May 19, 2017, by Carla
Six Speedy Ways to Impress Employers at the Graduate Jobs Fair
Exams are in sight, but have you thought about what you’d like to do after you leave the world of revision, exam stress and post-exam celebrations?
Our Graduate Jobs Fair is the perfect opportunity for you to meet employers and find out about job opportunities for 2018 and beyond. If you’ve not had much time to prepare for this event, here’s seven things you can do to improve your chances of making a positive impression.
1. Perfect your introduction
Introducing yourself to an employer only takes a few seconds, but this time is important if you want to impress. Did you know it only takes seven seconds to form a first impression? Telling employers information, such as your course and why you’re interested in their company, is a good conversation starter.
Remember to keep your introduction short. The ‘elevator pitch’ concept is helpful. Practise conveying all the essential details about yourself in the time it would take to ride an elevator – ‘lift pitch’ doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. This will help to prevent nervous waffling and allow employers to come back with the questions they want answered.
2. Dress for success
The Graduate Jobs Fair isn’t an interview, but it’s still important to make a good impression and what you wear can affect how employers perceive you.
You might even end up speaking to the person who will go on to interview you if you apply for a position, so smart/casual dress is a good look. Also, make sure you’re wearing comfy shoes – career fairs involve a lot of walking!
3. Beat the crowd
Simply setting your alarm to ensure you make it to the fair early can help you to make the most of the event. There are limited spaces at our workshops, so arriving early is a good way to guarantee your place at one of these helpful sessions.
There are over 50 stands at our fair, which means there are a lot of people you can speak to. Make sure you have enough time to speak to all the employers you want to.
4. Bring your CV
There are many employers who will be accepting CVs for their current vacancies, so if you’re in your final year, it’s definitely worth bringing one along. In fact, it’s worth bringing multiple copies. Even if you’re not job hunting yet, a CV is a great way to highlight your skills to potential employers and help them see if you’re a good fit for their internship or work experience programmes.
Bringing your CV can also help you to prepare for future job applications, as our team will be on hand to review it throughout the day. They’ll also be a workshop on helping you to make your CV stands out.
5. Find out who’s coming
You can find out which companies are attending here. This can help you to plan your day and prioritise which companies you want to speak to. Employers like see evidence that you know about their company, so take some time to look at on their websites and social media channels.
There is also the Careers Fair app, which is now available to download on Android and iOS. It’s jammed packed with employer information and a lot of other nifty features to help you make the most of the day.
6. Get on social media
Checking a company’s social media profiles on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn is a great way to get up-to-date knowledge about that company, and see what’s happening in their sector. This will demonstrate your interest in working for them.
There’s also a Facebook event you can join and we’ll be live tweeting from the event, so be sure to follow us for the latest updates and employer announcements.
This year’s Graduate Jobs Fair is at East Midlands Conference Centre on Monday 11 June, 11.30am-4pm. Head over to our website now to find out more.
Image Credit: Carlos Pereyra
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