There are many benefits of attending your campus job fair and accompanying seminars. You can learn about the professional etiquette of communicating with employers in the US and also catch up on the employment trends and skills employers are looking for. The professional development seminars that happen before the job fair are also beneficial as it prepares you for the job fair. These seminars are focused on job application and interview skills, such as updating your resume and cover letter and practicing your elevator pitch and interview. To learn about these invaluable professional skills attend one of our seminars during the International Student Career Success Week, which will be held between September 5-8 during noon at UU133A.
After that, consider coming to our Fall Job and Internship Fair, which will be held September 13 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Binghamton University Events Center. Check out the list of attending employers that will be attending beforehand on Handshake.
Here are the top reasons for attending the Fall Job and Internship Fair:
- You get to network with professional employers. Did you know that 85% of jobs are filled by networking and referrals? And 70% of jobs are never posted on job boards (LinkedIn Guys). Job fairs give you a chance to speak one-on-one with multiple company representatives all in the same place. Plus, even if you don’t land an interview with a particular company, you still have a chance to make a good impression and that is an invaluable opportunity.
- The workshops prior to the job fair can give you the chance to polish your resume, learn how to network, or practice your interview skills. Especially if you are entering the professional workforce for the first time, these workshop opportunities are hard to put a price on. By attending the seminars during the International Student Career Success Week, you will learn how to get a CPT prior to getting an internship or job off campus, create a U.S. style resume and cover letter, and practice common interview questions that employers ask during an interview.
- Each time you attend a job fair, you get to practice your interviewing skills. For example, approaching a potential employer can be a bit intimidating the first time. However, after doing this a dozen times during a single career fair, your discomfort will start to fade. Some of the skills you get to practice includes: introducing yourself, giving a firm handshake, marketing your skills, answering basic interview questions, and asking questions of the company. Each of these skills are critical for finding a job.
- You will also learn about the various job opportunities in your industry as most industries have multiple entry level opportunities. “For example, the IT industry’s entry level opportunities include programmers, help desk support, and network technicians.” By attending the job fair you can explore these entry level options and talk with employers about what makes an ideal employee for those positions. You can also consider alternative career paths that you might not have thought about previously. Speaking with industry leaders one-on-one can give you ideas on minors and optional classes to take while completing your degree (careerfairplus.com).
- Lastly, it is important to know about the do’s and don’ts of networking and communicating with employers, which you can find out about by attending the International Student Career Success Week before the job fair. Communicating professionally with employers and recruiters and developing a network of contacts is key to finding a job once you graduate.
