Attending Careers Fairs

Through our 7 Careers Fairs in 2009 you will find out about career opportunities across all degree areas: accounting, law, arts, commerce, biotechnology, consulting, engineering, environmental services, financial services, human services, information technology, management, research and development, and the sciences, to name just a few! Plus look out for our Online Fairs such as our Online Public Sector Recruitment Guide.

• Accounting, Commerce & Business - Wednesday 11th March 6pm - 8pm
• Science/IT /Engineering - Wednesday 18th March 5pm - 7pm
• Law - Thursday 19th March 5pm - 7pm
• Teaching - Monday 22nd June 12noon - 2pm
• Nursing - Monday 27th July 4pm - 6pm
• Jobs, Jobs, Jobs .... Recruitment Agencies - Wednesday 26th August 12pm - 2pm
• Health & Community Services - Wednesday 16th September 12pm - 2pm

For more information visit: http://www.flinders.edu.au/careers/sub/whatson.php

Maximise your opportunities at the Careers & Recruitment Fairs

Careers Fairs are a great way to meet a wide range of graduate employers at a single event, and to explore possible career paths with different organisations. While there will be the opportunity to collect recruitment materials, and information brochures, there is much more to a careers fair than that. Here's your chance to interact with these employers away from the context of a formal interview - and you might even glean some helpful information that will give you an edge in your applications and interviews!

Here are our tips to impress

Before the Fair

Check the list of which organisations will be attending, and what disciplines they recruit from. Prepare some questions to ask the employer. Research the companies of interest....so you can ask well informed questions, and impress the employer representatives with your knowledge of the company. This also means that you don't ask questions that are clearly explained on the graduate recruitment pages of their website. Plan to make a positive impression and to present yourself in a professional manner. Show them you are prepared and career-focussed and be ready to talk about yourself as and when appropriate. But keep it brief, these fairs are busy events, attended by many students.

At The Fair

• Visit your target employers. But also spare some time for the other organisations that may have relevant opportunities for you.
• If there are break out sessions at the Fair, attend them...again, this is another opportunity to get good information, to put questions, and to show your enthusiasm and your interest.... In other words, it is another networking opportunity for you.
• Collect brochures and INTERACT...... Make yourself stand out!
• Ask your questions .. and try to get a feel for the culture of the organisation and the career paths available, beyond what is in the brochures.
• Bring a notepad to jot down information.
• Have a CV on hand in case any of the employers show a particular interest in you (though remember, this is a busy event, and some may prefer to receive this information through the graduate application process).
• Sometimes the employer may bring along a representative who has been, or is currently undertaking their graduate recruitment program or they may have been through it themselves.. this is a fantastic opportunity to find out more about what the graduate program is really like... and to ask questions about their experience of going through the selection process.
• Thank the employer representative for their time.

There will also be a stand staffed by a representative from the Careers and Employer Liaison Centre, with an array of career resources for you to collect. Please feel free to speak to our representative/s if you have any queries.

After the Fair

• If you have been invited to contact someone in an organisation, make sure you follow up promptly.
• Review the information, notes, and brochures that you have gathered.
• Plan your graduate applications, allocate time to complete them in your semester schedule, and diarise closing dates.

And a couple of don'ts ........

• Don't arrive just before the closing time, as some employers may have packed up their stand.....
• Don't hover a metre away from the employer's stand and avoid eye contact - this is your chance to interact with them so make the most of it!
• Don't just take the information brochures and the freebies and then go to the next stand! We do hear from employer representatives who get frustrated when students don't bother to talk to them or ask questions.

Some questions to ask ....

The process

• How many graduates are you seeking?
• What's the competition for entry like?
• What types of graduates tend to be successful in your company's recruiting process?
• What personal qualities and professional skills/knowledge are you seeking?
• Are you recruiting postgraduate students?
• Does your company recruit graduates at other times of the year or only in specified dates?
• Is there any further training I could do to enhance my prospects of employment in your organisation?
• Do you offer Work Experience, industry placements or vacation work?

The application/interview

• Does your company have any preferences for the formatting or content of resumes and cover letters?
• What are the mistakes to avoid with the application, assessment centre or interview?

Professional Development

• What ongoing training is offered to graduate recruits?
• What is the possibility of pursuing further qualifications and training within the job?

The organisation

• What made you choose this company? What do enjoy most about working there? What do you enjoy least?
• What qualities are important for success in your company?
• What are the positives / downsides of working in a particular role or section?
• What would be the best way for you to get more detailed information regarding their organisation, its clients and financial performance?
• What are your company's significant achievements?
• What goals has your organisation set for the next 2-3 years?
• You may also have specific queries about a division of the organisation that particularly interests you and specific projects within the organisation.

Career Pathways

• What can graduates of (my discipline) expect to be doing in 2, 5, and 10 years from now?
• What advancement opportunities exist for graduates?
• What specialisations are graduates placed in after graduate programs?
• What opportunities are there for working interstate/overseas, long term or short term, and how quickly is this possible to achieve within a particular role/function?

Make sure you ask a balanced range of questions (i.e. not just focussing on the benefits of the Graduate Program for you, try to cover questions relating to the skills and capabilities you can bring to the organisation).

Finally

Remember, these companies are keen to market themselves to you, and to promote the advantages of their graduate programs.... you may have the chance to market yourself to them. Use it!