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Preparing for the Fair
- Obtain a list of employers/schools attending the fair
- Review standard questions asked in an interview (your career services
office should have a list)
- Participate in a mock interview or view video tapes on interviewing
- Gather essential items to take to the fair:
- A letter sized portfolio with a notepad and pen
- More than enough copies of your resume
- Your research notes on participants at the fair
- Money for food and telephone calls
- A compact, professional portfolio of your work samples
Hint: Keep yourself and your materials neat and streamlined; do not
overload yourself with too much to carry.
Arriving at the Fair
- Check in at the registration table to locate name tags, listings,
vacancy announcements, and other posted information
- Orient yourself to the facility by locating interview areas, restrooms,
refreshments, and telephones
- Sit in a quiet area to review the information which you have received,
and organize a list of companies/schools, in your order of priority,
which you plan to visit
- Develop an interview plan which includes taking a break to assure
that you will look and feel your best throughout the day
- Select the first company/school on your list and approach the interviewer:
organize your materials, have your resume readily available, and review
the information about the company/school you are approaching
Hint: If the interview line seems too long, it may be more efficient
to select another company/school.
Approaching the Interviewer
- As you approach the interview table, respect other peoples privacy
as they complete their interviews.
- Conduct yourself professionally at all times, remembering that you
are on stage even as you stand in line or move about the interview area
- As you approach the interview table, establish eye contact, present
a firm handshake, introduce yourself and explain why you have chosen
this company/school
- When the interviewer invites you to sit down, put your materials in
your lap or beside your chair on the floor, not on the interview table
Hint: Avoid being one of the candidates who offers a limp handshake
and waits to be grilled; be confident and take an active part requesting
an interview
Interviewing for a Position
- Have a three point agenda:
- know what you are looking for
- what you have to offer
- what question you will ask about the company/school
- Listen carefully and take conversational cues from the interviewer
(e.g. when to end a response; when the interview is over)
- Try to generate and maintain interest by smiling, responding to questions
with specific and concise examples, keeping your voice lively, maintaining
a pleasant vocal tone, using a slightly forward body posture, using
humor where appropriate and avoiding pat answers or cliches.
- Use transition statements to share information about yourself that
the interviewer may not have addressed (e.g. "That's interesting, I
had an experience that relates…" or "May I tell you about…").
- Respond truthfully, while always painting a positive picture of yourself
(e.g., "I have not yet had an opportunity to…, but in a similar situation,
I…"
- Ask for information, application materials on the company/school,
and the interviewer's business card.
- Ask about the hiring process and its time lines, and determine actual
potential openings
- At the end of the interview, offer a firm handshake and express your
appreciation using the interviewer's name
Hint: Immediately following the interview, go to a quiet place and
make notes on topics of conversation, contact names and follow up procedures.
Then prepare for your next interview
Follow up After the Fair
- Within three days, send a thank you letter, addressed to the specific
interviewer (include typed application materials if you have them)
- Within ten days, make telephone calls to determine if the company/schools
have received your application materials, to check the status of the
vacant positions, and to express your continued interest
- Plan for the next fair you will attend
Hint: Keep an attractive record of your contact with the company/school,
including dates of your letters or calls, and copies of all application
materials that you send.
Program yourself for success as you plan for a career fair, create your
image of interview and position, and take action to reach your goal.
Created and maintained by the
North Dakota State University Career Center
Site
Manager
Last Updated: Thursday, 21-Sep-2006 11:51:55 CDT
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