There are many reasons that you should attend a career fair.

1. To find out about specific employers.
2. To learn about specific employment opportunities.
3. To learn about careers in general and to research companies.
4. To meet employers and make contacts that can lead to employment.
5. To practice networking and communication skills.

Those reasons do not include hanging out with your friends so make a positive impression by visiting the company tables solo. Those reasons do not include getting free goodies so make sure you speak to the employer representatives before taking the promotional materials! Many employers give away great items such as mints, backpacks, stress relievers, in addition to company literature.

When you attend a career fair, it is also important to understand why employers come to a career fair. Below are three of the most common reasons stated by our employers:

1. To advertise and gain exposure for their company.
2. To seek out new employees and interns.
3. To meet students in person and make contacts.

Research

Take the time to find out which companies will be attending the career fair. Visit Wildcat CareerLink to find the companies attending upcoming career fairs. Simply click on the Events tab and then choose Career Fairs to see if any are active now. Please consider that you may not have time to visit every corporate table, therefore the best strategy is to choose the companies of most interest to you and research those companies thoroughly ahead of time. Many employers provide a web address, which is also a good place to search for information.

Ready your Resume

Have multiple copies of your best resume, on high quality white or ivory resume paper, prepared to hand to the representatives at the career fair. Make sure that your resume is free of errors and has been critiqued by a counselor in the James W. Stuckert Career Center. Use an objective on your resume to help you communicate your goals and interests to employers. Include your computer skills, internships, and relevant work experiences. Have a separate list of references with your name and address clearly printed at the top. Some employers may request a cover letter even though you've delivered your resume in person. Carry your resume in a leather portfolio or folder with a nice pen and a pad of paper.

Rehearse

A strong, comfortable introduction of you gives a positive first impression. The best way to prepare is to create your very own "60 Second Commercial." This is simply a statement that is 30 seconds to one minute long that allows you to do the following:

• Introduce yourself.
• Demonstrate some knowledge of the organization or company.
• Express interest in the company or organization in the form of an inquiry about the job possibilities, internships, etc.
• Offer a brief statement of what you think you could offer the organization or company.

Rehearse your commercial, or introduction, in front of a mirror or with a friend. This will enable you to become so comfortable with your introduction that you are able to deliver it in a natural, unrehearsed way. A good presentation will increase your confidence, allowing you to appear relaxed and self-assured, even if you are a bit nervous.

Refine

Dress to make a positive first impression! Colors: navy or black are best. For women: a skirt suit, a skirt and blazer, or a conservative suit. For men: a suit; a button down shirt, tie, sport coat, and nice slacks; shined shoes.

Refine your manners. Greet everyone with a smile and a firm handshake. Be confident, enthusiastic, and polite. Maintain good posture. Don't only take goodies from the company's table. Use the person's name and say thank you. Know when to move on if there is a line of students waiting. Collect business cards and ask who is serving as the contact person. Make notes about your conversation with each representative and use this information in follow-up letters and phone calls. Send thank you letters within 24 to 48 hours.

Ready your Requests

Request information from the corporate representatives by asking intelligent questions that demonstrate your knowledge of the company, your interest, as well as your awareness of your needs in a career opportunity. Some good questions:

• What type of training program do you offer new employees?
• Describe the work environment of your company.
• How are employees evaluated and promoted?
• How has working at this company influenced your personal and professional growth?
• What are the major projects being undertaken now?

Remember

Keep in mind that you cannot tell what a company or organization has to offer simply by looking at their name or product. Most companies/organizations have needs to be met in accounting, human resources, management, engineering, etc. It is up to you to be assertive in striving to match your skills and interests to companies and their needs. The most successful candidate will find a match regardless of what positions a company currently has "advertised". Clarify your goals before the career fair so that you leave with meaningful contacts and information.

Relax and be yourself! Enjoy the opportunity to meet new people and increase your network.

Workshops are offered every Thursday from 3:30-4:30 in the James W. Stuckert Career Center. Select workshops will feature employer panels such as Jobs in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Sales Industry and Making the Most of your Internship: Employer and Student Tips.

The career center offers additional non-workshop events throughout the year to assist you in meeting employers and polishing your job search skills. Some of these events include a multicultural networking dinner, a mock interview marathon, as well as employer panels. To view all Career Center events, go to Wildcat CareerLink and click on the EVENTS tabs.

View Workshop Schedules (PDF).

A resumania is a resume workshop where you can stop by and have career counselors and employers critique your resume. Resumanias are held at various locations throughout the academic year. Below are several reasons to make sure you don't miss the next Resumania!

• Expand your network of professional contacts for the future.
• Polish your resume with advice from recruiters, employers, and career counselors.
• Ask questions about upcoming career fairs.
• Help prepare for your job or internship search.

Employers schedule information sessions to interact with students for recruiting purposes. This is an excellent chance to learn more about the company than what you can read on the website. Information sessions are often conducted by recent UK alumni. After a presentation on the company, there is usually time for brief conversations with the employer. At some information sessions, companies will conduct brief screening interviews at the end of the presentation. Take advantage of the information session to make a personal connection with the recruiter or company representative. Registration may be required and can be completed through Wildcat CareerLink.

Tips to impress at an information session:

• Take the initiative and meet 1:1 with a recruiter or human resources representative.
• Remember that first impressions matter!
• Introduce yourself, highlighting your accomplishments and interests that match the opportunity.
• Dress appropriately — business casual or nice campus casual preferred.
• Bring a copy of your resume and work samples if appropriate for your field.
• Expand your network of professional contacts for the future.

