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Making the Most of a Job Fair Vicki Hamby Program Manager Career Center ^Know WHY you are attending the fair and design your entire effort around that aim. (For example are you looking for a full-time, part-time or internship position or simply investigating unfamiliar com panies so you can learn more about what they do? ^Research companies, agencies or organizations that will be attending the Job Fair in the Career Center Library or by reviewing company web sites. ^Prepare a well-written resume and sample thank you letter in advance of the career fair and have both critiqued by an on-call counselor at the Career Center. Plan to take 20+ copies of your resume to the fair in a nice folder to distribute to employers. ^Prepare a log in advance to track Career Fair information (ie. To whom have you given a resume? Are they sched uled to return to USC for interviews? etc.) ^Develop a list of questions to ask employers about such topics as organiza tional statistics, company mission, client base, internship or co-op opportunities, summer or part-time employment, full time career paths, trainee programs, bene fits, hiring procedures, etc. ^Plan in advance for time you'll need to travel to the fair, possible heavy traffic or bad weather. Remember to take into account the availability and distance of parking to the facility. ^Wear your nametag prominently list ing your name, class year and degree. ^Make a good first impression. Dress professionally, smile, make eye contact, shake hands firmly and confidently. When introducing yourself, include your full name, major and graduate date. ^Know how to express what you are looking for and what you have to offer. Speak clearly and loudly enough to be heard through the noise and don't ramble. ^Wear comfortable shoes! ^Network. While in line, talk to other students about which recruiters they've spoken to already. ^Bring something in which to carry company literature, business cards and giveaways, but don't be a 'freebies hog'. ^ Carry a pen and note pad and take notes after speaking with each employer. <^For additional information, pick up the Career Fair Tips for Students handout at the Career Center. Dress for Success Robert Rhinehart Program Manager Career Center Have you ever wondered how important your appearance is when going on an inter view? Have you pondered what type of cloth ing to wear, what color(s), what accessories or even how much to spend on interviewing attire? If you have thought about these ques tions and others that relate to "dress for inter views", then you are not alone. Although many work environments across the country have transitioned to busi ness casual attire, traditional is still "in" as far as interviewing is concerned. Whether you are interviewing with a large Fortune 500 company or a small local organization, appearance is very important because it is the first thing that people notice. Dark suits for both men and women are still considered to be critical components of the interviewing wardrobe. Furthermore, a well-pressed shirt and tie for men and a white blouse for women are always the best choices. Overall, a good barometer of what to wear on an interview is to match your dress to the dress of employers in the workplace where you are interviewing and then, "take it up a notch". For example, if the daily office attire is business casual, then the next "notch" up will be a suit for men and a skirt and jack et for women. In addition, some things that are general ly accepted in the work environment are not generally accepted during the interview. For women, though pants suits are very accept able in the workplace, you should probably stay away from pants during the interview. And for men, earrings are not a good idea. A rule of thumb for interviewing attire is when in doubt, go conservative. Appearance is not measured by how much you spend on your attire but it is measured in the presentation of the product-you. If you follow these small pointers, you’re well on your way to dressing for success: CHECKLIST • Be sure your hair and face are clean and neat. • Have your nails cleaned and manicured at a reasonable length. • Make sure your shoes are clean and shined. • Check your clothes to ensure neatness.