IPFW Mastodon Job and Internship Fair Sept. 23

Find the list of participating employers at www.ipfw.edu/jobzone!

Job Fair Success

Our job fairs are the largest events we organize at the office of Career Services. We already have 80 employers signed up for the NICE Career Fair. From our experience running these massive events, we've come up with a few suggestions for improving job fair success for students.

Dress Appropriately: One of the most common complaints we get from recruiters is that students don't dress appropriately for our events. Don't let an overly casual appearance detract from your qualifications!

Do Your Research: We post the list of attending employers weeks in advance of our career fairs. Doing prior research on employers of interest will provide you with two benefits. First, you'll come off as more prepared and professional when you speak with employers and second, you'll be less overwhelmed by the number of recruiters available to talk to if you know ahead of time who your target contacts are.

Prepare a Resume, But Don't Be Disappointed if a Recruiter Asks You to Apply Online: There are some anti-discrimination related federal guidelines that prevent larger companies from taking paper resumes from students. If a recruiter asks you to apply online do so and be sure to remind them that you met at the job fair.

Follow-Up: Ask employers 'What's the best way to follow-up with you?' THEN DO IT. Send thank-you notes to employers with whom you met.

Attend the Job Fair Prep Sessions: Take advantage of the drop-in assistance Career Services offers the Monday and Tuesday (April 9^th and 10^th) before the job fair. You can bring in a copy of your resume and get advice on what to wear and how to introduce yourself to employers.
The NICE Career Fair is Wednesday, April 11^th, 1pm-5pm, in the new International Ballroom in Walb.

Job Fair and Small Business Summit

Job Fair and Small Business Summit

Sponsored by: Indiana Third District Congressman Marlin Stutzman and IPFW

Thursday, May 19, from 1 to 5 p.m.

in the IPFW Walb Student Union Ballroom

For tips on how to work a job fair please view IPFW Career Services Career Spots Videos:
http://ipfw.edu/career/

Confirmed Employers for the 2011 Job Fair:

Parkview Health

Pro Resources Staffing

Briljent LLC

Comcast

Coca-Cola Refreshments

Freedom Academy

Small Business Administration

Stella and Dot

Daves Diesel Angola LLC

BF Goodrich

Indiana State Police

Lutheran Social Services

Symmetry Medical

Investment Advisors International

Oak View Tool Company

Knight Mechanical Testing

Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce Graduate Retention program

United States Army

United States Marine Corps

Women's Enterprise

Shuttleworth Insurance

Huntington University

Fort Wayne Metals

Steel Dynamics Incorporated

Indiana Wesleyan University

Allen County Government

Homewood Suites by Hilton

UPS

Indiana Tech

University of Saint Francis

VA of Northern Indiana

Heritage Food Service Equipment

Harrison College

Bright star Healthcare

Millers Health Systems

WestPoint Financial Group

Wayne Fasteners

Cellular Connection

For additional information regarding this event, please follow this link: The Fort Wayne Chamber's Daily Dose Blog

It's Job Fair Season.... IPFW students gain interviews!

Our office, IPFW Career Services, recently hosted a job fair with over 50 companies and employers in attendance!

We assisted students and alumni during the days leading up to the job fair with resume preparations, what to wear, and how to introduce themselves at the fair.  They must have listened because many students left with interviews later that day or throughout the next week!  One employer scheduled 15 interviews with students for the following week, while 3 other employers stayed at IPFW after the fair to conduct interviews with students.

For the students/alumni who did not get interviews yet, there are a few possible reasons...

1. You were instructed to complete an on-line application with the company. This may have been frustrating, but your attendance at the job fair was not worthless. These companies expect you to follow through with their instructions and also follow-up with the recruiter by email, letter, or phone. On-line applications are a common practice for many employers, and remember they came to campus for a reason and it was to meet you and hopefully get some leads for potential interviews.
2. You did not dress professionally. Yes, I saw some students with skateboards, large backpacks, jeans/ sweatpants, t-shirts, and the like at the job fair. Not the best first impression when meeting someone who could potentially hire you. But, not all is lost. Don't forget to follow up!
3. You didn't come prepared to network. Part of a job fair is networking and presenting yourself in a professional manner through proper communication. The number one response we heard from employers was, "it's now time to teach the students how to talk to employers." Did you start the conversation with something like, "What do you do?" Probably not the best way to draw the employer into talking with you. Next time try starting with introducing yourself (name, major, year in school, etc.) and then why you're interested in talking to that company. This means you need to research the companies before the day of the fair. But, not all is lost... follow up with the employers you met at the fair to further communicate your interest.

