How to Network with Employers at the Career Fair to Get Noticed and Hired
By Lauren Moy, Associate Director- Graduate Business Career Services
Zarb MBA/MS Students have a great opportunity to network with employers at the upcoming Hofstra Spring Career Fair on March 28. Many students have made connections at career fairs and have resulted in interviews. How can you prepare to maximize your chances so that you will get noticed and hired?
1. Research Registered Employers
Follow this Link to see a list of the 150+ companies who will be attending the upcoming Career Fair. Make a list of the companies that interest you and research them. Read the company’s website and LinkedIn page, and be able to articulate to an employer a few facts about them and why you are interested in working for them. Also check Handshake and/or the company’s website career page to see what positions you may be a good fit for. Impress employers with questions that show you’ve done your homework.
2. Have Your Resume Critiqued by a Zarb Career Coach
GBCS can help you to revise your resume so that you can put your best foot forward and target your resume for the position you are seeking. Make sure there are no typos or grammatical errors. Make an appointment online via Handshake, select “Career Center” and then “Appointments” or call 516-463-6259.
3. Take Multiple Copies of Your Resume
Bring 20+ resumes to the fair — at least two for each company for which you have an interest. If you have multiple interests or job objectives, make sure you bring enough of each version of your resume.
4. Prepare and practice your Elevator Pitch
Many employers will say “Tell me about yourself”. Be ready with a one-minute elevator pitch about your skills and experience that is relevant to the employer. Watch this brief video to help you prepare your pitch.
5. Wear Appropriate Attire
Dress for success. Professional business attire is essential. It is recommended for men to wear suit, shirt and tie and women to wear a suit with a blouse, pants or a skirt. It is always better to be overdressed than under-dressed.
6. Develop Your Career Fair StrategyDecide who the top 10 companies are that you would like to meet. Get to the career fair early for check-in and be ready as the doors open. Some experts suggest meeting with one of your middle choices first (to get practice and build your confidence), meeting with your top choices next and then completing with your middle and last choices. If there’s time, return to your top choices at the end to thank them again for their time. But remember to stay flexible as your top choices may be popular, creating long lines so you may want to visit them early on.
7. Prepare for InterviewsRemember to make eye contact, offer a firm handshake, and show enthusiasm. Come prepared with answers to interview questions as you may be asked. The most common question is “what are you here for today?” It’s an easy question to answer, if you’ve done your homework and can tailor your answer to your interests and the company’s interests.
8. What if you want to talk with an employer you didn’t prepare for?
There's a chance that a company is hiring for someone like you, but you didn't prepare to meet them ahead of time. Approach their booth and listen in on several of the interviews ahead of you so you can better prepare; also try to get some company literature from the booth (or look them up on your phone) before getting in line so you can read about the company while waiting. Make the best use of your time standing in line.
9. What if the person attending the fair is from your ideal company, but not in your field of interest?
For example, your ideal company is hiring for tax and you want to work in auditing. Still speak with the company at the fair, being sure to leave the interaction with the contact information of the person responsible for hiring in the area of interest. Remain interested and don’t be discouraged and walk away. Say, thanks for your time. I am also interested in auditing. Is there someone I can talk to about that?” You never know, that person may refer you to his/her colleague.
10. Follow-up with a Thank you letter or Email
While at the fair, at the end of your conversation, ask for a business card. Some may give you a business card while others may not. If you cannot get a business card, be sure to get the employer’s name and email address. It is surprising how few students follow-up after the career fair, so when you do it, you will get an edge over others who don’t. Here is a sample thank you email to the career fair. Don’t copy this word for word, but personalize it so you will stand out from other applicants and get hired.
Lastly, remember that GBCS would also like to help you with practice interviews, so let us know if you have an interview coming up. Please email gbcs@hofstra.edu if you do land an internship or a job. We want to hear all about it!
Zarb MBA/MS Students have a great opportunity to network with employers at the upcoming Hofstra Spring Career Fair on March 28. Many students have made connections at career fairs and have resulted in interviews. How can you prepare to maximize your chances so that you will get noticed and hired?
1. Research Registered Employers
Follow this Link to see a list of the 150+ companies who will be attending the upcoming Career Fair. Make a list of the companies that interest you and research them. Read the company’s website and LinkedIn page, and be able to articulate to an employer a few facts about them and why you are interested in working for them. Also check Handshake and/or the company’s website career page to see what positions you may be a good fit for. Impress employers with questions that show you’ve done your homework.
2. Have Your Resume Critiqued by a Zarb Career Coach
GBCS can help you to revise your resume so that you can put your best foot forward and target your resume for the position you are seeking. Make sure there are no typos or grammatical errors. Make an appointment online via Handshake, select “Career Center” and then “Appointments” or call 516-463-6259.
3. Take Multiple Copies of Your Resume
Bring 20+ resumes to the fair — at least two for each company for which you have an interest. If you have multiple interests or job objectives, make sure you bring enough of each version of your resume.
4. Prepare and practice your Elevator Pitch
Many employers will say “Tell me about yourself”. Be ready with a one-minute elevator pitch about your skills and experience that is relevant to the employer. Watch this brief video to help you prepare your pitch.
5. Wear Appropriate Attire
Dress for success. Professional business attire is essential. It is recommended for men to wear suit, shirt and tie and women to wear a suit with a blouse, pants or a skirt. It is always better to be overdressed than under-dressed.
6. Develop Your Career Fair StrategyDecide who the top 10 companies are that you would like to meet. Get to the career fair early for check-in and be ready as the doors open. Some experts suggest meeting with one of your middle choices first (to get practice and build your confidence), meeting with your top choices next and then completing with your middle and last choices. If there’s time, return to your top choices at the end to thank them again for their time. But remember to stay flexible as your top choices may be popular, creating long lines so you may want to visit them early on.
7. Prepare for InterviewsRemember to make eye contact, offer a firm handshake, and show enthusiasm. Come prepared with answers to interview questions as you may be asked. The most common question is “what are you here for today?” It’s an easy question to answer, if you’ve done your homework and can tailor your answer to your interests and the company’s interests.
8. What if you want to talk with an employer you didn’t prepare for?
There's a chance that a company is hiring for someone like you, but you didn't prepare to meet them ahead of time. Approach their booth and listen in on several of the interviews ahead of you so you can better prepare; also try to get some company literature from the booth (or look them up on your phone) before getting in line so you can read about the company while waiting. Make the best use of your time standing in line.
9. What if the person attending the fair is from your ideal company, but not in your field of interest?
For example, your ideal company is hiring for tax and you want to work in auditing. Still speak with the company at the fair, being sure to leave the interaction with the contact information of the person responsible for hiring in the area of interest. Remain interested and don’t be discouraged and walk away. Say, thanks for your time. I am also interested in auditing. Is there someone I can talk to about that?” You never know, that person may refer you to his/her colleague.
10. Follow-up with a Thank you letter or Email
While at the fair, at the end of your conversation, ask for a business card. Some may give you a business card while others may not. If you cannot get a business card, be sure to get the employer’s name and email address. It is surprising how few students follow-up after the career fair, so when you do it, you will get an edge over others who don’t. Here is a sample thank you email to the career fair. Don’t copy this word for word, but personalize it so you will stand out from other applicants and get hired.
Lastly, remember that GBCS would also like to help you with practice interviews, so let us know if you have an interview coming up. Please email gbcs@hofstra.edu if you do land an internship or a job. We want to hear all about it!
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