Career services counselors advice for landing great job opportunities and developing professional network contacts without leaving campus: Career Fairs

    Career Fairs are great ways of meeting employers face-to-face in a non-intimidating environment and obtain first-hand information about career opportunities (part-time, internship and full-time) within a myriad of industries from both the private and public sectors. A Career Fair as a neutral ground in which both employers and candidates have the opportunity to know more about each other and establish the basis for a future professional relationship. Keep in mind that regardless of your major, year in college, or future goals, there are many ways in which students benefit from attending LIU’s Career Fair. Taking advantage of this event you can increase your visibility and obtain important job-related information

    • Explore the career possibilities you could pursue with your major and background.
    • Meet and consult with representatives from organizations at which you are interested in working.
    • Obtain first-hand information about specific companies and organizations (information that is often unavailable through other sources, such as the Internet).
    • Learn how to approach and talk to prospective employers, which could be of great benefit when preparing for and attending future job interviews.
    • Increase your chances of interviewing with an employer.
    • Inquire from company recruiters the best ways of initiating a career within their organizations (that is, learning what it takes to get your foot on the door).
    • Expand your network of contacts.

    Reflection, preparation, and professionalism are the keys to fully enjoying the benefits that participating in LIU’s Career Fairs can bring about. Before you engage in any job search activity it is essential that you review the skills you have learned throughout your academic, extracurricular and job experiences. You also need to reflect on your short-term as well as long-term career goals and decide how you want to benefit from the Career Fair. Are you interested in obtaining an internship or a part-time job in an area related to your field of studies? Are you a senior searching for a full-time job right after college? Are you focusing on a specific industry, or do you want to explore various industries?

    Once you have a clear view of your professional assets and the course of action you want to pursue in the Career Fair, it is time for you to put your thoughts into action and prepare yourself to make the most out of this event.

    • Research the employers. Find out which organizations are planning to participate.
    • Target employers. After you complete your research, create a list of the employers you want to see at the event
    • Prepare a resume. Based on your research, customize your resume to the type of position for which you are planning to apply.
    • Prepare an introduction “personal ad”. Begin the “conversation” with a general statement about yourself. Include the degree you are pursuing, your major, when you graduate and what type of information you are hoping to obtain from them. This is a great opportunity to sell your strengths and skills and express some of the reasons why you are interested in working for the organization. Practice your introduction with various friends or with a career counselor.

    At the Career Fair present yourself in a professional manner and be ready to approach employers and make the most out of this experience.

    Dress professionally.

    Bring the following items:

      • 20 to 30 copies of your resume on high-quality paper.
      • A pen and paper for making notes for yourself.
      • A list of targeted companies along with specific questions based on your research, and
      • A portfolio/folder to hold your resumes and notes.

    Review the information provided at the registration desk and check the location of the employers you plan to contact.

    Approach employers.

    • Before approaching employers take out your resume and have it ready. Review the questions you plan to ask the employer.
    • Conduct yourself professionally at all times: establish eye contact and introduce yourself with a firm handshake.
    • Introduce yourself. Remember to convey the information from the “personal ad” you prepared beforehand.
    • Balance attentive listening with a display of your personality and achievements.
    • Ask for a business card so you may follow up with a thank-you letter
    • Pick up any additional literature on the organization to review. This will prepare you later for an interview.
    • Thank the employer for his or her time.

    Follow Up

    • Send a thank-you letter to each employer with whom you spoke. Restate your interest in their job opportunities, point out additional skills that were not mentioned at the Career Fair, enclose a resume and request an interview.

    The Office of Career Services can guide you through the reflecting and preparation stages. Two weeks prior to the event a career counselor will be available for resume critiques as well as to assist with Career Fair preparation.