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BCA Career Fair

Five Things Not to Do at a Career Fair

1. Don’t cruise the booths with a group of friends. Interact with the recruiters on your own. Make your own positive impression!

2. Don’t carry your backpack, large purse, or other paraphernalia with you. Carrying your resume in a professional-looking portfolio or small briefcase works well. It will keep your resume neat and handy, and gives you a place to file business cards of recruiters that you meet. Usually you can stow your coat, backpack, or other gear in a coatroom.

3. Don’t come dressed for rugby practice (or any other extremely casual activity). A career fair is a professional activity--perhaps your first contact with a future employer.

4. Don't “wing it” with employers. Do your homework! Research the companies just as you would for an interview. You'll be able to focus on why you want to work for the organization and what you can do for them.

5. Don’t come during the last half hour of the event. Many employers come a long distance to attend the fair and may need to leave early. If you come late, you may miss the organizations you wanted to contact!

Here are some ways for students to increase their chances of landing the job they want:

• Start your job search now—don’t wait. Not sure how to get started? Visit Career Services, 215 Bovee U.C., and get expert advice and guidance on how to conduct an effective job search.
• Research employers and job opportunities. Research will help you understand what the employer is looking for in its employees, and this will allow you to “tweak” your resume and cover letter for each employer and job opportunity. It is also important to thoroughly research the employer before going for an interview—this can set you apart from other candidates.
• Use all the resources available to you. CMU’s Office of Career Services offers a variety of services that can help you in your job search. These include advising, resume critiques, mock interviews, on-campus recruiting, job fairs, and Internet resources.
• Stay on top of what’s going on in the job market. Check with Career Services throughout the year for updates on what’s going on in the job market, which employers are visiting campus or participating in career fairs, and who is posting jobs with your campus.