Career Fair Success Strategies

Penn State Smeal MBA Program
Career Fair Success

Strategies
Presented by
Mike Brown
Director, MBA Career
Services
.not just a place to

collect logo pens and
post-it notes!
Career Fair Benefits
Multiple employers; one location

Acquire market, company data
Practice interviewing skills
Network with recruiters
Land interviews
3
September Career Fairs

Event
Dates
Corporate Associates Career Fair
September 10
PSU Fall Career Days
September 11-13
Marketing Association Career Fair
September 13
NAAMBA Leadership Conference Santa Clara, CA
September 14 -15
Supply Chain Career Fair
September 18-19
National Black MBA Career Fair Indianapolis, IN
September 27-28
October Career Expos

Event
Dates
NSHMBA Career Fair Orlando, FL
October 5-6
MBA Veterans Career Fair Chicago, IL
October 12
Midwest Career Fair Chicago, IL
October 19
MBA Women International Conference Phoenix, AZ
October 19 - 20
Reaching Out LGBT MBA Career Expo Boston, MA
October 19 - 20
Net Impact Conference Baltimore, MD
October 25-27
What Employers Are Seeking

Desired Traits in 2011 MBA Hires
Initiative
Professionalism
Motivation
Integrity
Ability to deal effectively with
pressure/obstacles
Percentage
77%
77%
76%
76%
75%
Source: GMAC 2011 Corporate Recruiters Report
Career Fair Strategies
Pre-fair
Preparation
Career
Fair
Performance
Post Fair
Follow-up
National
Career
Expos
Pre-fair Prep Strategy
Targeting Strategy
Determine your career fair goals
Identify job fair participants
Prioritize your target companies
top 5 must see A tier companies
5-10 nice to see B tier employers
5-10 intellectually curious C tier firms
9
Research Companies
Review job
openings
Flagship products
or services
Stock price,
history, locations
Recent
merger/acquisition
activity
Key competitors
Industry trends
10
Tailor Your Resume

Good fits move on; bad matches dont
Customize to job or internship
qualifications
Select best accomplishments
Present to top 5 must sees
11
Prepare questions to ask

Strategic Comeback
What skills, experience do you look for.
Strategic Planning
What is the retention rate of newly hired
Company Information
How would you describe the corporate
culture?
12
Prepare Your Branding Message
Your response to Tell me about yourself

Strengths, abilities, knowledge
Recent experience, accomplishments
Your career goals, ambitions; interest in
company
Practice, practice, practice
13
Dress for Success
Business Professional, conservative attire

Stylish but not a statement maker
Be careful of colognes and perfumes
Pre-plan for pressing and dry cleaning
Polished dress shoes
14
What to Bring:
Pad-folio with pen and paper

Conservative work bag or briefcase
No backpacks!
Extra resumes (on resume paper)
15
Day of the Career Fair
Have a Walkabout Plan

Career Fair
Get a lay of the land
Locate target employers
Identify who has long lines
Determine your interview order
Walk off some initial nerves
17
Walkabout part two

Employers
Pick up media, job listings
Eavesdrop on recruiters personality,
communication styles
Qualitative vs. quantitative questions
Identify their critical needs
Warm up with your 2nd tier 5-10
18
First Impressions
Confidently approach the recruiter

Smile
Maintain eye contact
Firm handshake
Hi, Im ____, its a pleasure to meet you.
Repeat recruiters name
19
Three no-blink responses

1. Tell me about yourself
2. Why are you interested in our company?
or Why are you here today?
3. Why have you chosen this career?
20
Booth Etiquette
Respect the recruiters time

Wait your turn
Never interrupt a current conversation
Dont speak negatively about anything
Dont just drop a resume and walk away
Build rapport with recruiter
21
Recruiting for Undergrads?
Connect with recruiter

Make it an information interview
Show your interest in the company
Talk shop about the industry; business
Ask for the appropriate MBA recruiter
22
Closing Impressions
Ask for recruiters business card

Inquire about next steps
Firm handshake
Maintain eye contact
Thank you for meeting with me today
23
Circle-back Strategy
When lines drop off

When you are more relaxed
To continue a conversation
To ask additional questions
To build rapport and be remembered
24
Post Fair Follow-up
Follow-up Strategy
Drop off a hand-written note at booth
Leave a personal voice mail that evening
Send a thank you within 24 hours
Reference what was discussed at fair
Enclose another copy of your resume
Be professionally persistent!
26
National Career
Expos
30-60 Days Prior

Register as early as possible;
Apply for jobs; recruiters are screening resumes
ongoing
Conduct pre-conference networking
Update LinkedIn to MBA candidate; scrub
Facebook
Arrange travel logistics
28
30 Days Prior
Plan your agenda; speakers, networking
events
Prioritize your target companies
Practice your branding message
Prepare open ended questions
Schedule simulated interviews
29
When You Arrive

Check in when you arrive
Review the expo floor map
Attend professional development
sessions
sponsored and facilitated by recruiters
Secure interviews
Seek additional networking opportunities
30
Tips for Expo Success
Anticipate the size; 100,000 sq. ft.

Start slow with B & C tier employers
Stay focused on targets and goals
Ask recruiter for an interview
31
Interview Centers
Arrive early; allow
time to check in
One company will

conduct multiple
interviews
simultaneously
200 to 600
interviews
happening at
once
Partitions are
walls of cloth
32
Final thought:
You might not find the job youre

looking for at a career fair; but you
just might find your future
employer!
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Penn State Smeal MBA Program