The Fall Job Fair is Wednesday. The Fall Internship Fair occurs a week later on Oct. 5. You have a few weeks to prepare. Where should you start? Here are some tips to make your experience at the job or internship fair a productive one.

First, learn who’s coming ahead of time. Visit the Career Services Web site for information on companies attending the fair, then develop a list of employers with whom you plan to speak. Research employment opportunities, company products and services. Some companies schedule pre-fair information sessions. If you are interested in those positions, you should definitely attend those info sessions.

Second, plan to engage in brief interviews with employers regarding your qualifications and their employment needs. Review your resume and prepare a 45-second summary of your educational and career background, qualifications, work experiences and career interests. Be prepared to ask relevant questions and describe how your skills match those positions of interest.

Finally, it is critical you dress and act appropriately as first impressions are critical. Dress in conservative, well pressed business attire. Approach employers with confidence and assertiveness. Make eye contact, smile and shake hands firmly. Don’t chew gum, drink or eat; don’t ask about salary and benefits unless the employer prompts the conversation. Plan to arrive as close to 10:00 a.m. as possible – some recruiters may leave well before 3:00 p.m.

You’ll need to develop a plan of action for the day of the fair.

Place an ample supply of resumes (printed on white or off-white, 24 lb. paper) in a leather folder or attaché. Take your calendar or date book in order to schedule interviews. First visit the employers in whom you have the strongest interest (your “A-List”). Then visit those whose positions look interesting. Record notes, in between each employer contact, on the recruiter’s business card or company literature.

Learn what’s going to happen next. As you leave each employer, ask about the next step in the interview process and how you can advance your candidacy. If the employer suggests you call or e-mail, do so within two days. Ask for a business card, shake their hands and thank them for their time.

Follow-up with your job leads. Mail or e-mail a thank you note to each recruiter to whom you spoke. In the note, remind the recruiter you met at the NIU Job or Internship Fair, and reiterate your qualifications and interest in the position.

Be forewarned – there will be recruiters who do not conduct interviews, collect resumes or distribute business cards. You should not be surprised, insulted or discouraged when this occurs. These companies simply take a different approach to job fairs, but remain very interested in NIU candidates. Such companies view the fair as an opportunity to educate job seekers about their company and its positions. They provide attendees the opportunity to ask questions and clarify any information that they were unable to get from the company’s Web site, literature, or pre-fair information session. These recruiters encourage participants to apply for employment via the company’s online job site. If the online system includes the opportunity to provide a cover letter, you can indicate your participation at the NIU Job or Internship Fair.

You can see the fairs are both opportunities to sell yourself and to gain valuable information about the companies and positions to which you may be applying.

What if there aren’t any companies in your area of interest?

While NIU Career Services strives to include recruiters from all occupational areas, many employers have determined fairs are simply not appropriate recruiting venues for certain types of positions. If the fair positions are not of interest to you, then you need to take other approaches to your job search. Career counselors at Career Services are eager to meet with students to discuss the many job search strategies available to them.