Bearly Accurate – Common Career Conundrums: “If I just show up at the career fair, I’ll walk out with a job or internship!”

Some people attend career fairs with the assumption that they’ll be placed in a job or internship if they just show up, but it’ll be much more worthwhile for both you and the employer if you spend some time preparing before the fair. With the Internship and Summer Job fair coming up on February 20th and 21st, here are some tips and resources to help you get started:

1. Make a list of employers.

There are currently over 150 employers signed up to participate in the Internship and Summer Job fair. Review the directory of these employers using Callisto, and make a list of employers you are interested in. Remember: Talking to the few employers you researched beforehand may be better than trying to approach every employer at the fair.

2. Prepare questions to ask.

Meeting representatives of companies at a career fair is a great way for them to learn about you, but it’s also an opportunity for you to learn more about a particular position or company. Asking specific questions shows that you did some research in advance, and it also shows your interest in the company.

3. Prepare a resume.

Have your resume critiqued by a counselor during a mini-appointment. If possible, try to tailor your resume to a particular industry, company, or position, and bring multiple copies of your resume to the career fair. Some employers might not be collecting resumes so always ask before handing it to them. Approach the employer, talk to them, then ask if they’re collecting resumes.

4. Develop a 30 second introduction.

Prepare a short introduction in advance. It you’re nervous, you can practice your “pitch” beforehand, but also remember to not sound too structured or robotic. Be yourself, and think of it as a conversation!

Attending career fairs is just like any other internship or job search strategy. You need to prepare in advance, and it may take some time. While you might not be handed an internship or job at the fair, meeting the employer is the first step in your internship or job search. We also encourage you to watch the following video on making the most of a career fair, which is from the UC Berkeley Career Center's very own YouTube channel!

 

Blog written by: Ann Suh, Statistics '14

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