Are you noticing a theme to follow-up with the employers? Well, you did grab business cards, or at least wrote down the recruiters' names, right? If you didn't there is a back-up resource. Come by Career Services, Kettler Hall 109 on IPFW's campus, and inquire about the names of recruiters who attended. We can help get you back on-track. Following up is key to making a good impression, especially if the first one wasn't your best. Write a professional letter or email, or prepare for a professional phone conversation.  Career Services can help with this too!


THERE IS ANOTHER JOB FAIR! Try again on Thursday, April 14th from 1-5pm at Indiana Tech's Andorfer Commons. All local college students and alumni are welcome to attend this job fair, NICE Expo. This fair is focused more towards professional full-time degreed positions and internships. CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF ATTENDING COMPANIES! Don't forget to do your research and come prepared to network!

TWO Career Fairs...

Please see the information below about two upcoming career fairs. These are outstanding opportunities for IPFW students and alumni to connect with employers.

Summer Job & Internship Fair:

WHEN: Thursday, March 31, 2011 from 10 AM-2 PM

WHERE: IPFW's Walb Student Union Ballroom

INFORMATION: http://new.ipfw.edu/offices/career/students/summer-job--internship-fair.html

Northeast Indiana Career Employment (NICE) Expo:

WHEN: Thursday, April 14, 2011 from 1-5 PM

WHERE: Indiana Tech, Andorfer Commons.

INFORMATION: http://www.grace.edu/resources/career-services/nice-expo

Job Fair Success

Our job fairs are the largest events we organize at the office of Career Services. We average between 30 and 60 employers and between 300 and 500 students in attendance per fair. From our experience running these massive events, we've come up with a few suggestions for improving job fair success for both employers and students.

Employers:

Stay the Entire Length of the Job Fair: Some of the best candidates are the ones with complex and busy schedules. They may be arriving at the last minute, not because they didn't prepare carefully, but because they are coming from an internship or class. It sends a negative message to students when employers leave too early. One of the most common complaints we hear from students is that too many employers leave early.

Send staff who are committed to interacting with students: Knowledgeable and outgoing staff who proactively reach out to students are sure to draw the best candidates to your table.
Stand in front of your table: Remember, for many students, this may be their first time interacting with professional employers, being physically approachable will make you more accessible to candidates.
Avoid leaving your table empty if possible: If you came alone, perhaps leave a note on the table indicating when you expect to return. Bottom of Form
Students:
Dress Appropriately: One of the most common complaints we get from recruiters is that students don't dress appropriately for our events. Don't let an overly casual appearance detract from your qualifications!

Do Your Research: We post the list of attending employers weeks in advance of our career fairs. Doing prior research on employers of interest will provide you with two benefits. First, you'll come off as more prepared and professional when you speak with employers and second, you'll be less overwhelmed by the number of recruiters available to talk to if you know ahead of time who your target contacts are.
Prepare a Resume, But Don't Be Disappointed if a Recruiter Asks You to Apply Online: There are some anti-discrimination related federal guidelines that prevent larger companies from taking paper resumes from students. If a recruiter asks you to apply online do so and be sure to remind them that you met at the job fair.
Follow-Up: Ask employers 'What's the best way to follow-up with you?' THEN DO IT. Send thank-you notes to employers with whom you met.
Attend the Job Fair Prep Sessions: Take advantage of the drop-in assistance Career Services offers the Monday and Tuesday before the job fairs. You can bring in a copy of your resume and get advice on what to wear and how to introduce yourself to employers.
The Summer Job & Internship Fair is March 31^st.

IPFW Job Fair

The fall IPFW Career & Internship Fair is fast approaching. Don't forget to polish your resume, dress to impress, and come early. Over 140 jobs & internship opportunities available!

Thursday, September 23rd

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Walb Union Ballroom

If you need help preparing come to Career Services, Kettler Hall 109. We have extended drop-in hours Today, Sept. 21st from 10am-4pm. You can also drop-in on Wednesday, Sept. 22nd from 10am-2pm. For any last minute questions, we will have an "Ask a Career Counselor" table at the job fair. There's more information to help you prepare, including a list of attending companies, on our website.

The IPFW job fair is open to all IPFW students & alumni, IU & Purdue alumni, and other local college students.

Think of a Job Fair as a chance to Interview

According to the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) and the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, the number one reason incoming students decided to go to college was “to be able to get a better job.” Of incoming students nationwide in 2009, 84.3% listed this as a “very important” reason in their decision to attend college.

A job fair can have anywhere from 50-150 companies ready to talk to job seekers. This isn't like walking into a fast food restaurant and asking for an application... the employers you'll meet at a job fair are ready to interview you!

