CLU Career Expo


How to Prepare

The Career Expo will give you the opportunity to meet with companies and organizations you are interested in working for.  This is your first chance to make a good impression, so it is important to take the appropriate steps in preparing for this event. Make sure to visit employer websites before attending the Expo to determine who you want to speak with. Also, even if the employer is mostly recruiting for a certain job, it does not mean you can not be proactive and have them pass your resume onto to the marketing dept if you are interested in marketing.  Follow up after the Expo with all employers you met and reiterate what you are looking for.

Career Expo provides a great opportunity to do two things:

  1. Collect a lot of information in a short period of time.
  2. Put yourself near the front line of people waiting to get interviews for specific companies or organizations.

Although this sounds easy, it takes preparation to be successful.  But if you do succeed, it could get you past the tedious screening process and on to an interview.

Before the Expo

  • Polish your resume!  Have at least two other people proofread it for grammar and spelling errors and make sure all of the information is current and up to date.
  • Check which companies will attend and research the ones that interest you most.  Check their websites, read news reports and press release, and find out if they have an opening that is related to your career goals.
  • Prepare good questions for these companies for the Expo, questions that show off your research.  However avoid questions that are easy to look up (ie. “What kind of company are you?”) as recruiters appreciate questions that add value to their time (ie. “Who are your competitors?  What’s your culture like?”)
  • Develop a strategy.  Decide what you want to get out of the Career Expo.  Do you wish to learn about different companies/industries, or apply for a specific job, or both. Plan accordingly.
  • Practice your presentation and your handshake.  Presentation should consist of a short introduction (around 15 seconds) that summarizes who you are, your experience, and skills. 
  • Have a firm handshake and maintain eye contact throughout.  Deliver your resume after closing.

At the Expo

  • Dress professionally and be well groomed.  First impressions are critical.
  • Bring plenty of copies of your resume.
  • Find the companies you had planned to approach.
  • Be prepared to interview with as many companies as possible.  Remember to be patient at the Expo as Career Expos are busy places.  A typical recruiter will talk with dozens of people for only a few hours so it’s important to respect a recruiter’s time and others.  Pick up the company brochure while you wait to absorb last minute information.
  • Make the most of all opportunities.  Even if you don’t know anything about a company, approach it as a learning opportunity.  Not everything has to be a ticket to a job; career expos are also good places to help figure out what jobs are out there.
  • Be friendly, honest, confident, and enthusiastic.  Don’t forget to smile and have fun.
  • Don’t be discouraged by the number of candidates, but don’t assume you made such a great impression that you’re a shoe-in for an interview. You’ll need to follow up.
  • Take notes on who you spoke with.  Ask recruiters the best way to follow-up, different recruiters prefer different methods.

After the Expo

  • Organize brochures and business cards you’ve gathered.  Make more notes on the companies you’ve visited.
  • Follow up with a personalized note, thanking the recruiter for his/her time and mention you hope to hear from them soon. 
  • Call them within a week and thank them personally and ask about an interview.
  • Keep time open in the following weeks for interviews.

 

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