BYU-Hawaii Director of Career Services Kimbrelyn Austin [pictured at left] and some of her staff presented advice, listed do's and don'ts and even role played to help students prepare to meet recruiters during the October 16 job fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Cannon Activities Center.
"Job fairs or career fairs can be really critical tools for job success," Austin said, as she encouraged the students to make the most effective use of their time at the upcoming one. "Whether you're coming there for networking purposes, looking for a job or internship, or you're just trying to get some practical experience in a job fair setting are acceptable reasons for coming. You can use it for multiple purposes."
Before attending the job fair, Austin suggested the students visit the BYUH Career Services web site to review the list of employers and graduate school representatives who will be there. "Then do a little bit of research: Go to their web sites and read about them. Find out who they are, what they do and what kinds of people they look for. Learn a little about their companies' cultures and backgrounds." Even if a company is not hiring in a student's home area, she also told them to use the interaction "on this end to find out who the contacts are for your location."
"Have a good quality résumé, and then start to think in terms of what you're going to tell them about yourself," she continued. "They want to know about you, what are your strengths, why you are at the career fair and why you're attending BYU-Hawaii. You need to think about that before you go: What will I say? How can I make a good impression?"
Austin advised the students to dress seriously — "at least what we call business casual; and if you plan to have an interview, you need to have on formal business attire. If you come in your casual clothes, then they think you're not serious."
She pointed out former job fair recruiters have consistently given feedback that they appreciate "how friendly everybody on our campus is — that's the number-one thing they say." But they have also observed that our students "don't act like they're serious about their future, and then they elaborate: They don't look professional, they don't act professionally, and they have no idea what they want to do."
"That doesn't speak very well for our student body," Austin continued. "We think we have exceptional students here, but somehow that message is not coming across when we meet with potential employers."
To reverse this trend, Austin and staff members made recommendations that included:
- Be prepared to leave a professional résumé and contact information. This includes a professional email address. "Anything that's silly or corny is probably not going to work."
- Let recruiters know you're interested and know about their companies.
- Prepare an "elevator speech," or a 30-to-60-second personal introduction. "Remember, don't use abbreviations. They have no idea that IBM means international business management."
- Identify what you're interested in, and what your strengths and career goals are.
- For college students, unless you're an older one returning to school, list educational achievements first on a résumé; then list and stress relevant work experience.
- Give a firm handshake, smile and be polite. Shake hands again at the end of the contact.
- Thank the recruiters. Get their contact information, if possible, and follow up with another thank you.
- Don't ask obvious questions.
- Have a strategy.
- Show a portfolio, if it's appropriate to your studies.
- Anticipate the questions they might ask and practice responses.
- They're screening: Have questions for them.
- Make proper dress and grooming important priorities. "They like that 'missionary look,' and a lot of recruiters are interested in us because of our values," she added.
- Get organized the night before.
"You can also use a career fair to search for an internship," Austin said.