So what does this mean to you? Prepare for a job fair like you would for a professional interview.

1. Do research on the companies you want to meet. This way you already know what they do and you can ask other questions like, "What's a typical day like for an intern?" An easy way for you to not be considered for a job is to ask what the company does. All of that information is on their website which you should have reviewed.
2. If you kept notes on the companies, consider writing them on separate index cards. This way you can easily refresh your memory about each company in between visiting each booth. And, you can also write any additional notes on the back of the card, like the name of the employer you spoke with and anything interesting you want to refer to in a thank you card.
3. Update your resume. Utilize your college career center and request a resume critique. It's important to have another set of eyes review your resume for typos and content. IPFW's Career Services center is located in Kettler Hall 109 and has drop-in hours Monday-Friday, 10am-2pm.
4. Dress to Impress! Wear a suit & tie, or pant/skirt suit for the job fair. If you dress up then you send a clear message to the employer that you're serious about working for them and can look and behave professionally.
5. Shake their hands firmly. Make a good impression with your handshake and eye contact. Avoid these types of handshakes: (images from theoatmeal.com)

Last bit of advice: FOLLOW UP WITH A THANK YOU NOTE! Make sure you get the employers' names and send them a thank you note within 24 hours. Write the note with a personal touch by mentioning something you discussed at the job fair. This helps to impress upon them your interest in the position and sets you apart from the many who won't send thank you notes.

Do Career Fair Employers Just Blow Students Off?

SO, You dressed up, brought a fabulous resume and shook hands with a lot of employers who said "Go apply online." Is that it? Is this employer blowing you off? Couldn't you have applied online at home? Sure. So could everybody else. But by coming to the Career & Internship Fair you showed initiative. You showed up. Applying online is now the next step in the process.

The important thing after the job fair is to keep the ball rolling. Keep in mind that the minute you enter the job fair, you are in an interview and must act professionally at all times. Employers will either make notes on your resume, watch for your application to show-up in their online database, or will just be really impressed with the line 'when I met your representative at the IPFW Career Fair' in your cover letter. The most important thing for you to do is not wait for employers to follow-up with you but for you to FOLLOW-UP WITH EMPLOYERS, WITHIN 24 to 48 hours.

• Ask 'What's the best way to follow-up with you?' THEN DO IT.
• Send thank-you notes to employers with whom you met.
• File away the literature you have collected. It can be helpful later in writing application letters or preparing for interviews. Employers want to hire people who know the company.
• Improve your resume if you learned something which better reflects your qualifications or focus.
• Network: Every person you talk with has the potential to be a job lead. Other candidates can be very helpful. They may have interviewed with a company you had not considered. Share leads, resources and ideas with others
• And yes– GO APPLY ONLINE!

The IPFW Career & Internship Fair is Thursday, September 23rd from 10am-2pm in Walb Union Ballroom.

Job Fair Prep Sessions

IPFW Job Fair Prep Sessions
September 20 & 21, 2010
Drop-in hours 10 am - 4 pm / KT 109

Over 150 jobs and internships are available for students and alumni to apply for at the Career & Internship Fair!

Come to the Job Fair Prep Sessions for help with:
* Resume updates
* 30 second commercial
* Professional dress
* Managing and working the job fair

You can also check out this video on how to work a job fair:

The Career & Internship Fair is on Thursday, September 23rd from 10-2pm in the Walb ballroom.

Networking: step-by-step tips

I had the pleasure of hearing Lorraine Ball speak at a local conference at the end of March. She was so engaging and had a very practical approach to networking. Here are some tips from the expert...

Face-to-Face Groundwork

Everyone that attends a networking function has the same goal: to meet someone. If you're hesitant about approaching someone think of it in this light: by approaching others you're helping them achieve their goal of meeting someone!

Nuts & Bolts of the Introduction

• Firm handshake and eye contact goes a long way. Try to remember names; this will impress the others you meet when it comes to ending the conversation.
• Give what you want to get (e.g. "Hi I'm Karen from IPFW" will in turn give you his/her first name and where they work)
• You have 15 seconds to introduce yourself before the other person gets bored, starts looking for someone else to talk to, or begins to make a visual to-do list in their mind.
• Treat it like a tennis match and volley. Remember to ask "What do you do?" or "Tell me more about yourself."
• Listen to the other person. Identify people with whom you want to have longer conversations and who you should meet.
• Conversation starters for each gender: Females - comment on clothing/jewelry; Males - comment on recent sports event... DON'T FORGET TO BRIDGE THE TOPIC!

