The Hiatt Career Center prepares students and alumni to develop skills to transform their unique backgrounds, liberal arts education and experiential learning into meaningful professional futures and relationships.

Brandeis University

Tips for Attending a

Forum

The Hiatt Career Center prepares students and alumni to develop skills to transform their unique backgrounds, liberal arts education and experiential learning into meaningful professional futures and relationships.

Brandeis University PRESENTATION TOPICS

• WHAT IS A FORUM?• HOW IS A FORUM ORGANIZED?• HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?• HOW DO I PREPARE?

– Professional Approach– Research– Prioritize Organizations, Prepare Talking Points– Create Strong Personal Marketing Tools

• POST- FORUM• Forum DOs AND DON’Ts

The Hiatt Career Center prepares students and alumni to develop skills to transform their unique backgrounds, liberal arts education and experiential learning into meaningful professional futures and relationships.

Brandeis University WHAT IS THE FORUM?

A Forum is a special event to:• learn about specific organizations and roles and

gather information on careers in business, finance and consulting, including internships and full-time positions

• meet organization representatives who can serve as contacts to explore careers

A Forum is not:• a job fair to fill specific positions, however,

organizations may have internships and jobs available, so it is important to be learning about potential professional options

The Hiatt Career Center prepares students and alumni to develop skills to transform their unique backgrounds, liberal arts education and experiential learning into meaningful professional futures and relationships.

Brandeis University HOW IS THEFORUM ORGANIZED?

The event is divided into two parts:• Part 1: Panel or Speaker• Part 2: Four 15-minute roundtable informational

sessions: participants select one table – usually with representatives from one to two organizations per table – to visit during each session

Initially, participants will sit at any table, joining representatives from one or two organizations, then change tables during the roundtable sessions to meet with organizations of interest

The Hiatt Career Center prepares students and alumni to develop skills to transform their unique backgrounds, liberal arts education and experiential learning into meaningful professional futures and relationships.

Brandeis University HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?

Register on B.hired!

The Hiatt Career Center prepares students and alumni to develop skills to transform their unique backgrounds, liberal arts education and experiential learning into meaningful professional futures and relationships.

Brandeis University HOW DO I PREPARE?

Essential: Professional Approach

Just do it: Professional dress • Wear: a suit or coordinated jacket

and pants/skirt• Avoid: big jewelry, perfume/cologne, jeans, tee

shirts, sneakers or sandals

Be personable and engaged: the representatives are coming to Brandeis to meet you – bring a firm handshake, interest and attention, and a smile

The Hiatt Career Center prepares students and alumni to develop skills to transform their unique backgrounds, liberal arts education and experiential learning into meaningful professional futures and relationships.

Brandeis University HOW DO I PREPARE?

Essential: Research

• Research the websites of participating organizations – be open to diverse organizations

TIP: do not limit your interest by the organization’s name alone – opportunities abound in a range of fields in each organization

• Network with Brandeis alumni in LinkedIn who are in public service careers to learn about career paths, daily activities, and organization priorities

The Hiatt Career Center prepares students and alumni to develop skills to transform their unique backgrounds, liberal arts education and experiential learning into meaningful professional futures and relationships.

Brandeis University HOW DO I PREPARE?

Essential: Prioritize organizations, Prepare Talking Points

• Create a short list of organizations of interest from your research and use sessions to meet the representatives

• Review your skills and experience to identify those that are a good match with your priority organizations

• Prepare questions in advance about the organization’s work, structure, and opportunities that demonstrate your knowledge and interest, for example: “I read on the website that your organization works to address civil rights issues. I am interested in first amendment issues and would like to know more about your projects in this area.”

The Hiatt Career Center prepares students and alumni to develop skills to transform their unique backgrounds, liberal arts education and experiential learning into meaningful professional futures and relationships.

Brandeis University HOW DO I PREPARE?

Essential: Create Strong Personal Marketing Tools

• Update your resume – to ensure that it is polished and professional, bring it to the Hiatt Career Center for review

• Create a 30-second personal introduction – including that you study at Brandeis, your major, area of interest, and potential career direction; practice out loud beforehand to feel comfortable and confident

The Hiatt Career Center prepares students and alumni to develop skills to transform their unique backgrounds, liberal arts education and experiential learning into meaningful professional futures and relationships.

Brandeis University POST-FORUM

Following up:

• If you correspond with a representative after a Forum, remind the person that you met at the event, thank him or her for coming, and present your follow-up questions or request

• Use formal, professional language (Dear Mr. or Ms., Sincerely yours, etc.)

• Strive to get in touch with the person in a timely way, typically within a day or two of the event

The Hiatt Career Center prepares students and alumni to develop skills to transform their unique backgrounds, liberal arts education and experiential learning into meaningful professional futures and relationships.

Brandeis University FORUM DOs AND DON’Ts

• DO ask the representative if you may leave your resume at the end of the roundtable session (remember that the Forum is not a job fair – the resume is simply for the representative’s information)

• DO act professionally at all times

• DO bring your questions, curiosity, and enthusiasm – come ready to introduce yourself and to learn

• DO remember to thank the representative for attending the Forum

The Hiatt Career Center prepares students and alumni to develop skills to transform their unique backgrounds, liberal arts education and experiential learning into meaningful professional futures and relationships.

Brandeis University FORUMDOs AND DON’Ts

• DO NOT monopolize the representative’s time during the roundtable sessions - ask your question(s) and also listen to others; at the session’s end, you may request a business card from the representative and permission to be in touch for more information

• DO NOT remain at the same table for a second session – you must move on to a different table

• DO NOT leave one table during a session to go to another or break into a discussion already in progress

The Hiatt Career Center prepares students and alumni to develop skills to transform their unique backgrounds, liberal arts education and experiential learning into meaningful professional futures and relationships.

Brandeis University NEED MORE HELP?

Hiatt Career Center

Usdan 15http://www.brandeis.edu/hiatt

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Tu: 5-7pm