Spring Job Fair

One of our big spring events is next week--the job fair. As a former recruiter, I am always excited about job fairs. In my recruiting days, any event that offered prime opportunities to get “face to face” with potential employees was a good event. I made notes about the most impressive students and went back to work the next day and talked with my managers about them. Sometimes we had opportunities to hire that semester. Sometimes we didn’t. If we didn’t have an appropriate opening for a promising student, I occasionally suggested the student contact a colleague of mine at a different company.

We hired for talent. Sometimes we didn’t have a job posted but met a student who gave all indications of being so talented that we decided to create a new position.

Job fairs are all about expectations. Don’t go expecting employers to be handing out jobs. Rather, attend grateful for the chance to talk with representatives of companies. If you submit your resume online, you are an electronic record. If you shake hands at a job fair, you become a real person.

So, get your suit cleaned. Iron your shirt. Shine your shoes. Print off several copies of your resume on bond resume paper. Make up business cards to offer employers who can’t accept resumes. And, come to Koch Arena Thursday, Feb. 28 between 4:00 and 6:30pm. Be ready to shake a few hands!