Connecting with your future employer
Career Fairs Your university or college will host one or more career fairs over the next year. These events are usually held in large public spaces where employers set up kiosks and are ready to answer questions and to provide information about careers at their companies.
Some fairs will be directed towards all students whereas others will target students from particular areas of study, e.g. Information Technology, Management or Engineering. Most companies are looking to hire talented students in their final year of study to start work the following June.
Company representatives may take your resume or they may refer you to your career centre where resumes are collected on behalf of the employer. Interviews on campus are usually arranged through the career centre as well.
Some employers will not only take your resume, but may also hold mini-interviews on the spot. You are more likely to find employers like these at job fairs focused on immediate hiring. One thing is certain. All employers prefer that you are prepared.
Before the Career Fair
Research the company: Get the list of employers registered for the career fair and decide which ones you would like to target. Research the companies through directories, their websites and, if possible, speak to current employees. Ask for an information interview so that you can learn about current issues that face the organization. Prepare relevant questions to ask, e.g. skills and qualities they value, tasks they give to new employees, training opportunities, etc.
Research yourself: Know as much as possible about your skills, accomplishments, experience, qualities, interests and goals. From this, prepare a "speech" or personal "infomercial" that describes your personality, interests and career aspirations.
Make sure to include something unique about yourself. This will make it easy for them to remember you. Have an excellent resume prepared to give to interested company representatives.
At the Career Fair
Make sure you give yourself enough time to visit the companies that you targeted. Plan on about 15 minutes each.
Indicate to your targeted companies why you’re considering working for them. Do not be overly effusive or you will not be believable.
Find out whether you’re talking to a hiring manager (who would be from your field of study) or a human resources person (who would know the ins and outs of hiring); ask appropriate questions.
Be curious and ask relevant "value-added" questions that arose from your research.
Give your "infomercial" which is usually between 30 seconds and two minutes. It should sound like part of the conversation, rather than memorized. Create a match between your skills and their needs.
Give short, clear answers to questions; be focused.
Collect company information and business cards from people that interest you – write notes on the card to remind you of your discussion.
Do not rush the visit, but do not monopolize the employer; ask about the best way to follow up.
Make a good impression by dressing neatly, smiling, making eye contact and shaking hands – be warm and friendly.
Submit your resume when applicable – hopefully they’ll write something on it like "must interview this person"!
After the Career Fair
You will need to develop a plan of action and follow up either by phone, e-mail or letter with the companies that impressed you. Make sure you let them know where you met them. Be clear on why you are contacting them: an information interview? tips on how to get into the organization? referral to a hiring manager? new leads? When you talk, refer to things that you learned at the career fair about the organization.
Company Presentations
Many organizations send representatives to campus to speak to students about their company and their recruitment plans.
Employers like students who:
- Know what they want to do and why
- Know their skills and have examples of their accomplishments
- Can say something about themselves that differentiates them from other students
- Have some basic knowledge about their company, its products and the industry
- Ask what their company values in its new employees
- Ask what the work environment is like
Employers don't like students who:
- Ask: "Do you have any jobs for me?"
- Ask for a job without knowing anything about the company
- Monopolize their time
- Ask questions that they should already know the answers to
Subscribe to our newsletter
