An NIU graduate is employed with a major company today because he took the time to attend the spring job fair and hand out resumes last year.

On Tuesday, April 30, in the Duke Ellington Ballroom at the Holmes Student Center, the NIU department of Career Planning and Placement will hold their annual spring job fair.

The fair is regarded as one of the best in the Chicagoland area according to placement counselor Jennifer Brooks.

“NIU has a really good reputation with employers. The word is that NIU is the job fair to go to, because of its cost effectiveness and quality of graduates,” Brooks said.

Brooks said the job fairs are held every semester, but that the spring fair is excellent for May and August graduates.

“The fair is good for new graduates to make a lot of connections,” she said.

The job fair was started in November of 1988 in order for newly graduating students to make connections with the outside business world. Brooks said that 110 companies are registered to appear at the fair, but that very few graduates will get job offers at the fair.

The fair is more of a place for graduates and companies to become acquainted with each other, said Brooks. “Very few people will get job offers; the fair is to make connections much like an initial interview.”

The fair often leads to discussion and more in-depth interviews with well known companies according to Brooks.

“It’s like a first step in getting into a company,” Brooks said. “Be ready to talk about your qualifications and why you’re interested in the position.”

Brooks said that employers are looking for qualified people with a sincere interest in their company and an ability to communicate that interest.

“You have to be able to talk,” Brooks said.

Employers will be sitting at tables around the ballroom, and students will be given maps indicating where each employer is located, Brooks said.

It’s the student’s responsibility to approach the employer and initiate contact, she said.

“Be assertive … don’t hang back. You have to go up and talk to employers. Many students will wait for employers to come up to them. They won’t do it. They’re looking for assertive people,” Brooks said.

Some employers might leave before 3 p.m. warned Brooks, so plan to get to the fair as soon as 10 a.m. Students also should dress professionally and come with plenty of resumes to hand out to employers, she said.

“Conversations at the tables will probably be brief discussions about you, the job and the company. Some companies might schedule interviews with you for later in the day,” Brooks said.

“Bring plenty of resumes. It would probably also be wise to bring a reference sheet and a copy of your transcripts,” she said.