Job opportunities don’t usually come knocking on your doorstep, but on Tuesday, Sep. 23, from noon to 5:00 p.m. in the Student Development Complex (SDC), they will come pretty close, as Michigan Technological University’s fall Career Fair makes its way to the Keweenaw. This event is open to all majors and is a fantastic way for students to find jobs and for employers to experience what MTU’s Huskies are all about.
Each year, MTU brings in over 400 companies and 2000 recruiters to campus. That being said, there is still an art to landing interviews and job opportunities among this vast selection of careers. To have the best chance at selling yourself as a prospective employee, Career Services Executive Director Cody Kangas says, “Have the Handshake profile up and rolling; I would strongly encourage everybody to also have a LinkedIn profile because employers will look you up. So [a] resume that’s refined, Handshake profile that’s up to date, LinkedIn profile, have a nice set of clothes, and then really go and observe for a bit, we actually have first timer tours.” No matter the experience level, it can be useful to put yourself out there and participate in the networking aspect of the event.
Be prepared to hit the ground running the day after Career Fair as employers may reach out. Unknown calls on Tuesday night may be recruiters trying to schedule an interview, so keep an eye on your phone throughout the day. Keep track of texts, emails, and other communications, such as when and where interviews may be scheduled. It’s important to know who is interviewing you and a little bit about them or the company, so doing some research never hurts. Dress professionally, make a good first impression. Last but certainly not least, “It’s still a human-to-human interaction… If you get a business card from them and it has an address on there, shoot them a handwritten note… those are things that go a long way,” said Kangas.
Now get out and announce to the world what kind of Husky you are! If there’s any other information you would like to know, visit the MTU Career Services website or log into a Handshake account to learn more about this coming Career Fair.
