Career Expos (fair-style events) are a great way for exploring students to learn about the exciting variety of employers that are interested in WashU students. Come take in the scene, practice introducing yourself, and grow in comfort and confidence. We’ll be there to support you!
Why Go?
- Attending, even if you don’t see any employers that interest you, will build familiarity and confidence, so that future career fair visits will be successful
- Introducing yourself to employers and asking questions is an important professional development muscle and this is a great way to practice those kinds of conversations
- You may have a chance to talk to alumni or professionals from orgs that interest you
- At the very least: observe, eaves drop (subtly), walk around, pay attention to what people are wearing and who looks professional and prepared
How to Prepare
- Check Handshake to see participating orgs
- Research organizations ahead of time & write questions based on what you learn about their work, mission and vision
- Plan a professional outfit (polished if not a suit)
- Review the Career Expo Prep page & prep videos on our website
- Prepare a resume and bring copies (get it reviewed by a Career Peer). If you don’t have a resume, don’t let that stop you from attending. You can always make a resume before the next fair.
- Bring a clean notebook and pen to take notes about your conversations
Choose a Few Organizations to Approach
- From the list of participating organizations on Handshake, identify 1-3 to approach. Read their website, see if they have positions posted
- This is not like a college fair where you just collect stuff from each table
- Be open-minded about Industry vs. Function: You might find jobs that interest you in an industry you didn’t expect (e.g. communications role for an Engineering firm)
- No orgs are exciting to you? Choose one to approach for professional conversation practice.
What to Expect
- One-on-one or small group conversations
- You will most likely be driving the conversation with your intro & questions
- Some orgs will have a long line and others will be totally open. The ones with a long line are probably going to be more concerned about you having organized thoughts when you approach.
How to Introduce Yourself
- Start off by sharing your name, year, and major (if you have declared)
- Share a bit about your interests or experience (coursework, activities, leadership, internships/jobs) that are relevant to the employer (which you’ll know from your research)
- Mention what about them caught your attention
- State why you think you and the organization might be a good match
- Be prepared to articulate your strengths or goals
- Ask 1-3 prepared questions
Questions You Can Ask
- Ideally your questions will come from research you’ve done on their website and learning about their products, locations, work, clients and competitors
- Ask specifics about positions they have posted or when you should watch for openings
- Request clarification about the application or interview process
- Ask about company culture or initiatives. What makes them proud to work there?
- Ask about current events that may impact their work
- What skills or experiences are they seeking?
- If you can’t apply for a position yet (they are looking for a rising senior or post-grad), ask what kinds of summer experiences could make you a good candidate in the future.
- Avoid asking: what they do, how much they pay, if they have any jobs (without other context/questions)
Pause After Each Conversation
- Don’t take a bunch of notes while they are talking; maintain eye contact
- Step away after each interaction to write down what you learned – including the name of the person you just met
- Tuck away business cards, flyers, contact information or trinkets in your bag
- Choose your next target and prep for that conversation
Follow-up with Employers
- Look for the people you met on LinkedIn and connect (“Hi- We chatted yesterday night at the WashU Career Expo. I appreciated your insight about…”)
- Write a thank you email or message with specifics (what you discussed, what you learned from them, how you plan to follow up on their suggestions or apply)
Steps to Take After the Fair
- Find a place to keep track of the contact information and notes that you gathered
- Tweak your resume or write a cover letter based on what you learned
- Follow organizations on LinkedIn or social media
- Reflect on what went well and what you can improve upon
- Schedule a coaching appointment if you want to debrief and discuss what you learned