1. Making the Career Fair Work for International Students
Anne V. Scammon, Managing Director

2. Today What would you like to learn? What is a career fair?
When and where is the Fair?
How do I prepare?
How do I research employers?
How should I dress?
What do I say to the employer?
Will I find a job?
What do I say about my visa?

3. What do you think? Evaluate Today’s Program
Check iPhone for link to program evaluation
Have you learned from the program today?
I have learned more about myself.
I have learned more about connecting with employers.
I have learned more about how to be a professional.
Comments & Ideas

4. Purpose Opportunity for employers Opportunity for students
Promote their organization
Meet with prospective employees
Maintain organization brand (Not all employers hire)
Many will not hire international students
Opportunity for students
Learn about companies
Make connections/network
Interact with employer representatives
Gather information and research companies

5. Dates, Times, Location Wednesday, September 14 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Charles E. Smith Center
22nd & G Streets
100+ employers
2000+ students/alumni
RSVP to the Career Fair by logging into GWork (or your school-based GWork portal)

6. At the Career Fair

7. Overview What employers expect What you can expect How to prepare
Interactive conversation about your interest in the company
What you can expect
Set realistic goals
How to prepare
Research employers
How to present yourself
Smile, Handshake, Eye Contact
Professional pitch
How to follow up after the Fair

8. What Employers Expect Companies want to share information
Organization in a centralized format (Career Fair)
Highlight roles/opportunities available
Full-time, internship (CPT/OPT)
Provide information beyond their website
Identify those who make an impression!

9. Employer Hiring Traditions
Four types of employers
Do and Will
Never and May Consider
Consider Based on Position (STEM) 1.
Don’t and Won’t 2. 3.
Four types of employers
Don’t and won’t hire international students
Do and will; they’ve done it before and will do it again
Never done before and may consider
May consider based on position (STEM) 4.

10. Your Expectations

11. Career Fair Preparation
Interact with potential employer
Gather information about companies
Identify employers hiring international students
Make a contact for follow up
Learn about U.S. job search practices

12. Prepare Identify types of positions Research employers
Know what the employer does
Identify primary products/services, and industry
Determine why organization interests you
Identify your skills that meet organization/position
Identify #1, #2, #3 employers
Go to GWORK to research

13. Prepare
International Student Career Ambassadors Resume and Cover Letter Critiques
Monday-Thursday*, 10am-7pm, Friday, 10am-4pm
(*Except Tuesday 1pm -2pm)
Science and Engineering Hall, 22nd and H Streets
Career Fair Prep the Fair
Meet with a Center career coach for advice and to practice your 30-Second Professional Pitch

15. Present Yourself What do I have to offer? Handshake Professional pitch
Respond to employer questions
Appropriate professional attire and hygiene
Excellent resume
Know and be able to explain your visa status
Briefly identify employer process
Target employers willing to hire international students via early employer information

16. What you have to offer
Identify your skills, experience and accomplishments
What are your skills?
What experience do you have?
What was accomplished as a result of you work?
What are your goals?
What specifically do you want accomplish?
#2 Identify your skills, experience and accomplishments
Write. Research. Data Analysis. Language. Solve Problems. Educate. Manage. Supervise. Lead. Create.
What experience do you have?
What did do? What skills do you have to contribute to the employer? What are your strengths?
What was accomplished as a result of you work?
What are your goals?
What specifically do you want accomplish?

17. Introduce yourself First Impressions (Practice!) Professional Pitch
Eye contact!!
Start with a firm handshake
Warm smile/confident introduction
Professional Pitch
Draft and practice
Respond to Employer Questions
Tell me about yourself
Why do you want to work at XX or why did you select XX?

