Speaker 1: Hi, my name is Tracy Morgan, and I'm a career advisor at Walsh College. As you know, Walsh hosts a variety of career events throughout the year, including the Internship Connection, Career Fairs, and various employer meet and greets. In this presentation, we'll discuss tips to help you succeed at these events. Meeting face-to-face with an employer is an invaluable opportunity. You won't be offered a job at the career event, but meeting with an employer increases your chances of obtaining an interview. It's a great way to expand your network and to connect with professionals in your industry. You'll have an opportunity to investigate positions, occupations, and career fields in your major. Take some time to talk to the employers about types of open positions and learn more about these opportunities. This is great practice for longer interviews that you'll have prior to getting the job offer. Employers come to career events with certain goals and expectations. Their goal is to provide information about their company and potential openings to as many job candidates as possible. Their expectation of you is that you will come to the event prepared. This means dressing professionally and bringing several copies of your resume. There may be some employers who don't accept resumes, but you will have an opportunity to deliver your 60-second sell. We'll talk more about this in future slides. Be sure to keep your visit short. There may be others in line who want to speak to the recruiter, so be respectful of their time. Students can expect multiple opportunities to talk to employers. While you won't get hired that day, you may get offered a formal invitation to visit the company or to interview with them. Remember the employers are there because they want to talk to you, so take the time to connect and network with as many employers as possible. This slide will serve as a checklist. Let's go through each item individually. First, it's important that you research the companies prior to attending the event. Career Services will be able to provide you with a list of employers who will be in attendance so you can plan your table route. Bring several copies of your professional resume and be prepared to deliver your 60-second sell. If you've researched the companies, you should have a list of questions ready to ask when you meet the employer. Some of these questions will be very specific to the company, others will be more general. You'll also need to be prepared to answer questions. Make sure you know your resume intimately so you're ready to answer any questions they may have about your skills or past experience. After the event, you should follow up with a thank you letter to each employer that you spoke with. Thank them for their time, express an interest in the position, and try to connect in a personal and appropriately memorable way. The resume you bring to a career event must be relevant to your industry and occupation. Make sure your skills are clearly stated and comprehensive. Obviously, this document must be well-written and error-free. Don't solely depend on spellcheck for this. Bring multiple copies on resume-quality paper. This is generally neutral-colored paper that's a little thicker than normal printer paper. 24-pound is the suggested weight. It's highly recommended that you meet with a career advisor to have your resume reviewed prior to an event. Employers look at thousands of resumes and they know a professional resume immediately. We work closely with employers and follow labor market trends so we know what works and what doesn't work. Don't wait until the last minute to make an appointment, as time slots fill quickly. There are several ways to research a company prior to a career event or interview. The company website is a great place to start. You'll usually find company history, products and services, mission, value, culture, and information about clients. Newspapers can also provide current news about the companies. Check out the business section of your local paper or Cranes Detroit Business. There are several resources online, including websites like Hoover's Online, Vault, Wet Feet, and Glassdoor, where you can get a sampling of company information from current and past employees. Keep in mind some of these sites will require registration or payment to obtain complete information. Social media sites can be invaluable for researching companies. LinkedIn will provide current news and company information as well as links to careers. Other platforms such as Facebook and Twitter can provide you with insight into the company culture and current customer and employee feedback. Blogs can either be created and maintained by the company or by employees and ex-employees. Fortune 500 is an annual list of the 500 most profitable U.S. companies. They also include lists of the best places to work and the fastest growing companies. When you meet with the employer, confidence is the key. Make eye contact and shake hands firmly. Introduce yourself using your first and last name, then tell them about yourself in your 60-second cell. Avoid soft skills such as hard worker or fast learner, and use specifics such as your major, relevant experience, and date of graduation. Don't recite your entire resume, but do highlight some of your achievements and tell the employer how your strengths match their needs. Since you've done your research, you can tell them why you want to work for their organization. When you're finished, ask them a question so the conversation can comfortably continue. Here's a sample of a 60-second cell. Hi, my name's Tracy Morgan, and I'll graduate from Walsh College this December with a bachelor's degree in accounting. I'm