Career & Internship Fairs
Virtual Career Fair for International Students:
The NACE International Student Virtual Career Fair (click on Candidate Registration in title line to register) is no open through June 1 for all international students! The fair is free to those attending SNHU who wish to return to their home country for full-time or internship opportunities OR are currently pursuing 1-yr practical training (OPT) and/or long-term opportunities in the USA.
National Career Fairs announces their fair line up:
Friday, April 24, 2009 - Hartford Career Fair - Hartford Marriott Downtown, Hartford, CT -11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Monday, May 18, 2009 - Boston Career Fair - Radisson Hotel Boston, Boston, MA - 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Other upcoming fairs in the Northeast are:
Thursday, June 11, 2009 - Diversity Job Fair - Sheraton Boston Hotel, Boston, MA - 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday, June 11, 2009 - Boston Job Expo - Boston Park Plaza, Boston MA - 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
BEFORE THE FAIR:
Know which employers will be at the fair - check out our directory. If there aren’t many employers that interest you, attend anyway! This can be a great networking opportunity. You can also use this opportunity to learn about specific industries and careers, determine skills necessary for different jobs and learn about current hiring trends. Remember, any employer may be hiring your major regardless of their industry.
Research employers that interest you – Employers want to know you are interested in them. Research their websites, read press releases (that are often attached to websites), search the newspaper or professional magazines for information about the company. Prepare a few questions to ask the recruiter that indicate your knowledge of and interest in their company. Print out positions that you are interested in or have applied for.
Polish your resume – Be sure your resume reflects your knowledge, skills and interests. If you need help with this, go to http://www.snhu.edu/561.asp and use our Job Search Manual or Optimal Resume for guidance and examples. The Career Development Center staff are also here to help, so call to schedule an appointment time.
Plan to bring multiple copies of your resume to the fair (printed on resume paper).
Prepare to ‘sell’ yourself - You only have about 30 seconds to make an impression with a recruiter, so you need to be able to quickly introduce yourself and let them know your interests and qualifications. Use a friend, family member or a representative of the Career Center to practice introducing yourself and answering questions like: “tell me about yourself”, “why are you interested in my company?”, “what kind of position are you looking for?”, “what questions do you have for me?”
AT THE FAIR:
Dress and act for success – the moment you enter the fair, recruiters will be watching you. You can't go wrong with a conservative business suit – freshly cleaned and well-groomed, nothing trendy. No flashy jewelry and no body piercings except earrings for ladies. No strong perfume or cologne. This is not the time for a personal statement, but a time to promote yourself effectively and to convey a serious, professional attitude.
Be confident and proactive – take the initiative to introduce yourself and tell the recruiter why you are interested in their company – remember to smile! If time allows, consider approaching the employers you are less interested in first. This gives you the opportunity to use your prepared introduction with a real recruiter and work out any last minute nervousness before you talk with the employers you are most interested in.
Be attentive and ask questions – Once you’ve introduced yourself and told the employer your interests, listen to what they have to say. Then, tell them what skills and qualifications you have that will help meet their needs. Now is the time to ask the questions you prepared prior to the fair. Not only will you get answers, it will also show the recruiter that you have done your research.
Gather business cards – in between employer stops, make notes on each business card to remind you of who the person is, what you talked about, something of interest to use in your thank you note. Before you end the conversation, ask what will happen next or how you should follow up with the employer.
AFTER THE FAIR:
Follow-up – be sure to send any further information the recruiter requested right away. Use the business cards you collected and your notes to write a hand-written, personal note to the recruiter thanking them for their time. Reiterate your strengths and let them know you will follow up with a phone call (unless they have asked you not to).
Evaluate the day - decide what things worked well for you and what areas you need to strengthen.