Career Fair Success Strategies Presented by Mike Brown Director, MBA Career Services
.not just a place to collect logo pens and post-it notes!
Career Fair Benefits Multiple employers; one location Acquire market, company data Practice interviewing skills Network with recruiters Land interviews 3
September Career Fairs Event Dates Corporate Associates Career Fair September 10 PSU Fall Career Days September 11-13 Marketing Association Career Fair September 13 NAAMBA Leadership Conference Santa Clara, CA September 14-15 Supply Chain Career Fair September 18-19 National Black MBA Career Fair Indianapolis, IN September 27-28 4
October Career Expos Event Dates NSHMBA Career Fair Orlando, FL October 5-6 MBA Veterans Career Fair Chicago, IL October 12 Midwest Career Fair Chicago, IL October 19 MBA Women International Conference Phoenix, AZ October 19-20 Reaching Out LGBT MBA Career Expo Boston, MA October 19-20 Net Impact Conference Baltimore, MD October 25-27 5
What Employers Are Seeking Desired Traits in 2011 MBA Hires Percentage Initiative 77% Professionalism 77% Motivation 76% Integrity 76% Ability to deal effectively with 75% pressure/obstacles Source: GMAC 2011 Corporate Recruiters Report 6
Career Fair Strategies Pre-fair Preparation Career Fair Performance Post Fair Follow-up National Career Expos 7
Pre-fair Prep Strategy
Targeting Strategy Determine your career fair goals Identify job fair participants Prioritize your target companies top 5 must see A tier companies 5-10 nice to see B tier employers 5-10 intellectually curious C tier firms 9
Research Companies Review job openings Flagship products or services Stock price, history, locations Recent merger/acquisition activity Key competitors Industry trends 10
Tailor Your Resume Good fits move on; bad matches don t Customize to job or internship qualifications Select best accomplishments Present to top 5 must sees 11
Prepare questions to ask Strategic Comeback What skills, experience do you look for. Strategic Planning What is the retention rate of newly hired Company Information How would you describe the corporate culture? 12
Prepare Your Branding Message Your response to Tell me about yourself Strengths, abilities, knowledge Recent experience, accomplishments Your career goals, ambitions; interest in company Practice, practice, practice 13
Dress for Success Business Professional, conservative attire Stylish but not a statement maker Be careful of colognes and perfumes Pre-plan for pressing and dry cleaning Polished dress shoes 14
What to Bring: Pad-folio with pen and paper Conservative work bag or briefcase No backpacks! Extra resumes (on resume paper) 15
Day of the Career Fair
Have a Walkabout Plan Career Fair Get a lay of the land Locate target employers Identify who has long lines Determine your interview order Walk off some initial nerves 17
Walkabout part two Employers Pick up media, job listings Eavesdrop on recruiter s personality, communication styles Qualitative vs. quantitative questions Identify their critical needs Warm up with your 2 nd tier 5-10 18
First Impressions Confidently approach the recruiter Smile Maintain eye contact Firm handshake Hi, I m, it s a pleasure to meet you. Repeat recruiter s name 19
Three no-blink responses 1. Tell me about yourself 2. Why are you interested in our company? or Why are you here today? 3. Why have you chosen this career? 20
Booth Etiquette Respect the recruiter s time Wait your turn Never interrupt a current conversation Don t speak negatively about anything Don t just drop a resume and walk away Build rapport with recruiter 21
Recruiting for Undergrads? Connect with recruiter Make it an information interview Show your interest in the company Talk shop about the industry; business Ask for the appropriate MBA recruiter 22
Closing Impressions Ask for recruiter s business card Inquire about next steps Firm handshake Maintain eye contact Thank you for meeting with me today 23
Circle-back Strategy When lines drop off When you are more relaxed To continue a conversation To ask additional questions To build rapport and be remembered 24
Post Fair Follow-up
Follow-up Strategy Drop off a hand-written note at booth Leave a personal voice mail that evening Send a thank you within 24 hours Reference what was discussed at fair Enclose another copy of your resume Be professionally persistent! 26
National Career Expos
30-60 Days Prior Register as early as possible; Apply for jobs; recruiters are screening resumes ongoing Conduct pre-conference networking Update LinkedIn to MBA candidate; scrub Facebook Arrange travel logistics 28
30 Days Prior Plan your agenda; speakers, networking events Prioritize your target companies Practice your branding message Prepare open ended questions Schedule simulated interviews 29
When You Arrive Check in when you arrive Review the expo floor map Attend professional development sessions sponsored and facilitated by recruiters Secure interviews Seek additional networking opportunities 30
Tips for Expo Success Anticipate the size; 100,000 sq. ft. Start slow with B & C tier employers Stay focused on targets and goals Ask recruiter for an interview 31
Interview Centers Arrive early; allow time to check in One company will conduct multiple interviews simultaneously 200 to 600 interviews happening at once Partitions are walls of cloth 32
Questions? Penn State Smeal MBA Program