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There are a number of campus offices that stand ready to assist you in putting your best foot forward. Click on the links below to find out where you can go for resume-writing assistance or to get tips to help you polish your interviewing skills.
ODI Job Fair Preparation Workshops-
TBD
Online Preparation
Career Connection
Also remember to visit your college/department Career Services Office for preparation assistanceand watch for Company and Fair updates in The Lantern January 7 – January 30
Some Useful Research Sites:
Students are encouraged to interact only with registered organizations. Please guard your personal information closely. No employer should request your Credit Card number or Bank Account information. If such a request is made, please inform the Fair Organizers.
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How to Prepare
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- Clarify your goals. What do you hope to get out of the job fair?
- Review the list of exhibitors regularly and highlight the ones of interest. The list of registered exhibitors will be updated on a weekly basis.
- Be prepared to tell exhibitors why you are interested in their organization. Be able to connect your background to their needs.
- Conduct extensive research.
- Prepare a one- minute "commercial" that introduces you, demonstrates that you know something about the organization and the work it does, expresses why you are interested in that organization or industry, and briefly relates your background to what you know of the employer’s needs.
- Practice your "commercial". Think about three or four questions you might ask the company representative.
- Make sure you have at least 30 copies of your resume printed on resume quality paper. These resumes should be updated to include your recent accomplishments and professional work experience.
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During the Event
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- Take 5 minutes at the door to review the list of attending exhibitors and note their locations. To manage time efficiently, prepare a 'game plan' comprising of a 'loose' order in which you intend to visit exhibitors. Remember things do not always go as planned, so be flexible. If there is a long line at one exhibitor, move to the next one on your list. Make a note to re-visit those that you missed.
- Dress and act professionally. As always, good grooming and hygiene is essential. The top twelve inches of your body are the most noticeable, not only for neatness and style, but also for anything distracting like jewelry, heavy makeup, or messy hairstyles.
- Show interest and enthusiasm by smiling and speaking clearly. Walk confidently, with good posture. Make direct eye contact and shake hands firmly. Have a positive greeting: "Hello, I’m Chris Smith. I’m concentrating in corporate finance and will graduate ---. It’s good to see your company on campus. I’m interested in talking with you about ..." Tell them what interests you about their company and/or industry.
- Answer questions clearly and concisely. Good communication skills are very important.
- Ask appropriate questions. (For example, don’t ask about salary, and don’t ask what the company does if the answer is in the published information.)
- Ask if they’re taking resumes. Ask for a business card (you’ll want to write a letter and send a resume to those that especially interest you). Thank them for their time. Pick up company information too, not just give-aways.
- If the company is not recruiting for your area of interest, ask how and who you might be able to speak with about such an opportunity.
- Be sure to leave a copy of your resume at the Career and Job Fair registration table to be included in the Compilation Resume CD for companies.
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What To Do After the Career & Job Fair
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Before you leave the fair
- Double check - Did you talk to representatives from every organization you had targeted?
- Did you get business cards and company literature from each representative?
- Now is the time (while it’s still fresh in your mind) to jot down some notes about follow-up time lines, position titles, etc. for each company.
Within a week after the fair
- Review all the information you’ve collected and prioritize companies according to your level of interest.
- Starting with the "most promising" list, send "thank you for coming to the fair and taking time to talk to me" letters.
- We want your feedback. Please don't forget to complete the Career Fair evaluation (you will receive an email with more information).
After that
- Keep in contact with companies. Use the information you gathered from each company about their recruiting time frame to plan your follow-up
- You can contact the companies initially by letter or by phone within the appropriate time frame set by each company representative.
We need your help in tracking how many students are hired through the Fair. If an organization makes you an offer based on contact established at the Fair, send us an e-mail at CAJFSA@osu.edu or call (614)-292-4608.
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