2020 HBCU Careers Magazine

HBCU Careers Magazine

carrying around coffee? Don’t .   Leave your hands free for a business card exchange, the resume presentation, materials you might be offered.   Is your phone turned off?  Are your headphones discreetly tucked away? Take a look at the facilities before you begin making your rounds.  Where are the companies you are most interested in?  Can you visit them after you have spent some time talking to the ones on your B list?  *It’s always a good idea to shake out the awkwardness before you plunge right into your elevator pitch….which brings me to the elevator pitch – do you have one ?    When is the last time you tried it out on someone other than your best friend or significant other?    Prioritize by meeting with those you’re least interested in first – be sure to be flexible, and patient.   If you are interested in these employers, chances are, others are too.  There may be lines and a significant wait – be sure to remain professional and courteous at all times. Introduce yourself and be prepared to give the ‘elevator pitch’ we mentioned earlier. Extend your hand, give a firm handshake, have your resume ready to go – and be prepared to talk about your career interests, goals, extra-curricular activities. There is nothing wrong with taking notes, so take some.  No one expects you to remember everything, and chances are you will be provided with a great deal of relevant information – be mindful of everyone’s time and jot down information that you might want to refer to later on. *Future interviewing dates, on-campus events – these are all items you will want later on when this event is over. Be sure to ask the representative for his/her card.  Send a thank-you to everyone you met – thank him/her for the time spent discussing their organization, and for allowing you the opportunity to present your professional credentials. Be respectful of the materials and samples that are provided at the event.  Only take that which is truly relevant, ask before you take anything on the table (might just be a sample document with not enough to go around) and thank the representative for any ‘fun items’ like stress balls, pens, notepads (they may seem like fun giveaways but they are actually costly to the organization in the long run ). Above all else, smile and be friendly.   Recruiters and company representatives will always be more impressed with an enthusiastic beginner who is eager to learn, as opposed to a somber candidate with a slick resume and no enthusiasm! All in all, the career fair, the workshop, the networking event, are all excellent ways to introduce you to the world of work.  Learning about different industries, who the influencers are, how you fit in –can be accomplished all in one place and what better way is there to see what the future has in store! Mingle and get busy!

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