We know that approaching an employer at the Career and Internship Fair can be very nerve-racking. After all, you want to make a good impression and potentially be hired with this company as an intern or after graduation. Practice before the fair can help to remove any anxious feelings you might have leading up to the fair.
Before the Fair...
Look at the companies attending the fair.
Which employers are of most interest to you? On Handshake, you can view general information about the company, which students they are interested in hiring, and what positions they have posted. Be sure to check out the company's website, too. We recommend that you make a short list of companies whose booths you may want to stop by. Make sure you bring enough copies of your résumé for those employers plus a few extra.
Review your résumé before the fair.
ACDC recently unveiled our new online résumé review tool available for any current University of Nebraska at Omaha student or graduate. If you are unable to come in for an appointment or during our walk-in hours, simply submit your résumé online and receive professional feedback within 3-5 business days. Be sure to print multiple copies of your résumé before the fair!
What will you wear?
Planning what you will wear a few days ahead of time can help set your mind at ease when making a first good impression to future employers. We recommend that you wear business professional to this fair. That might look like a pantsuit and button-down shirt or slacks and a dressy top. Try to wear more neutral colors like navy blue, dark gray, or black.
During the Fair...
Introduce yourself.
Be confident when speaking with employers. They are just as interested to know more about you as you are about them. When you check-in, find the booths for the employers with whom you are most interested in speaking. Hand them your résumé and tell them a little bit about yourself and why you are interested in that company. Be sure to ask any questions you might have! Recruiters can be a great resource, as they are usually familiar with many different parts of the company.
Get their contact info.
Be sure to get the recruiters' contact information, like their email address or LinkedIn profile. Following-up with a recruiter can make you more memorable, thus giving yourself a better chance of being hired for that future job.
After the Fair...
Follow-up with the professionals you met.
Since you have all their contact information, be sure to follow-up. You can ask any additional question you might have or let them know that you applied for an opportunity they recommended. If you have a LinkedIn profile, add them to your network!