate to this position, but also exhibit your ambition and writing skills. Having good communication skills are a must for any company.
By doing this, you will be giving each company special interest. In doing so, they will you give priority over your peers who have not taken the time to make each encounter unique.
Attending a Career Fair
When you are in line waiting to talk to an employer, take that time to consider what topics you would like to bring up. Take your resume and cover letter out of your folder and have it ready to give to them. You want to avoid those awkward seconds spent trying to take it out.
As you go up to the employer, greet them, shake their hand firmly, and don’t forget to smile. Show them your interest in the company and engage in conversation. Remember, they are interviewing you, not the other way around.
If you can, give them your resume immediately after the greet. If you can’t, make sure to give them one before you leave, otherwise they will have no way to contact you afterwards.
The career fair is a true learning experience and will help you in the transition from student to professional. The STEM fair may be over, but keep these in mind for career fairs in the future.