A guide for underclassmen and upperclassmen The Career and Internship Fair can be a daunting experience for college students. With so many employers in the room and even more of your peers trying to talk to recruiters at every table, the environment can be overwhelming. As stressful as it may seem, attending the Career and Internship Fair at Marist College is extremely beneficial for students of all class years and majors. The Fall 2018 Career and Internship Fair will be held from 3-6 PM on Thursday, October 4, in the Murray Student Center. Representatives from more than 50 companies will be looking to talk to students with a wide variety of majors. We recommend that you look up information on the companies that are attending the fair and pick 5-7 recruiters to network with. Make sure to print out multiple copies of your résumé to hand out and wear professional business attire to the event. Despite some misconceptions, both underclassmen and upperclassmen have a lot to gain from attending the Career and Internship Fair at Marist College. Benefits for Underclassmen (Freshmen and Sophomores)
I remember when I was a freshman I had no intention of attending the Career and Internship Fair. I assumed I was too young to gain anything and there was not point of going since I wasn’t looking for a job or internship. Fortunately, my friend convinced me to go along with her to the event and I was extremely surprised at how much I learned. At first, the thought of approaching the company representatives scared me. I wasn’t exactly sure what to say and I didn’t know what they were going to ask me in return. Walking from booth to booth exposed me to a number of different companies that hired both within and outside of my Business Administration major. As intimidating as it was, I found that it was better to confidently approach a recruiter on my own rather than with a large group of friends. If a company’s booth was particularly busy or recruiters seemed overwhelmed, it was beneficial to come back a little later so they could be more attentive. Above all, what I learned most was the representatives wanted to help me. They offered supportive and valuable advice. From providing résumé critiques, suggesting clubs to join, and telling me important skills to acquire, I figured out the qualities employers were looking for in their potential employees. I gained insight into how I could begin my career development during my first year of college. Even though I wasn’t looking for a position with any companies, I was still able to make connections with key stakeholders and strengthen my networking skills. When I went to the next Career and Internship Fair I saw some of the same recruiters again and was able to say “I’ve talked to you before.” This familiarity helped express my interest in the company and really impressed the recruiters. Learning to hone my interpersonal communication skills as an underclassman definitely helped me stay composed during interviews for summer internships following my sophomore year. Benefits for Upperclassmen (Juniors and Seniors) The Career and Internship Fair will introduce you to a variety of organizations and give you a chance to learn more about potential internship or professional positions they may have. Beyond that, the fair is an excellent opportunity to introduce yourself to recruiters and make connections with hiring managers. Even if there are currently no open positions, recruiters may choose to contact you at a later date if they think you’re a good fit for the company’s mission and vision. The Career Fair also provides a unique opportunity to explore certain vocational fields you may not know about or possibly ones that don’t traditionally hire students with your major. Talking to professionals in certain fields can give you a better idea of what their day-to-day responsibilities entail and can help you decide if that career cluster is right for you. Approaching the company representatives helps you learn how to make a positive first impression and keep an engaging conversation going. Furthermore, you will get a chance to perfect your elevator pitch. Your elevator pitch is a 30-60 second personal introduction of your background, interests and work experiences. The goal of an elevator pitch is to summarize your skills and goals. It should explain why you would be a good fit for a position within the company and what drives you to pursue your field of study. It’s never too early to prepare for postgraduate life. Receiving free advice from professionals across career clusters is a rare and invaluable opportunity. Whether you’re a freshman, senior, or somewhere in between, the experiences you gain from attending the Career and Internship Fair will help you build a strong professional foundation that you can build on for years to come.
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