College is about finding yourself and having a good time, but it is also preparation for your future. Most people attending college plan to work after graduation. It is a competitive world out there and having experience and resources can give you a leg up. UGA’s Career Center is the perfect place to find resources and events to help accomplish your goals! The Fall and Spring Career Fairs are where over 200 employers can have face-to-face interactions with students and potential employees. Here are eight tips for going to the career fair and getting an internship and a job offer before you graduate!
- Take Advantage of all the Career Center Provides
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UGA’s Career Center is great because they provide countless resources to prepare you for the Career Fair and your future endeavors. The Career Center consultants put on many events leading up to the fair and throughout the year to teach many professional development skills. Events cover topics such as resume and cover letter building, mentorships, job and internship searching, digital portfolio building, networking, interview preparation, and career assessments. The consultants provide examples of a good resume, pitch, and other aspects of a job search process that allows you to have a template for your own pitch and resume. Take advantage of these opportunities and be as prepared as possible to enter the job force and do your best! Another benefit of going to these events is if you go to five Arch Ready Events in one semester, you can earn UGA’s Arch Ready Certificate. You can put that on your resume!
- Put Your Best Resume Forward
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Walk-in hours and Resume Critique Days provide quick and easy opportunities to get your resume perfected. Your resume is you on a single sheet of paper. After the Career Fair, you are represented by the memories the recruiters have and the resume you left with them. Make sure that your resume showcases your talent and abilities. Depending on the job, you may go for a business resume or a creative resume or something in between. It can show your experience while also showcasing your personality. It may look right to you, but typos can be seen by a pair of different eyes and readers can suggest places where you can improve it. It’s better if a career consultant or a friend can check your resume and spot mistakes rather than a potential employee seeing a resume that could be improved.
- Dress for Success
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Have you ever wanted to wear a power suit and feel like the boss babe you are? Now is the time! The dress code for the Career Fair is business professional. Even though the fair takes place on a day you may have class, you should still dress like you are walking into an interview. These are the first interactions you are having with these potential employers. Make a good first impression. If you are in your dorm room questioning whether or not your outfit is okay… it’s probably not. Check out the Career Center Pinterest Page for outfit ideas!
- Being Nervous is Okay
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It’s okay to feel nervous! Everyone is nervous! It can feel like the fair is the deciding factor that determines the rest of our careers. First of all, this is not true. To get your nerves out, the Career Center sets up a prep station outside of the ballroom to practice your “elevator” pitch, research companies, check your outfit, or talk to a Career Center consultant. If you go into the fair and you need a mental break, the prep station is a great place to regroup and get back into the right mindset. You can review questions and review company facts so when you go back in you are ready. You got this!
- College Freshman are Welcome
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Many students think that the Career Fair is only for juniors and seniors who are close to graduation and need a job or an internship. Many companies may only look to hire juniors and seniors for positions because they look to offer them full-time jobs after graduation. This shouldn’t discourage you from going to the fair. These recruiters are usually the same recruiters that will be at the fair in the upcoming years. Networking with recruiters as a freshman can help put your name on their radar and show that you are interested in the company and will be applying when you are eligible. Another benefit is that many students are nervous when they go into the fair. It can be overwhelming. UGA’s Fall Career and Internship Fair had over 200 companies! Going as a freshman can help you understand what to expect in the future when you are actually looking for a job or internship.
- These Recruiters are People Too
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These people are in charge of finding new hires, BUT they are still regular people. Many of the recruiters are UGA alumni and may have gone to a career fair too! They understand how you are feeling and want to make you feel as comfortable as possible. These recruiters may have even started out as interns before getting the job they have now. When you understand that they aren’t as scary as they seem, it can take off some of the pressure. You can ask them if they started out as interns or, if they are wearing a pin that says UGA alumni, you can talk to them about their UGA experience and how that prepared them for their current position. This turns the meeting into a conversation that allows you to connect with the recruiter and allows the recruiter to see you in natural light.
- Be Confident
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Be confident in your abilities! This is the acceptable time to brag a little! Don’t think this is an excuse to be cocky. You want to prove that you are an ideal candidate for this position. The recruiter wants to know about you. They want to hear about your accomplishments, experience and ambitions. Develop a great pitch to employers and be prepared to sell it. You are the product and the employer is a buyer. They want to see if you would be a good fit for the company and also if the company would be a good fit for you.
- Send a Thank You Email
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Sending a thank-you email can seal the deal. Many people are offered interviews after the fair but only after a thank you email is sent. The sooner you send one the better. Many companies have interviews the day after the career fair on campus. Spots are limited and the companies only give them to certain candidates. These recruiters see hundreds of students during the fair and it can be hard to remember who is who. The follow-up email can remind them who you are and keep you in the front of their minds. A little thank you never hurts anyone. Check out the Career Center Career Guide to see a template of a great follow up email!
This upcoming Career Fair is your chance to put yourself out there and possibly get a job or internship. Having the face-to-face interaction with recruiters at career fairs is an advantage that people who apply online don’t have. Take advantage of the opportunities available because you never know what can happen if you don’t try. Check out UGA’s Career Center for information on resources, appointments, upcoming events and more!