Tips from a recruiter.
So you attended yesterday’s Career Fair. You may be wondering what to with the interest you now have in some of the companies you spoke with.
First, sort through the material you collected. Did you get any business cards? Follow up and write a thank you note to the people you spoke with (look for their email address on the business card). Look at the companies on their website, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor to learn more and decide if you really want to apply and interview. (You can also follow them on social media.) Find out if any classmates or alumni work there, and if so, try to connect with them.
Once you’ve found a company and position you like, take time to carefully read through the application information and follow the directions. For example, if you are applying to a position that has locations in multiple cities, look for guidance on how you are supposed to indicate interest. At Enterprise, our application system states to only apply to one location and one position. When someone doesn’t read/follow instructions, we see it, and that becomes our first impression of the applicant. The second impression is your resume…
Did you have career center staff member, professor or mentor look it over? If not, definitely do this before you apply or interview! My advice: It should be one page. I recruit for entry-level positions: I don’t make it to the second page often. Use nice resume paper. I get a lot of resumes on white paper and nicer paper helps you stand out. Do not put your picture or date of birth on your resume. Be sure to spell check and use a professional email address. Finally, think about how an employer will contact you. Is your voicemail set up? Do you listen to the messages? Do you check your email?
Then, get ready for interviews. My advice: practice, practice, practice! Mock interview with someone at the Career Center. Know the position you are applying to and why someone would want to hire you. Know yourself and be prepared for behavioral based questions. Write down your top five skills and be ready to give two or three real-life examples for each skill. This will get your experience in your mind so you aren’t thrown off. It’s ok to have a notebook or folder with you at an interview, so feel free to have prewritten questions and take notes. Remember to have questions to demonstrate your interest and the thought you’ve put into the position and organization. Finally, ask for the person’s business card, so you can write a thank you afterward (within 24 hours is best).
~Randi L. Blender
Talent Acquisition Manager, Enterprise Holdings