The Career Fair on March 1 & 2 will welcome different employers each day, and there is a variety of employers on both days. You may want to come both days!
Get these things ready
- Resume
- Professional Outfit
- Elevator Speech
- A Plan
Resume
- Your resume should be current. If you’re employed now, put it on there.
- You don’t have to use fancy paper, though that can make a nice impression.
- Bring enough copies to give to every employer you plan to speak with. Every employer will not want a resume, but you want to have one ready just in case.
Professional Outfit
- Dressing professionally is an easy way to make a good first impression.
- A professional outfit is one that is clean, ironed, fits you well, and is appropriate for the industry you’re interested in.
- If you’re deciding between two options, choose the one that is more formal/more professional. It’s better to be a little over-dressed than under-dressed.
Elevator Speech
- Prepare and practice what you’ll say to employers to introduce yourself and to get the conversation going. This is another easy way to make a good first impression.
- Once you introduce yourself, you can ask a question to learn more about the employer.
Plan Your Approach
- Planning ahead and identifying the employers you want to meet helps you stay focused during the fair and makes the event seem more manageable. By prioritizing, you can ensure that you meet the employers who are most important to you.
- Pick up a Career Fair booklet at the Hub or Career Center, or review the employers online: https://go.uvm.edu/careerfair
- Learn a few basic things about the employers so that you can start the conversation on a deeper level.
- If you’re really nervous, pick an organization that you’re NOT interested in to be the first one you talk with. Consider that a practice, then move on to an organization that means more to you.
–Jill Hoppenjans, Assistant Director for External Relations, Career Center