Don’t panic, but this week is the Notre Dame career fair, and next week is the Saint Mary’s career fair. I remember last year, I felt so nervous about the career fair. All the companies recruiting there are big, prestigious and competitive, and as a junior Saint Mary’s student seeking an internship, I felt pretty intimidated. Now that I’ve experienced a few career fairs, however, I feel much more sane about it all. Career fairs can be a huge success, as long as you’re prepared.
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Dress appropriately. I’m not saying you need a pantsuit (I don’t own one!), but a simple, neutral colored dress and plain, closed-toed heels send the message you’re serious and ready to work. A neon dress and sparkly flats? Not so much.
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Do your research. Don’t approach a company if you haven’t spent some time on their website, know what they’re recruiting for, and have a general idea what sort of candidates they look for. I always like to spend time on the about pages of a company’s website- it can tell you a lot about their corporate culture and ideal candidates.
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Bring extra resumes! This should be a no-brainer, but even if you only plan on visiting one company, bring extras. You never know what booth will catch your eye, or if your dream company has multiple recruiters collecting resumes!
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Ask for a business card. Recruits don’t just give them out. You have to ask!
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Follow up. Once you have that business card, don’t let it live at the bottom of your purse. Not following up post-fair is an easy way to wave any potential jobs goodbye.
If you need extra help preparing, stop by the CCO before during open hours- a career counselor is always available if you need it! Good luck belles, and go get ‘em!