18. Professional Pitch

19. Practice My name is _____; I am a (class) in ___________ (major).
_________ (company) interests me because___________.
My experience/skills ) are in _______________________ .
I’m interested in ______ (position) at ______(company) because __________.
I am interested in your company because ________(link research to professional interests).
I saw that you do not have a position posted. Will opportunities be available in the future?
Find a way to make yourself memorable if possible! My last employer said “________________” about me.
Ask a question from company research about the firm>
Take 60 minutes to use your Professional Pitch information to create a script.
Introduce yourself to two other people
Professional introduction
Clearly, confidently and concisely explain to an employer who you are and why you would be a good fit at their company
Identify your selling points
Know your objective and identify next steps
Ask questions
My name is Anne Scammon and I am a GW alumni with a Masters in Human and Organizational Learning.
I am interested in the training position at Google because I believe I have an strong combination of career development and stand up training skills that are required of a successful career trainer in an organization as Google.
From my research, I understand that Google is developing a new employment and career training program targeting at new hires under 25. Not only would my skills and experience match those requirements, but my more than 30 years working with college students and managing college student career development programs, would be an asset to the initiative and the company. Would you be able to tell me more about the college training program and the timeline for implementation.
that might parallel skills and experience coupled with the fact that my university professio

20. Ask Employers Questions
What skills are seeking for the position?
What are the day-to-day responsibilities?
What are you looking for in a new employee?
What are the organization’s plans for the future, or expansion, or new services?

21. Do Not Ask Employers Do you sponsor?
Do you sponsor H1-B visa students?
Do you hire international students?

22. Professional Attire
DOs: Dark, clean pressed suit and shoes, hair of face, trimmed nails, portfolio for resumes
Women: 1” heels, option: skirt 3” above knee, tucked blouse, simple jewelry
Men: Ties, belts, colored socks, consider clean shave, tucked button down shirt
DON’TS: Distracting jewelry, heavy perfume or after shave, poor hygiene or grooming
Women: 3” heels, short skirts, excessive make up,
Men: White socks, hiking boots or sports shoes, silly ties

23. Your Visa Status US work eligibility, www.gwu.edu/iso Consider Options
On campus employment
CPT: Curricular Practical Training/ Internship
OPT: Optional Practical Training
H-1B: Sponsorship for employment authorization
If employer indicates that it will not hire international students, what will you do?
What will you ask?
What would you ask?
Organizations with an international focusPrepare to Ask QuestionsPrepare to answer questions
Not guaranteed, hard to do
We want to make it easier!!
Suggestions

24. Your Visa Status Reveal visa status to employer
Respond honestly about immigration status/work authorization eligibility when asked.
Ensure topic is discussed prior to end of interview process so employer is informed prior to hiring decision.

25. Day of the Fair Check In: 22nd Street entrance Receive nametag and map
Observe/Listen to Fair (Noise, Big, 2000+)
Employer tables and signs
One table for each employer (100+ employers)
Target your top employers

26. More Day of Fair Career Fair Prep Room
Employer research
Practice pitch with professionals
“Rock My Profile” (for seniors only, please) at LinkedIn Photo Booth
Free head shots at LinkedIn Photo Booth

27. Career Fair Tips Arrive early. Do not wait. Relax/take breaks.
Visit Prep Room.
Do not travel in packs
Engage employers in conversation
Request action
Ask for business cards and follow up
Career Fair Tips

28. Career Fair Tips

29. After Review employer materials Send thank you emails within 24 hours
Apply online, per employer conversation
Maintain connections via social media
Follow organization on Twitter
Follow individual on LinkedIn

30. Evaluate Today’s Program
Check iPhone for link to program evaluation
Have you learned from the program today?
I have learned more about myself.
I have learned more about connecting with employers.
I have learned more about how to be a professional.
Comments & Ideas

31. GW's International Student Career Ambassador (ISCA) Program provides peer-to-peer career advising for all international students, including graduate/professional students across all degree programs.
Drop-in hours:
Monday - Thursday:* 10:00 am -7:00 pm (*Except Tuesday 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm), Friday:10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Science and Engineering Hall (22nd & H Streets Entrance) Resource Rooms #1230 and #1240

32. Good Luck at the Fair
Visit the Career Prep Room at the Career Fair & Meet with Center for Career Services staff to practice your professional pitch! Fair tips & info:

33. Questions? Colonial Crossroads, Marvin Center 505
Careerservices.gwu.edu
Connect & engage with the GW Center for Career Services

34. Brief Introduction Connect with employer Smile
Smile, Shake, Eye, Greet
Smile
Extend hand. Firm grip. Shake.
Make eye contact
Hello, my name is Barack Obama. I am the President of the United States. I am pleased to meet you