Whether you are in search of a summer internship or a full time job, career fairs are a great way to learn more about a company and get your name out there! These fairs allow you to interact with employers who are currently recruiting, and there are steps you can take to help you make a better first impression. Don’t miss out on this semester’s All Majors Career and Internship Fair on Thursday, March 25.
Here are some tips for making the most of this semester’s virtual career activities.
Update your Handshake profile. Since you will be attending the career fair on Handshake, your profile will be your first impression to employers. Incomplete or out of date profiles will not impress recruiters at your dream company.
- Make sure your basics are up to date such as graduation date, GPA, school year, major and minor.
- Add courses, skills and any previous work experience.
- Handshake gives you the option to select job types, locations and roles that interest you. This is allow recruiters to get a sense of what you are passionate about and whether or not an internship or job opportunity would be right for you.
Learn more about setting up your Handshake profile on the Career Services website.
Research the employers you’re meeting. Be sure to check out their company website and any social media profiles that they have, especially LinkedIn. This will help you think of questions during your sessions and one-on-one conversations. It also may be helpful to research the employer you are speaking with in order to know what to expect!
Prepare talking points. In other words, prepare for any questions the employer may ask you. For example, “tell me about yourself” or “tell me about the last internship you had” or even “why are you interested in this company.” Don’t be afraid to practice with a friend or family member, it’s better to be over prepared than under prepared!
Visit Career Services! Schedule a personalized meeting with Career Services to go over networking, internship preparation, resume and cover letter review, and interview practice. Schedule your appointment!
Career Services also offers career coaching for all students. Whether you are a senior getting ready to apply to full-time jobs or a sophomore or junior starting to think about life after graduation, Syracuse is here to help! Some topics include: finding internship opportunities, practice interviewing, uncovering passions and skills through self-discovery tools.
Be sure to follow Career Services on Instagram to stay up to date with any upcoming events!
Find a quiet spot. If you live with a roommate make sure they are aware of when you will be speaking with employers. In addition, make sure you are in a space that will have minimal distractions for both you and the person you are speaking with. That being said, try sitting in front of a plain wall or a space with minimal décor or posters. Lastly, don’t sit on your bed or a couch! If you do not have a desk, schedule a reservation for a private room in Bird Library!
I hope you found these tips and tricks helpful. Good luck at the career fair!
Written by Haley Mykytka ’22, College of Visual and Performing Arts