seeking an internship with a mid-size CPA firm. I'm currently working at Macy's, where I've gained valuable customer service experience. I've been recognized twice by management for my outstanding leadership skills, and last month I received the Salesperson of the Year Award for 2015. I'm very interested in ABC Company because you have an excellent reputation in the industry and because I've heard great things about your mentorship program for interns. I'm sure with my academic knowledge and my strong customer service background, I'd be able to make an immediate contribution to ABC Company. Can you tell me a little bit more about your internship program? You only get one chance to make a good first impression, but remember, opportunities to make a bad impression are endless. A potential employer will make up his mind about you in a matter of seconds, so make sure you take a few breaths and prepare yourself before making that initial introduction. One of the first things people will notice is the way you're dressed. We'll talk more about that in the next few slides. There are other factors that are important, too, such as body language. The way you carry yourself often reflects many things and can give clues as to whether or not you will fit in the organization. Be confident, but not arrogant. Make eye contact, stand up straight, and avoid looking fatigued or disorganized when you're talking to the employers. Keep your arms uncrossed and don't fidget with your hands. Throughout your conversation, stay optimistic and positive, but most importantly, act professional. Your goal is to leave them with a positive, memorable image. Here are some general guidelines for both men and women. Wear a two-piece dark suit in navy, gray, or black with a conservative light-colored shirt underneath. Make sure your shoes are clean and polished. Grooming, including hair and nails, is also important. Some people are sensitive to smells, so you'll want to avoid using colognes or perfumes, and don't smoke after you get dressed. While it's okay to have a small breath mint before you approach the table, never chew gum or candy while you're talking to an employer. On the day of the event, it's a good idea to take a lightweight briefcase or padfolio. In it, you can keep pens and copies of your resume safe and wrinkle-free. Make sure your cell phone is turned off, not on vibrate. Cover tattoos and minimize jewelry. Interviews can be stressful, so prepare what you're going to wear ahead of time and make sure it fits well. Tight-fitting clothes are not only inappropriate, but they'll also add to your discomfort. Here are some specific suggestions for women. A conservatively colored skirt or pantsuit is usually the best attire for a career event. Skirts should be close to knee length. Avoid open-toed shoes and sandals. If you can, leave your purse in the car so you don't have to juggle multiple items. A padfolio should contain everything you need. Choose conservative makeup and nail polish that's either clear or light-colored. Hairstyle and jewelry should also be conservative. You don't want anything that will detract from you and your skills. For men, wear a conservative suit and tie. Choose dark-colored shoes and socks. Keep your hair and facial hair neat and trimmed. Avoid jewelry other than a wedding ring or a class ring. Be prepared with questions to ask the employer. Don't take too much time, especially if there's a line, and don't ask questions about salary or benefits. You can ask them about internships or other meaningful questions about their company or employment opportunities. Researching the company ahead of time will make it easier to ask appropriate questions. Prior to the event, you can check the Career Service website for a list of employers. Identify the companies you're most interested in, find them on the map, and plan your route. Try to visit every table so you can practice your introduction and questions. This will help you feel more comfortable when you talk to the employers you're really interested in working for. It also helps you avoid having to wait in long lines. Be friendly and conversational with all the employers, even if you're not interested in working for them. You never know where the connection could lead. Make sure you thank the employer for their time. If you're interested in the company, let the recruiter know. If they're accepting resumes, give them a copy of yours. If not, find out what their process is. Ask the employer for a business card so you have the correct spelling of his or her name. After you walk away from the table, jot down a few notes. You can use this as a reminder later when you send a thank you note. Don't underestimate the importance of the follow-up thank you letter. This is the most commonly overlooked step, and it can really make a big impact on the employer if you follow up effectively. To recap, here's a checklist for your next career event. Turn your cell phone off. Bring a padfolio with a pen and a notebook so you can take notes and keep business cards organized. Make and bring several copies of your professional resume on resume-grade paper. Don't depend on an on-site copier at the event. Be sure to dress appropriately, including comfortable professional shoes. This is not a good time to break in new shoes as you'll be on your feet for a while. Have small breath mints available, but avoid chewing gum. Most importantly, have a positive attitude. A great smile goes a long way. We encourage you to make an appointment to have your resume and 60-second cell reviewed before the next event. To schedule an appointment, contact Career Services at the number on this slide. We're looking forward to seeing you soon.