Ways to help students who are preparing for the BYU-Idaho Career Fair

Preparation is always key when trying to obtain a job. The BYU-Idaho Career Fair is just around the corner, scheduled for Thursday, March 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Manwaring Center West Ballroom. This is an opportunity for students to mingle with and make connections with possible future employees.

The question then becomes, how should a student prepare for the career fair? There are three different areas in which a person attending the fair should look at: intellectual, mental and physical preparation.

Intellectual:

• Unfortunately, another way of saying this is “Do your homework.” Know which organizations will be at the fair and which of them will be recruiting students with your major.

• Find ways to make connections with organizations that may not be looking for your major, and then show them why they need you in their organization. Research organizations of interest to you and learn about their culture.

Mental:

• Be alert when you come to the fair; no late night parties or all-nighter homework sessions the night before.

• Grab a granola bar or something to eat before you leave home, because it’s hard to focus on someone when your stomach is talking louder than he or she is.

• Clear your mind of any distractions so you can focus entirely on what the recruiter is saying. Use the information you gathered about the organization before the fair to demonstrate your knowledge of the organization.

• Prepare thoughtful questions you can ask the recruiter to learn more about the organization.

Physical:

• This is no-brainer stuff: shower, comb your hair, brush your teeth, etc. Guys, shave, even if they let you take a test in the Testing Center when you haven’t shaved for a day or two. In essence, practice good hygiene.

• Additionally, make sure you look the part of a good employee. Wear clean clothes that are neat and pressed; they don’t need to be expensive, but they should look professional.

There you have it — three areas to consider in your career fair preparation. It isn’t rocket science, but it makes a difference in the kind of impression you leave with someone who could make or break your bid to work in his or her organization. Best of luck at the Career Fair.

Source: James Gordon of the Career Center