By Laura Carlson ’12
After the Career Expo, we were delighted to hear some feedback from a Bucknell Alumni that presented at the fair. This anonymous individual pointed out some of the positive things they saw from students and noted some unprofessional tendencies students should avoid. We’ve outlined a couple of their suggestions below and incorporated some useful places to go to tidy up and prepare yourself for the next time you talk face to face with a potential employer. Next on-campus fair is January 31st!
Resumes
– If you’re going to a career fair, make sure you show up with one! In fact, make sure you have several clean, crisp, & updated copies of your resume to give to employers.
– Our anonymous alum mentioned many resumes at the Career Fair were missing critical components including:
– Expected graduation dates
– GPA
– Contact information
– AVOID MISSPELLINGS! Take advantage of all the CDC has to offer and stop in for a quick resume review by a peer or staff member. The CDC also hosts resume critiques before major career events like Expo – (plus many even offer a nice snack for your hard work).
Remember, your resume is your opportunity to prove to an employer why you should be chosen over the others in the stack – make it count! Check out more on resumes from formatting to what you should include on the CDC’s website, or stop by and make an appointment to get your resume critiqued today!
Follow Professional Dress Code:
– A note for the boys: If you’re going to wear a tie, it’s called a neck tie for a reason. Tighten it all the way to look professional and avoid coming off as sloppy.
– First impressions say a lot to employers, thus it is important to wear the right clothing.
Come prepared. Check out the CDC’s useful links on how to prepare for an interview, with helpful hints about dress code, posture, and more.
Things to Avoid:
– Don’t get too personal. Employers don’t want to hear about your recent breakup or what you had for breakfast. It’s great to tell employers about yourself, but make sure you’re telling them things they want to hear.
A note from our anonymous alum: “Don’t tell me about problems with the Registrar getting things right. Avoid any negative explanations/thoughts. I may get the wrong impression about you. Convey how you are a team player and take ownership of problems and resolution if you need to.”
Leave a (good) lasting impression:
– If you get contact information, use it! Send an e-mail or even a hand written note letting them know how much you appreciated talking to them – some employers receive hundreds of resumes and it is the little actions you do on the side that make you stand out!
– If you’re taking the time to write, you might want to remind employers about your goals, such as the type of position you were looking at or desired location. Add in a memorable point they made and try to make it sincere and personal.
A helpful hint from our anonymous alum: “Try to say something memorable to someone at a career fair. I remember the students that tried to make a connection with me the most. I met a lot of people and it’s hard to keep them straight. However, a few stuck out to me because of what they said and I value that.”
Check out more hints on Professional Etiquette on the CDCs site.
Do your Homework:
– Stay involved and commit to making your resume appealing to employers. Keep a lookout and take advantage of CDC posted opportunities such as the Capitol Hill Internship Fund, The NYC Finance Summit, and Grad School Info Sessions.
– It is important to look up companies you’re interested in talking to beforehand to get a sense of what you do and why you think you’d be a good fit. This helps to start a conversation, and shows the employers that you’re truly interested in working there.
The CDC has an assortment of Career and Industry links to help you research about a company. Also, if you found an opportunity through The BRIDGE, take advantage of employer profiles to brush up on some information about the company.
[…] Almuni Advice for Career Fairs by Laura Carlson ’12 […]