It’s that time of year! With the wrapping up of midterms, we are approaching the exciting though somewhat intimidating annual Career & Internship Fair at Chico State! The fair will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the BMU auditorium. All students, regardless of year or major, are encouraged to attend to start exploring professional opportunities. Whether this will be your first time attending a career fair or you’re an experienced attendee who just needs a slight refresher, here’s a few important things to remember before stepping into the auditorium.
Dress To Impress
This is a CAREER fair! Be sure to dress in business attire. Showing up in jeans and a tank top might feel physically comfortable, but it looks unprofessional and can be a big turn-off for potential employers. Khakis, medium to long length skirts and dresses, blouses, and neutral colors will be your best friend. If you’re struggling to find the perfect outfit in your closet, ask your roommates, friends, or consider a trip to the store (if you’re trying to avoid breaking the bank, try a secondhand clothing shop such as Clothing Revival).
Perfect Your Resume
This one seems like a no-brainer, but a lot of misconceptions can be made about what a “good” resume looks like. Avoid non-neutral colors and hard-to-read fonts. Be sure to include the experiences that are most relevant to your desired career path and limit your resume to one page. Chico State’s Career Center offers some excellent advice for how to perfect your resume, including the use of transferable skills and appropriate formatting. You can even schedule an appointment with an advisor if you’d like a professional to help you edit your resume. Be sure to print plenty of copies prior to the career fair!
Do Your Research
Avoid walking into that auditorium with no clue of what companies you’ll be meeting. Here is a full list of the employers that will be present at the upcoming career fair. Consider reviewing the list prior and highlighting the companies you’re most interested in talking to. From there, dive deeper into their missions, open opportunities, and just try to learn more about them. This will show employers you have a genuine interest in their work, a HUGE green flag in a job candidate!
Be Confident!
It’s totally okay, normal, and acceptable to be nervous. Before heading over to the fair, hype yourself up! Remind yourself of your accomplishments, repeat some affirmations in the mirror, and remember that just showing up is already a HUGE step in the right direction. Be proud of yourself for that and find some comfort knowing that what’s meant to be will be. Be confident, be professional, and be yourself. They’re going to love you!