Eric Anderson, assistant director of career development at the University of Idaho Career Services, offers students advice and an inside look at what to expect for the upcoming Spring Career Fair.
Students will have the opportunity to meet with employers for seasonal internships, full-time position and graduate school opportunities from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 7 in the ASUI Kibbie Activity Center.
Eric Anderson | Courtesy
Q: What should first time Career Fair attendees expect?
A: Expect to see the Kibbie Dome as you have never seen it. Students will enter from the west side and come on to the turf where Career Services staff will be there to welcome you, get you checked-in, a map of where the employers are located on the turf, and a packet with more information on each employer. You will get also get a nametag that includes your major(s), and a colored dot to show which college(s) you represent.
From there, you will be free to walk around the turf and speak to employers you are interested in. Some employers will be accepting resumes, some may not and some may ask attendees to upload their resumes online. Expect to have employers talk with you more about what they do, why they are here at Idaho, and what they are recruiting for, now and in the future.
Some employers will also be holding interviews on-site that day, or the next day or two on campus.
Overall, you should expect to be dressed professionally and prepare for the opportunity to network with employers and learn more about what they do, while also having the opportunity to pitch employers about the value you can offer their organization or graduate program.
In addition, there will be a photo booth where you can get a free headshot to use on your LinkedIn profile. Lastly, there will be a table at the end asking for feedback on your experience at the fair.
Q: What can students do to prepare themselves for the fair?
A: The Career Services Office recommends the following.First, check out the Vandal Career Fair Guide on the Career Services website, or on Issuu. Printed guides are also available in the Career Services Office at the Vandal Success Center (Commons, 3rd floor). This informative resource includes a wealth of tips and advice to help you prepare. Career Services advisors are happy to meet with students to go over the guide.
Second, check out the list of over 130 organizations attending the spring fair on Handshake to gain some background information on who they are and what they are looking for. Our employers appreciate when students have a little background knowledge on their organization or can genuinely articulate why they are interested in the company, or why they would like to learn more about what they do.
Third, attend the Vandal Networking Night. This is not only a great way to practice and help build confidence, but it is another opportunity to get face time with employers of interest.
Q: Should freshmen and sophomores attend the career fair?
A: Absolutely. This is a great opportunity to learn early in your academic career what employers are looking for, and an excellent chance to ask them questions about what skills, education and experiences you can gain at Idaho over the next few years to make yourself more competitive for their internships, jobs or graduate program. We know first-hand that students who attend the career fair early on are more successful with employers in gaining opportunities at future fairs.
Ellamae Burnell can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @EllamaeBurnell