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Career Fair Wednesday to bring students, potential employers together By
Maria Moncur Throngs of students, professionals, and recruiters will attempt to match talents, skills, and company needs, as USU holds its annual career fair Wednesday. As in years past, the event will be in the Sunburst/International Lounge and Ballroom of the Taggart Student Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The rooms will be packed with representatives from such companies as IBM, Hewlett Packard, Walt Disney World, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and Mervyn's. As a student, there are several things you can do to ensure success in landing interviews for permanent and internship positions while attending the fair. Lois Berggren, of IBM company, spoke to students March 4, giving pointers on scoring success at a career fair, especially during an economic downturn. Berggren said the number one reason for a student to attend a career fair is to establish networking among potential employers. She said most often, companies that come to campus career fairs bring the same people all the time, year after year. Establishing ties with these recruiters creates open-ended opportunities of future employment for all ages of students. The IBM spokesperson gave four tips for students to think about in preparing to attend a career fair. She said first, find a list of the companies that will be appearing at the fair. Next, make a list of the companies you want to see and narrow that list down to about 10 potentials. Research those 10 companies and find out their history, corporate culture, and objectives. Finally, know something about what the company representatives are hiring for and match your interests and skills accordingly. After researching companies, and finding out if you are really interested in what they offer, prepare your resume and practice approaches and closings. Berggren said on the day of the career fair, create your game plan. Find your top 10 interests and don't spread yourself thin. Spend enough time with each company to secure an interview and get your foot in the door. Have your resume in hand with key information easily accessible, including your major, GPA, area of interest, willingness to relocate, and work authorization. Be sure you know your schedule, so that you can easily schedule an interview. "Remember this is a tough year; the competition is a lot stronger than in years past," Berggren said. Berggren reminded students that this year is going to be one of the hardest in recent history to secure permanent employment or internships. Because of the economic downturn, she said students must distinguish themselves from others. She said good questions are a must and if you're really interested, tell the representatives of your interest and excitement. "You have to know what your passion is and let it show!" she said. After attending a career fair, Berggren said students must make sure to keep the network alive. She said students must follow-up and suggested e-mail as the best avenue for students to communicate with contacts they've made. "Follow through, or you'll get lost in the crowd," she told students. A list of companies attending the USU Career Fair, along with more preparation tips are posted on the USU Career Services website at www.usu.edu/career.
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