Many students worry about finding a job upon graduating while they’re still pursuing their degree. Michigan Tech’s career fair is held every year to let students have the opportunity to talk to companies and network with them before graduating. This year, Michigan Tech will be hosting 337 different companies.
Some of the new companies this year include Astronautics Corporation of America, Essity, Fogg Filler Company, Sodexo, and many more. The sole reason why more cannot attend is simply that there are not enough hotel rooms in the area. Surprisingly, some companies book a room a year in advance just to attend the Career Fair. This year, Career Fair will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 27 from noon to 5 p.m. in the Student Development Complex.
There are a variety of ways to prepare for Career Fair, which is highly suggested. The Career Services Center in the Administration Building has a variety of resources. Students are able to set up appointments with the staff for help with their resumes, interview skills, their LinkedIn and Handshake accounts, and to have any of their further questions answered. Developing your own “elevator pitch” is suggested as well since it is a good way to introduce yourself to company representatives in a short amount of time. Many company representatives say that the first 60 seconds that you take to introduce yourself are the most important part of your interaction with them. Having self-confidence and enthusiasm for what you like doing and what you are looking for from the company shows a lot about you. Hundreds of students attend the career fair, so you want to make sure you’re well prepared for it.
With so many companies attending, it can be hard to know which ones you want to talk to. Michigan Tech has an app available for students to download on Apple and Android called “Michigan Tech Career Fair +.” With the app, you can easily search through all the attending companies with different filters, making it easy to see the ones only pertaining to your major and interests. It’s a great idea to make a game plan before going to Career Fair. Lay out who you want to talk to before getting there, that way you will not have to waste your time upon arriving and you can make the most out of your time with the companies.
It is not uncommon for companies to interview students in the few days following the career fair. The staff in the Career Services Center will volunteer their offices for the company representatives to use for interviews. If you feel like you need more practice with interviews, you can set up a mock interview with the Career Services Center before Career Fair begins. Otherwise, make sure you dress appropriately. For both the Career Fair and any interviews, you should dress formally. Men should wear slacks, a shirt with a collar, and dress shoes. Jeans should not be worn. If you have a tie and suit coat that is preferred as well. For women, closed, knee-length skirts or slacks with a blouse and dress shoes are recommended.
Many companies come from near and far to attend Michigan Tech’s well-known career fair. It is a great way for students to discover new companies and make great connections. Whether you’re looking for a summer internship or a full-time job, it’s never too early to prepare.
