Indiana INTERNnet’s take on Career Fair “Do’s and Don’ts”

If you’ve seen the Indiana INTERNnet staff out-and-about during the last few weeks, it’s because we’ve been on-the-road, attending career fairs throughout the state. We’ve seen everything from South Bend to Bloomington to Evansville, and it’s not over yet!

Now that we’ve seen several different types of career and job fairs, we’re here to offer a few thoughts on the “Do’s and Don’ts.” Let’s face it – career fairs can be intimidating and overwhelming. There are tons of companies from which you can choose, and the recruiters can practically interview you on-the-spot. But never fear – check out our tips so career fairs do not overwhelm you!

The Do’s

Do find out which businesses will be at the event and thoroughly research those that interest you in advance. Do check out social media profiles, forums such as Glassdoor.com and company websites.

Do maximize your time by only visiting recruiters from companies that interest you.

Do get a business card from all recruiters with whom you speak.

Do follow up with recruiters by sending a thank-you letter or e-mail.

Do dress professionally and conservatively. Cover tattoos. Wear appropriate socks or pantyhose. Limit jewelry. Groom hair. Brush teeth. And, shine your shoes! (Seriously, we mean this one. You only get one chance to make a first impression – so make it count!)

Do be prepared to answer questions about yourself, your experiences and even your GPA.

Do ask a career development professional at your school to review your resumé prior to the event.

Do consider scheduling a mock interview session with your advisor or a career development professional to help you perfect your “elevator speech.”

Do bring multiple copies of your resumé (limit it to one page) to distribute to recruiters. Do bring a nice pen and padfolio. Do bring your own student business cards.

Do brainstorm questions to ask recruiters such as, “What qualities do you consider successful candidates to have?”

The Don’ts

Don’t ask a recruiter about salary. Period.

Don’t drop your resumé off at the recruiter’s table without speaking with him or her. They see hundreds of resumés they won’t remember, but talking with them and obtaining their contact information helps distinguish you from other potential candidates and puts the “ball in your court.”

Don’t be negative. Provide positive answers regarding your college experiences and previous internships or jobs. Avoid negative words like “can’t” and “won’t.”

Don’t ask questions you should already know through research such as, “What does this company do?” Attending a career fair without first researching companies that appeal to you tells recruiters you’re not interested in their organization.

Don’t monopolize the recruiter’s time. Maximize the small window of time you do have with each recruiter, however, to build rapport.

Interested in more career fair tips? Check out what Come Recommended has to say on the topic. And, to find a list of internship and career fairs throughout the state, visit www.IndianaINTERN.net/events. Did we miss any “do’s” or “don’ts? Add your thoughts in the comment section below!