Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Excellent oppotunity to meet lots of differnt companies |
| Disadvantages: |
Your jaw kills by the end of the day due to excess smiling . |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
So you’ve finished university and are now completely skint. That means the “travelling the world” idea has to be put off at least 15 years whilst you think about the countless loans you took out, the overdraft you used up and the credit cards you maxxed! So what do to now? Well...there’s always a graduate job, you mutter to yourself.
Well if you do want a grad job (or this is your only option left) then it’s time to start visiting those career fairs that career advisors go on and on and on about!! I visited countless number (ok 3) career fairs when I was at university and although I didn’t get my job from one of them I did manage to grab lots of very nice funky pens, some lovely moue mats and in, one case, a very nice clock!
So what are career fairs all about?
Well, It’s where all the top shot (and not so top shot) companies come to recruit graduates. The fairs are usually held in big halls such as Nynex Arena or the Armitage centre if you’re coming to a Manchester one. One entry you are given a map of where all the companies are located and it’s up to you to...yes…SELL YOURSELF! (Aren’t you sick of hearing that!)
How can you make a good impression?
· Well, first things first. Prepare an up-to-date CV. There are a million and one ways to create a CV but for IT (Information Technology) jobs, employers are usually interested in what technical abilities you have so personally I would slap these towards the top of the first page along with a short personal profile at the top. Also put all experience with the most recent first!
· Dress as if going to an interview? Why? Because a few companies actually give on-the-spot interviews. Although, I’ve found that this is pretty rare and the only company I’ve come across that does is Lucent Technologies.
· Go to your careers office (of course) and swot up. Look at the careers web site because they will have a list of all the companies that are going to attend!
· Plan a route around the career fair. There is no way in the world you’ll be able to visit all of the companies that are there so be selective!
· Take around 20 CV’s with you (more if you feel ambitious). After you’ve spoken to around 15 companies in one day you get verrry sick of it all and resign yourself to the fact that you’ll be happy living off the dole.
· Do ask them if they have a graduate scheme and what it entails. On average this should last 2 years and if there isn’t one in place ask then what training is provided.
· Be cheery, ask questions and show you are interested (even if you’re not!) because it’s nice to have a few job offers to choose from!
· If you get tired of trying to make a good impression with companies then simply hand out the your remaining CV’s to whichever companies you come across. Some may go straight in the bin but you may be pleasantly surprised if a job interview results out of this!
· There will always always be a humongous queue at IBM so don’t bother trying to make a good impression, huts try to give your CV to them and try to escape without being trampled over!
· Schlumberger are located internationally and a very good company to work for. As a graduate, you will be required to have knowledge of networks. If you see them then tell them everything you know about networks, topologies and the like. This is there on-the-spot interview and if they like you they will give you a second interview. There starting salary is £32,000 and the training is in Paris!! My friend works there now and is lucky enough to have done work in Pakistan, Australia and France all in one year and all on company expenses! !
Remember to collect plenty of pens, mouse mats, stress toys, cool bouncing balls that light up when the bounce (only Morgan Stanley Dean Witter give these out!) and key rings! That’s always the best part of the day!
