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Consumer Sciences Career Services Center

Consumer Sciences Career Fair

Information for Students

The Consumer Sciences Career Fair will be held on Thursday, November 8, 2007, from 11am – 3:30pm in RPAC. The event is open to all Ohio State students and recent graduates.

Helpful Hints for participating in a Career Fair

You may only be at the career fair for one or two hours, but it will be the actions you take before the career fair and what you do after the career fair, that will help determine if your time spent at the fair was well spent.

Before Career Day:

  1. Clarify your goals: What do you hope to get out of the job fair? What kinds of opportunities are you looking for? -- internships, full-time jobs, part–time jobs.

  2. Prepare your resume: Remember your resume will "sell" you after the career fair.
    Ask yourself: Do I have a professional looking resume? Have I visited the career services office to get feedback and recommendations for improving my resume? Does my resume help convince an employer that I have career goals, education and experience to match those goals?

  3. Review the list of employers attending: Highlight the companies that are looking for your qualifications. Be prepared to tell employers why you are interested in their company. Be able to connect your background to their needs.

  4. Prepare a one-minute introduction: Introduce yourself, demonstrate that you know something about the organization and the work it does, express why you are interested in that organization or industry, and briefly relate you background to what you know of the employer's needs.

Your resume and your introduction should be a consistent message that reflects your motivation for attending the career fair and your interest in securing an internship or full-time opportunity.

REMEMBER TO PRACTICE YOUR INTRODUCTION. HAVE THREE OR FOUR QUESTIONS TO ASK THE RECRUITERS! HAVE ENOUGH COPIES OF YOUR RESUME TO HAND OUT TO THE RECRUITERS.

During Career Day

  1. Dress and act professionally. Business attire is appropriate and mandatory.

  2. Review the list of attending companies at the door to highlight those who interest you so you can organize your time efficiently.

  3. Show interest and enthusiasm by smiling and speaking clearly. Make direct eye contact and shake hands firmly.

  4. Have a positive greeting.
    This is the time to sell yourself.
    "Hi, I'm Susie Jones. I'm a merchandising major and will graduate in June. I'm glad to see your company on campus."
    Tell them what interests you about their company and/or industry.
    "I'm interested in talking with you about internships or full-time opportunities."

  5. Have a good conversation with the company. Answer questions clearly and concisely. Ask appropriate questions. (Don't ask about salary). Give them a copy of your resume. Ask for a business card. (You'll want to write a thank you letter and send a resume to those that especially interest you).

  6. Thank them for their time. Pick up company information so that you can continue to do research.

After Career Day

  1. Send thank you letters within a week after the career fair to the employers with whom you are interested. Thank them for attending the career fair and their time. End your letter with your interest in their company/opportunities.

  2. Keep in contact with the companies. Many companies will come to the career fair in November but not have openings until spring or later. The key is NETWORKING!!! Use the information you gathered from each company. Contact the companies by letter, email or by phone. Remember information interviews are a good way to stay in contact and gather more information about the company and their job opportunities.

  3. Work with your career services office to see if companies are interviewing after the career fair so that you can participate in any future on campus interviewing.

GOOD LUCK!!!

For more information, please contact:
Nancy Dugan, Career Counselor
262D Campbell Hall
1787 Neil Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Phone: (614)292-3088
Fax: (614)688-8133
Email: dugan.2@osu.edu

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