Students and alumni attended a workshop that offered tips for career fairs and networking on Feb. 2, held by the Department of Career Planning and Development at Kennesaw Hall.
Outreach and Engagement Associate Director Amanda Long spoke to the students, giving her best advice on what to wear, what to say and how to present oneself in preparation for the Education Career Fair on Feb. 7 and also the Science, Technology, Engineering, Architecture & Mathematics fair on Feb. 21.
“It feels like graduation is going to be here any second, and I want to feel more prepared and just ready to put myself out there and get a fantastic job,” said senior English education major Emily Crisp. “I’m going to the education fair next week, and I wanted to come to this workshop to make sure I am 100 percent prepared to go.”
Long stressed the importance of dressing professionally and having multiple copies of a resume ready and easily accessible for any employer that may ask for one during a career fair.
“You should be treating it like it’s your first interview because it actually might be,” she said. “A lot of employers consider this first meeting with you as your first interview, and then when you get a call back for another interview, that’s your second interview. You really need to dress the part, and business professional is the way to go.”
Long also emphasized to students the need for an effective way to pitch their most important skills and interest in the company in the smallest amount of time possible — referred to as an “elevator pitch.” She paired students together to role-play and practice their own pitches.
“You really want to think about what you have to offer,” Long said. “You want to lead with something, so you need to say something that’s going to get the employer’s attention right away. Whether it’s that you have a unique experience compared to your peers, you have a very specialized set of skills, a good elevator pitch should really paint a picture of what the benefits are of you and this person connecting.”
Many of the students and alumni were pleased with Long’s tips and information and felt more confident in their ability to speak with employers.
“This workshop was really helpful,” said sophomore marketing major Melanie Husband. “I’ve thought about going to a career fair before, but I didn’t think I would know what to say or even what employers would look for in a candidate. But now I know I just need to do my research and make sure I’m prepared for any kind of question they throw at me.”
For more information on upcoming career fairs, students can visit the Department of Career Planning & Development’s website or download their app, Career Fair Plus.
