It’s fall at UT! That means Pumpkin Spice Lattes, beating OU, and the perfect season for burnt orange… but it also means the perfect opportunity to find a job or internship! Now before you crawl back under the covers, don’t worry: Her Campus Texas has you covered. Here’s the lowdown on career fairs and beyond!
Step 1: Get in touch with your respective college’s career services. Whether you’re a liberal arts or natural sciences student, your college has plenty of resources available to you to get started on your career search. You can make advising appointments, have someone review your resume, and of course, attend the career fair! Don’t miss out on these resources, and don’t wait until your senior year to panic and rush into their office. The earlier you begin, the more effective the career center can be in guiding you. Plus, you’re essentially paying for these services with your tuition anyways, so why not take advantage of them?
Step 2: Look at the list of employers that are coming to your college’s career fair and see what you find appealing. I personally attended the liberal arts career fair this week to get an inside look, and it was buzzing with recruiters from big-name companies like Target, Yelp and Goldman Sachs, and also many non-profits and government programs, like the Peace Corps. These organizations have positions available for students just like you, and many of them offer internships for the spring or summer. Some of the upcoming fairs include the College of Communications career fair next week on October 16th, and the Fine Arts career fair on October 30th. If you’re planning on seeking another degree after your time at UT, there is a Law Fair next week featuring law schools from across the country, and a Graduate School Fair next week as well. More information on each of these can be found here:
Communications: http://communication.utexas.edu/ccs/career-fairs
Fine Arts: http://www.utexas.edu/finearts/careers
Law: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/orgs/lacs/Students/PL-GS/LawFair.php
Graduate School: http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/prospective/gradfair-students.html
If you’re interested in any of those areas, or just think you might be interested, mark those dates on your calendar! You never know what you’ll find!
Step 3: Do your homework. Research the employers before talking to them so that you can impress them with all that you already know about their company. Prepare a short pitch or introduction ahead of time so that you don’t get tongue-tied or forget to say something important. Don’t be a deer caught in the headlights. It would also be helpful to bring a resume so you can show off your amazing skills when you first meet them. If you don’t feel like carrying around a stack of resumes, print out small business cards that have your name, major, year, and contact info. Remember all the basic things: a firm handshake, good eye contact, and professional clothes… dress like Pam from The Office!
Step 4: Once you’ve attended the career fair and met with the recruiters, follow up with them by sending a quick email to thank them for their time, and remind them of how interested you are in working with them. You don’t want to be just another resume sitting in a pile on their desk. By giving them a little nudge, you can stand out from all the other students who never bothered to follow up with the recruiters, and get noticed!
If you still don’t feel motivated to hit up the career fair, this should get you jumping out of bed: free stuff. After casually browsing the liberal arts fair, I scored 2 free t-shirts, 3 tote bags, probably about a dozen pens, a water bottle, a koozie, playing cards… and the list goes on. And what kind of college girl doesn’t love free stuff? One more thing: don’t forget all the cute selfies you can take when you’re all dressed up in your professional ensemble!
If the career fair for your area of study has already happened, don’t fret! There will most likely be another one in the spring that you can attend to score more summer internships (or, for our graduating seniors, gainful employment). Just keep our tips in mind, and you will be fabulously prepared to wow every recruiter you meet. So put on your cutest blazer, print out copies of that resume, smile… and go get ‘em, collegiettes!