By: Charlize Trostinsky
College career fairs provide opportunities for students of all ages, backgrounds, and majors to explore their interests and possibilities post-grad. With a plethora of potential employers at your fingertips, you have the opportunity to practice networking skills and learn about internship and job opportunities. Cornell Career Days are scheduled for Tuesday September 24th and Wednesday September 25th and will take place in Barton Hall from 11am-4pm. Everything from big firms including the Federal Bureau of Investigation to small nonprofits and volunteering opportunities for the Peace Corps will be available for Cornell students to explore. For many, this may be an extremely overwhelming endeavor between preparation and thinking about their future careers. Luckily for you, here is a step-by-step guide of exactly how to prepare.
Step 1: Register on Handshake
Handshake is a fantastic tool for Cornell students to search for jobs, internships, and campus events that can aid in furthering their career exploration. Due to the immense amount of student turnout in recent years, Cornell Career Days now has registration through Handshake for attendance. It is optional but highly recommended to receive updates on employers that are attending and a map of the set-up of Barton Hall to plan where each company that you are interested in is located. You are able to sign in with your NetID and register at this link:
https://app.joinhandshake.com/stu/career_fairs/48603?ref=events-search
Step 2: Research the companies and corporations attending
Whether you are interested in healthcare, design, consulting, investment banking, or something else, there will be an employer you may be interested in networking with. It is important to become familiar with your target companies and organizations before speaking with employers to display interest and stand out from the crowd of students interested in similar opportunities. In addition, Cornell University’s large alumni network that works across a broad spectrum of career fields can provide a second point of reference after the career fair. I recommend going on LinkedIn or CUeLinks after the career fair to find Cornell alumni who are employed at companies you are interested in and reaching out to ask about their experiences and receive more personal insight into their field. Afterall, Cornell is known for its catchphrase, “Any person, any study,” and alumni are often happy and eager to help fellow Cornellians.
Step 3: Prepare your resume
A vital part of the job and internship search is a proper resume that emphasizes previous work experience and expertise. I recommend making different variations of your resume to tailor to specific companies/organizations and what experiences you think are most relevant to where you plan on applying. Come down to the CEC located in 1203 MVR for a walk-in resume review from 10-4pm on Monday-Thursday and 10-2pm on Fridays and one of our career assistants can aid you in making sure your resume is pristine before the career fair!
Step 4: Prepare a small elevator pitch and questions
For many students, the most intimidating part of in person career fairs is what to say to employers. It is important to practice a small 30 second elevator pitch. The normal format should include your name, your graduation year or current student year, your major, and a small explanation of why you are interested in this specific company. Some students also like to prepare a question for the employer to encourage a productive conversation as most companies only bring a handful of employees who have to speak to a plethora of students.
Step 5: Bring essentials
Students are often nervous about what materials to bring to the career fair. I recommend starting with the essentials: a notepad and pen. This will help you note any internships or jobs you may be interested in and the ability to jot down anything interesting or insight that you hear from employers. A folder to hold any printed materials that you may receive is extremely helpful to stay organized and not get overwhelmed. Many employers provide resources with information about the company as well as QR codes to confirm attendance and show interest. The last, but most arguably most important item you should bring to the career fair is 10-15 copies of your resume. Many employers accept resumes from students interested in internships and jobs and may reach out to you with additional information, resources, and possibilities if you directly hand them contact information and your prior experiences.
Step 6: Dress professionally
First impressions matter! Dress codes may depend on the industry you are looking to pursue but the general consensus is that you should stick to business attire. Business formal would include a suit, tie, and dress shoes for men, and tailored suits or appropriate dress for women; however, business casual attire is slightly more laid back and preferable for the career fair. This would include dress pants and a button down shirt or something slightly more comfortable than a full suit. Students may also wear heels as long as they feel comfortable to walk in them, as Barton Hall is quite a large space. Avoid T-shirts, jeans, sweatpants and sneakers and make sure you choose something you will feel confident in. If you are still unsure of what to wear remember that it is always better to be overdressed than underdressed. If you don’t have any professional attire, that’s okay! Cornell provides a fantastic service for students looking for appropriate clothing for events for rent linked below:
Step 7: Network
Networking is a vital skill for young adults joining the workforce as they begin their careers. The social aspect seeking post-grad employment is extremely important to making sure you are able to not only find a right fit for you, but also that you are a good fit for the company. Employers seek candidates who seem genuinely interested and enthusiastic about working for their specific company. By displaying this good energy displays to the employer that this would be a mutually beneficial relationship that would result in success. It is also important to remain polite and professional. There will be hundreds of students attending this event and recruiters often have lines; however, students who properly set up for networking will be remembered.
Step 8: Follow-up
First and foremost, I would make a google calendar or to-do list to keep track of due dates of the opportunities that may interest you. Staying on top of it is extremely important to ensure you are aware of the deadlines for applications and be a candidate for positions that are filled on a rolling basis. In addition, elevator pitches and one-on-one discussions have to be kept short and sweet in order to make sure all students get an opportunity to learn more about each company. Many employers may provide a personal point of contact such as a personal email to reach out if requested and hear more about their experiences. They may even become an important part of your network when applying for jobs. Sending a simple thank you note and mentioning a point from your conversation can be extremely beneficial. It is important to follow up with them after the career fair to foster this connection that may help in the future.
Step 9: Decompress and give yourself a pat on the back
While the career fair may seem daunting at first, just remember that everyone is in a similar position as you. Use this as an opportunity to hone your networking skills and get to know yourself better and what you may be interested in the future. You never know if you will find your future career or possible internship so stay positive and do your best! Best of luck!