With summer or graduation quickly approaching, the question “What’s next?” is an important one for students to consider.
University Career Services is a valuable resource that aims to help students find jobs and internships by putting them in contact with various potential employers.
Through several career fairs, UCS brings hundreds of employers to campus.
The fairs provide an opportunity for students to establish contacts and practice meeting potential employers.
These employers often come to campus throughout the year to conduct interviews with UNC students.
UCS Associate Director Jeff Sackaroff and Assistant Director Laura Lane offer the following tips for being successful at a career fair:
Before the career fair
- Research the companies and the positions they are recruiting for.
- Prioritize who to speak with by reviewing the list of employers present at the career fair, available on the UCS Web site (careers.unc.edu).
- For priority organizations, complete an online application on the employer’s Web site before the fair and mention it to the employer at the fair.
- Prepare a resume and have a UCS career counselor review it.
- Be familiar with your resume.
- Practice a 30-second introduction that demonstrates how your interests correspond to the organization or position.
At the career fair
- Upperclassmen looking for a job should dress professionally.
- Underclassmen looking for internships should dress in business casual attire.
- Bring resumes. Don’t bring cover letters, work samples or references.
- Sign in with UCS at the student registration table.
- Consider a wide range of companies, not just the organizations with recognizable names.
- Speak with employers for three to five minutes each.
- Ask employers about the opportunities that exist within their organizations. Regardless of the organization, most are open to any major.
- Students should collect business cards from all representatives they speak with.
- Smile and be enthusiastic.
After the career fair
- Send thank-you letters to the representatives you met with.
- Send typed follow-up letters to employers of interest.
- Register with UCS to prepare for formal interviews.
The next UCS event will be the Spring Career Expo from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Great Hall of the Student Union.
It is open to all UNC students except students in medical, dental, law, MBA or MAC programs.
Students can find a list of organizations attending the event at the end of this publication or on the UCS Web site.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
