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Job Fair Q&A

As the job fair approaches, The Scout sat down with Jon Neidy, executive director of the Smith Career Center. He shared a number of tips to remember during the interviewing process and answered common questions students face before speaking to possible future employers.

The Fall Job & Internship Fair will take place Thursday, Sept. 14 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Renaissance Coliseum. Over 190 employers are expected to attend, including:

Auto-Owners Insurance; Caterpillar Inc.; COUNTRY Financial; Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company; HNI | HON | Allsteel; Target Corporation; Amdocs; Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM); Deere & Company; Deublin Company; Fehr-Graham & Associates; Graycor Inc.; Hanson Professional Services, Inc.; Honda R&D Americas, Inc.; Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation; Power Construction; Shive-Hattery, Inc.; State Farm Insurance; United Insulated Structures Corp.; and Wahl Clipper.

 

How can students prepare for the job fair?

Students should update and edit their resumes, attend Resume Critique Day today and attend workshops coordinated by the Smith Career Center. They must identify, research and review the attending employers through Bradley network. It is crucial to practice elevator pitches and to dress appropriately.

 

How should students dress?

Remember that you have to get the job before you can dress like someone who already has the job.

For men:A suit (or jacket and pants) in a conservative color (gray, navy or black), dress shirtand tie, dress shoes, with dark socks.

For women:A suit (or jacket and pants/skirt) in a conservative color (navy, gray or black), a blouse (neckline no lower than collarbone) that complements the suit or jacket. The skirt hem (if wearing one) should be no more than two inches above the knee and low/medium heels or flats with neutral hose (if wearing hose).

All clothes should be clean and ironed.

 

Are there any tips you can provide to scoring a great interview?

Be yourself. Practice your introduction, do your research about the company, know why you might want to work at their company, and be prepared to talk about your skills and experiences in relation to the work of the company. Also, remember the recruiter is there to help you. Ask him or her questions about the process.

 

What is the most overlooked step in the interviewing process by potential candidates?

Practice. Practice. Practice. Arrange to do a mock interview in the Smith Career Center.

 

What are new things to look for in this year’s job fair compared to those of the past?

This will be our largest fair ever. There will be many employers to visit. Plan your time and your questions for each of those companies. Also, make time to visit the LinkedIn photo booth, and have your professional picture taken while you are dressed for an interview.

 

What are some of the impressive names of the job fair this year?

Our [top seven] sponsors for the fair this year are: Auto-Owners Insurance; Caterpillar Inc.; COUNTRY Financial; Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company; HNI | HON | Allsteel; and Target Corporation.

 

What is the best way to greet someone at the job fair during an interview?

With a firm handshake (practice this), a happy hello, knowledge of their company, good questions and a willingness to listen.

 

Should students use portfolio folders to carry resumes while at the job fair?

Portfolios or folders are great they help keep you organized and provide a place for you to collect all the brochures and information you get about a company. They also keep your resume looking good.

 

Should students print their resumes on a specific type of paper?

The content of a resume matters more than the paper it is printed on.That being said, if you are trying to stand out, sometimes resume paper makes a difference.

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