1. Career Fair 2015 Get ready to network with company representatives!
Fall 2015
Career Fair 2015
Get ready to network with
company representatives!
Engineering Co-op and Career Services

2. Thursday, September 22
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
David Braley Athletic Centre

3. Fall 2015
Why should you go?
Opportunity to meet with employer representatives to discuss CAREER opportunities
Increased success in securing interviews
Define career opportunities – not just job opportunities, but also general information about engineering field and employer details. Mention that event included entry-level, summer, co-op and internship positions – but each individual employer will have different needs.
Engineering Co-op and Career Services

4. Why do companies attend?
Fall 2015
Why do companies attend?
Marketing/branding opportunity
Develop network of potential student candidates
Define career opportunities – not just job opportunities, but also general information about engineering field and employer details. Mention that event included entry-level, summer, co-op and internship positions – but each individual employer will have different needs.
Engineering Co-op and Career Services

5. Preparation (before the fair)
Fall 2015
Preparation (before the fair)
Create a “tiered” list of employers
Submit profile/resume via employers’ websites
Conduct employer research
Create/update your LinkedIn account
Tiered – most important, important, least important
Review feasible number of employers – emphasize that they should visit two or three “least” important first – when comfortable, visit most important.
Balancing classes
Engineering Co-op and Career Services

6. Preparation (continued)
Fall 2015
Preparation (continued)
Develop 30 to 60 second “elevator” speech
Questions to ask employer representatives
Appropriate attire
Ideal: business attire
Combination of business and casual
Emphasize what you can do for the employer
Engineering Co-op and Career Services

7. What to bring . . . Writing materials (folio) Water, tissues
Multiple copies of your resume
Bring paper copies even if company only accepts electronic submissions via website
“Objective” on resume
Writing materials (folio)
Water, tissues

8. At the fair . . . Review map/list of employers
Fall 2015
At the fair . . .
Review map/list of employers
“Test drive” your elevator speech with “bottom tier” employers
Engineering Co-op and Career Services

9. What to do if . . . The employer is not hiring for Co-op/internship
Fall 2015
What to do if . . .
The employer is not hiring for Co-op/internship
Do they post in the winter term?
Ask about future full-time (post-grad) positions – what qualities do they look for in candidates? How can you prepare as a student?
The employer is not hiring for full-time (post-grad) positions
What is their outlook for the next two/five/ten years?
The employer does not provide business cards
Don’t take this personally – may be company policy.
Engineering Co-op and Career Services

10. Follow-Up Review information you received
Fall 2015
Follow-Up
Review information you received
Send “thank you’s” to employer representatives
LinkedIn
Mention attendance at the fair when applying to jobs
Include in the cover letter
Check Events module in OSCARplus for additional employer events
Reiterate that students may hear differing pieces of information from employers
Side bar – may also get different advice about attending a fair, and what to do at that event
Engineering Co-op and Career Services

11. Fall 2015
Website Links
OSCARplus – McMaster’s online job posting and event listing website
ECCS website
Student Success Centre (university-wide career office)
Review differences b/tw ECCS eRecruiting and central eRecruiting
Emphasize attending addl workshops offered by ECCS and central
Engineering Co-op and Career Services

12. Thank you! Ext. 22571 Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Fall 2015
Thank you!
Engineering Co-op and Career Services
JHE A214
Ext
Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Engineering Co-op and Career Services