October 10, 2014, by James Jupe

Get ahead and beat the hustle and bustle at the Fair

With more than 90 employers coming along to the Careers in Management and Business Fair, it’s bound to be an exciting and lively affair but with so much going on, you may feel a tad overwhelmed if you don’t plan ahead. We have some tips and pointers to help you on your way.

Take advantage of our Fair guide

Your first port of call is to dip into our ‘Ignite your future today’ careers guide. There’s a wealth of information with individual employer profiles that lists their starting salaries, job locations, application deadlines and opportunities available. You will also find which subjects they recruit from, and discover that they welcome students from all degree disciplines. Knowing the basics is essential and gives you the chance to ask inquisitive questions.

See below an example of one of the profiles.

EON

After reading these profile descriptions it’ll spark some questions such as:

  • How long is the training programme?
  • Will I get a qualification?
  • What roles open up on completion of the programme?

Explore their websites and be fully prepared

Go to their website and investigate the possibilities. This is your chance to research their programmes and get a picture for what your day-to-day challenges may be, as well as look into the values and image of each company to see if they’re right for you. It also saves wasting time asking for information that is already easily accessible – instead, you want to focus on more specific questions that are personal to you.

For an example here’s the Boots Graduate page which has case studies for each of their graduate and internship opportunities.

Boots website

After looking through the website, you’ll probably a few questions that you will want to ask at the Fair.

Here are some examples. Put yourself in the position of the employer and think what they want from you. For instance:

  • What do you look for in a graduate?
  • Do I need specific work experience that meets your requirements?
  • Where might I be based during the graduate scheme?
  • Can I get involved with other projects outside of the main job scope?
  • Are there any opportunities to work abroad?

Pick the brains of our alumni

Each of the reps for every company will be on hand to help and give you their knowledge and experiences. There will also be more than 40 Nottingham graduates on the day to answer your questions and share their stories. Flick through our Fair guide and if there’s a pink mortar board in the company’s profile it means there will be someone for you to talk with. By all means be audacious and candid with them by quizzing them about their experiences with the company. That way, you can weigh up any pros and cons while getting a sense of whether that environment is right for you.

With so many people coming to the event they’re bound to be asked the same questions – this is an opportunity for you to stand out from the crowd and impress them with your individuality, especially as some of the reps could be involved in selecting candidates later down the line. Show them how unique you are and make the most of what’s on offer.

Take a look at our Careers in Management and Business Fair guide to see which employers are coming. You can also read our blog series to find out more about what to expect!

Posted in Applying For JobsGraduate VacanciesWork experience