Careers Fairs offer the opportunity to connect in-person with employers offering work experience, placement and graduate opportunities.
Hear from Emma Lennox, Careers Consultant on how to properly prepare for Careers Fair
Preparing for the Careers Fair
“Preparation for career fair is key. You need to know the logistics; so what buildings are being used?, what employers are going to be there? and who are you going to target when you get there?
If it’s online, make sure you have the technology started, make sure you know your device is going to work. You have everything connected and you’ve got your battery ready to go.
If there is a virtual or an online aspect to careers fair, you have an extra element of preparation. You might have to go onto the platform in advance and make your profile and make sure it sells you in the skill sets that you want employers to know about”.
Speaking to Employers at the Careers Fair
“This is the time to go and actually speak to actual employers to find out things you can’t find from their website”
“Don’t ask them something you should already know, so it’s on their website or it’s in the fair information booklet. Make sure you’ve done your research.”
Here are possible questions to ask:
- Asking about a particular job if some of the details a bit vague.
- You could ask about the recruitment process
- Ask about specifics of the assessment centre
- You can ask about what the day in the job would really look like
- What are the main responsibilities
- What is a new recruit going to be asked for
These are the things that really get the employer talking and show that you’ve done your research and you’re engaged and interested in this organisation.
Top Tips
- “Try not to go to the careers fair with a group of 10 of your best friends. You walk around in a huge group and the employer will just see a huge group. This is your time to stand out, to be an individual”.
- “Don’t take lots of stuff with you through the careers for and make sure you keep your hands free because you need to take notes. Remember the positions; Remember the companies; and remember the jobs when you go back later and you’re working out how to keep this engagement going.
- “Look at the job tasks; look at the values and the mission statement of the company because you might go in there and find a company you never considered before”.
After the Careers Fair
“Don’t forget to follow up after careers fair”.
“If the employer has a LinkedIn account, you can ask if you can follow them. Definitely follow the company, see what’s happening and keep up to date with things. If you were speaking to someone, you have a personal rapport with them and you think, “I would really like to discuss this role further”. You can send them a personal e-mail and thank them for their time.”
Keep an eye out for QUB Careers Fairs and other events here