Information sessions scheduled through the Career Center are posted under the EVENTS tab in Wildcat CareerLink.

There is one rule to remember while conducting company research — consider the source of the information! Information generated by the organization tells you what that organization wants you to know. Information gathered from additional sources will help fill in the blanks. Learn to weigh the value of the information.

There are many places to gather information about employers! Check out the company's own website, annual statement, or do an internet search to gather information. Face to face communication with someone who knows about the company is a good way to gather in-depth information. Considering doing an informational interview with someone who works for the employer. Talk with employers at career fairs held on campus and network with recruiters by attending information sessions arranged through the career center. You can use online sources available through the career center such as Vault and Wildcat CareerLink to assist you in your research.

University and public libraries are invaluable resources. The downtown branch of the Lexington Public Library maintains company clippings and annual reports for many Central Kentucky employers, a large collection of periodicals, an index of Lane Report articles, and directories of regional and national businesses and manufacturers. Review the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce Business Directory.

If you are considering employment in another city, visit the local public library and university libraries in that city for reference materials. Chambers of Commerce often have lists of major employers available upon request. Look at Dun & Bradstreet Regional Directories and job bank books for various cities.

The Katherine Kemper Career Center Library located in the Stuckert Building has a variety of print and electronic resources which describe career possibilities, company information, education required for various careers, and the job outlook in different fields.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) publishes magazines every year called Job Choices, which contain company profiles, employer contact information, and salary survey results. Planning Job Choices, Volume l, has excellent articles on job market trends, resumes, interviewing, researching employers, and evaluating job offers. These magazines are available at the Career Center.

The NACE Salary Survey is published four times each year. This is a report of the salaries from job offers made to new college graduates from over 330 universities and colleges in the United States. As a NACE member, the Career Center receives and makes the Salary Surveys available through your career counselor. A sample of the information available in the NACE Salary Survey.

Look for books which discuss the reputations of various companies and what happens behind the scenes, like The 100 Best Companies to Work for In America by Levering, Moskowitz, and Katz.

Keep up with items in the news by reading newspapers and magazines, such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Business Week, Fortune, Harvard Business Review, New York Times, and U. S. News and World Report.

Many cities in the United States have local or regional business publications like:

• Business First (Louisville)
• The Lane Report (Lexington)
• Cincinnati Business Courier Book of Business Lists
• Atlanta Business Chronicle

Remember that it is always easier to find information about publicly owned companies (shares of stock in the company are available for purchase) than privately owned companies, and the same is true of national companies when compared to local companies.

Some of the resources available at the William T. Young Library that are well recognized sources of business information include:

• Wall Street Journal
• Dun & Bradstreet's Million Dollar Directory
• Dun & Bradstreet's Principal International Businesses

• Dun & Bradstreet's Who Owns Whom

Use computer stations available at the Career Center and William T. Young Library PC labs to access the WWW for the latest electronic information on organizations. To look at the latest sites we've identified and linked to, check out the Internet Links section. Among others, you'll find the following:

• The Online Career Library, powered by Vault, is available to U.K. students only through the Career Center. The library contains 18 Vault guidebooks; 2,500+ company profiles; 2,500+ company discussion areas; industry and occupational profiles; career advice; job search tools; and salary information.
• MonsterTRAK - provides job listings for over 280,000 employers, links to employer web sites, and a graduate school guide. The UK password is wildcats.
• JobWeb - website for the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Includes the information from the NACE Salary Survey.
• Rebecca Smith's eResumes & Resources - information about Web-based resources and electronic resumes.
• The Riley Guide - the premier guide to employment opportunities and resources on the internet.
• JobHuntersBible.com / What Color is Your Parachute - a net guide to job hunting online based on the best-selling job-hunting book by Richard Nelson Bolles.
• JobStar - career information, resume writing, 200 salary surveys and job opportunities with special emphasis on California.
• The University of Kentucky Library Subject Guide - See headings for Jobs & Careers
• CareerBuilder.com - Search for jobs as well as find job search related advice and articles.

You may find job descriptions and salary statistics for various career possibilities by using SIGI PLUS, an interactive, electronic database at the Career Center. Ask your career counselor about using this resource.

Check the Occupational Outlook Handbook or in the Katherine Kemper Career Library in print. The OOH has information about jobs, salaries, educational requirements, and sources of additional information.

The William T. Young Library has other sources of information in an extensive electronic collection available to UK students, faculty and staff. Check the University of Kentucky Library for complete information and links to the following:

• EDGAR - SEC Filings and Forms. The Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system performs automated collection, validation, indexing, acceptance, and forwarding of submissions by companies and others who are required by law to file forms with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
• Factiva - searchable fulltext to continuously updated newswires, trade magazines, & newspapers from around the globe. From Dow Jones Reuters Business Interactive LLC.
• Thomas Register of American Manufacturers - database of North American manufacturers; access by company name, product, service, or brand name. Includes links to catalogs and websites.
• Wall Street Journal (1984 - ) Updated daily. Fulltext (with abstracts) from Proquest.

With any of the electronic resources that you use, be sure to use the online help that's available. Read the Help screens on any web search engine which you use to improve your searching techniques.

Electronic resources are often more entertaining to use so be sure to start your company research early so if you get caught in the web, you'll still have enough time to do a proper search.