MAXIMIZING YOUR TIME AT THE CAREER FAIR

November 18, 2013Facilitator: Tammy J. Samuels

Assistant Director of Graduate Student Services

13th Annual North Carolina Master’s & PhD Career Fair 2013

• Date: Thursday, November 21• Time: 12 pm to 4 pm• Location: The Friday Center at UNC-

Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NCEmployer Information Sessions held 12:30-4

Website: https://sites.google.com/site/ncmastersphdfair/

• What We Will Cover Today:– Dress, Resumes, Research, Introductions,

Follow-Up, Career Fair Don’ts

Why Should I Go?• Employment opportunities specifically

for Master’s & PhD students and postdocs• Networking Opportunity– Make a good in-person impression!

• Learn about organizations and industries– Learn more about employers than you can

learn from the website

How to Prepare

• DRESS to impress • Make your RESUME/CV top notch• Do your RESEARCH• Practice your INTRODUCTION• Develop a Follow-up

Business Formal**

Business Formal Men• Black or Navy Suit• Dress shirt• Leather loafers• Matching belt. Socks to match pant color.

Business Formal Women• Black, navy or tan suit or sheath dress with jacket• Conservative blouse or top• Knee-length skirt or suit pants• Closed-toe heel (pump or sling back) or dress flat of a quality

leather.** Dress for the job

Career Fair Attire

Source:Tarelton State University Career Services

Resume/CV Tips

• Multiple copies AND variety to fit specific companies/positions– CIA, Oak Ridge National Laboratories, Rho Inc., RTI,

Kelly Scientific, and Teach for America to name a few

• Update your Resume/CV and have it reviewed prior to the Fair

Resume Review

Graduate Students– Drop-ins every Tues. & Wed. 2-4pm

(while class is in session); Smith Warehouse, Bay 5, 2nd Fl.

– Resume Reviews at the Bryan Center• Wed. Nov. 20th 2-4pm (in lieu of Smith Warehouse drop-ins)

Postdocs - Schedule an appointment with Molly Starback

Research Employers

• List of Employers–Duke Cheat Sheet– LinkedIn • NC Master’s & PhD Career Fair

• Plan your Day– Info Sessions– Prioritize Employers– Layout

Your Plan-5 Steps

• Step 1: Identify employers, timing, and start visiting organizations

• Step 2: Introduce yourself with confidence• Step 3: Ask informed questions• Step 4: Thank the recruiter, ask for business card• Step5: Make notes when you leave the booth

Step 1

• Survey the landscape• Prioritize employers & visit

organizations you researched and/or are interested in

Step 2

• Introduce yourself with confidence–Nonverbal: Handshake, Smile, etc. • Bring a padfolio

– Verbal: “30 second commercial”

30 Second CommercialAlso known as an “elevator speech,” the commercial is your first

chance to introduce yourself to someone and give them a short synopsis of your skills and experience with the goal of getting them

to ask you for more information.   

What are the Main Elements of the Networking Commercial?By answering these questions, you can begin to craft your personal commercial:• Who am I? What value do I bring? Identify yourself in terms of a

job function or value you can contribute.• What benefits might you bring to an organization, based upon

your strengths and qualities and proven accomplishments?• End your commercial with a question that will stimulate further

action and/or referral.Source: Adapted from UMBC Career Center (http://www.careers.umbc.edu/skills/network/30sec.php)

Step 3Ask Informed Questions

– Informed Strategic Questions:“I noticed you have a health assessment group and a health policy group, what are the key differences between the two?

“What kinds of skills or experience do you look for in who you hire?”

– Strategic Planning Questions:“What have other postdocs from Novartis gone on to do?”

– Key Company Information Questions:“What is the organizational culture like at Gallup? How is it different from other management consulting companies?”

Step 4 & 5

•Thank the representative for their time and express appreciation.

•Get their Business Card

•Make notes when you leave the booth

Career Fair Don’ts

Don’t be TOO aggressive! Don’t be CLINGY!

Don’t travel in PACKS!

After the Fair•What do you do?– Evaluate your experience and plan for the next step

• What was positive/negative? How was your “commercial” received? What might you change?

– Follow up with a sincere thank you letterDo’s & Don’ts: • Do: Be Prompt, Specific, and Succinct• Do: Follow this structure:

– Paragraph 1: Express gratitude– Paragraph 2: Reiterate why you’re a perfect “fit”

• Don’t get discouraged if a company never respondsEvaluate your experience and plan for the next step

Career Resources

– Visit the Career Center Resource Room for Resume/CV Review during Drop-Ins or Research Employers

– Make an appointment with a Career Counselor, Call: (919) 660-1050 M-F, 9-5

– Postdocs – email Molly.Starback@duke.edu to schedule an appointment

Questions• Q/A• Please complete the workshop evaluation

Thank you for coming!

Duke Career CenterWebsite: http://studentaffairs.duke.edu/

career Phone: (919) 660-1061