Bridging the Conversation

• If you can't make the bridge from an unrelated topic, like clothes or sports, then DON'T GO THERE!
• Be careful not to get stuck in a conversation that won't benefit you or the person you're speaking with.
• Try a simple bridge phrase like: "... and what do you do?"

Ending the Conversation

• Sometimes it's hard to end a conversation, but it's necessary for you to continue networking and meeting the people that would most benefit you, and by meeting you.
• Try some of these enders:

"I enjoyed talking to you..." then step backwards. Most people will catch onto this nonverbal cue and follow your lead.

"I would love to talk with you further, can I have your contact information?" But, only ask for contact info if you plan on following up.

"I've taken up enough of your time, there's a lot of other people I'm sure you'll want to meet."

• Try the Hand-Off method of ending a conversation. If you know someone in the room that should meet this person, then pass them on to make a good connection.
• Receiving Business Cards: Treat this card with respect and take a little time to view it in front of the owner. It's your last chance to make the other person feel special by commenting on the card. Comment on things like the logo, style, their job title, etc.

Working the Room

If you're not sure how to work the networking event, try these two strategies.

1. Position yourself just to the right of the entrance. Most people will gravitate to the right and work the room in a counter-clockwise fashion. Not convinced? Picture your local grocery store and how it moves customers to the right when you first enter.
2. Try another route. If you don't want to remain stationary, then try walking to the left and continue in a clockwise fashion. You'll meet everyone on your way around because they're walking towards you!

If someone you want to meet is conversing with someone else, keep in mind these options.

1. Position yourself in the person's line of sight. Pay attention to that person's body language. If he/she acknowledges you with eye contact, a head nod, or even a verbal hello then it's your opportunity to enter the conversation.
2. If you're being ignored even after trying the previous option, then move on to another person. That nonverbal is telling you that he/she cannot or does not want to be interrupted at the moment. Maybe he/she will open up later and you can speak to him/her without causing negative emotions.

After the Networking

You have about 48 hours to follow up and remind your connections that you're interested in remaining in-touch. Think about it, can you remember what you had for lunch 3 days ago? Most people start forgetting what's happened within the 48 hour window.

Send an email or a thank you card to follow up. Maybe make plans to meet for lunch if this is someone you really want to talk with further.

These tips work just as well for JOB FAIRS since it's a structured networking event.

Career Fairs -- Advice for everyone!

The IPFW Career & Internship Fair is coming up on Thursday, September 17th from 10am-3pm in the Walb Union on campus. All IPFW students and alumni are welcome to attend.

Even if you're not ready for a job or internship right now, but might be thinking about it for the near future or just want to expand your professional network you can use job fairs as a means to accomplish this.

Come prepared with your 2-minute commercial about yourself and the knowledge you have of the company (see the Frank Costanza blog entry prior). Bring a business card or your resume to pass out to employers. You can also ask for one of their business cards and you SHOULD ALWAYS follow up with an email or phone call thanking them for their time. Don't forget to periodically re-connect with them, if you're using this as a networking tool, so they don't forget about you and you can effectively help each other when the occasion arises.

Check out more information about the IPFW Career & Internship Fair HERE. If you would like to talk to someone about how to prepare for the Career & Internship Fair, drop into our office (Kettler Hall 109) on September 15-16, 10am-4pm. If you bring your resume, we'll even give you some quick tips on how to update and improve it! And, for some information about how to work a job fair, check out this video:

LinkedIn and Upcoming Career Fair Information

So I was in a webinar this week about Career Services offices using LinkedIn to connect with students, and as a tool for students to do networking with university alumni and potential employers, and it got me to thinking. I was thinking about how the group of Resident Assistants to whom a coworker and I presented last week about online social networking all gave me a blank look when I started talking about LinkedIn, and only one knew the basics of what it is: "It's more professional than Facebook."

And, because my mind tends to wander during webinars, I started thinking about how online social networking can work out really well for us introverts. I have coworkers that are extraverts, and I have to be honest: I envy them and how easily they network with people they don't even know. But maybe online social networking can be the introverts' answer to doing networking when your best mode of communicating is not face-to-face in the moment. I wonder if the "In" in LinkedIn could stand for "introverts"--as in LinkedIn(troverts). (I wonder if I should trademark that....) Regardless, I suggest you all check out LinkedIn--you can join groups of interest to you, find graduates of your university and see what they're doing with their degrees, and start to build a positive professional presence online.

On another note, the 6th Annual IPFW Career & Internship Fair is just around the corner. We have over 30 employers currently registered, which is admittedly less than last year's 70 (although we still have 4 weeks until the actual event, and many employers like to wait to register for the fair), but we're still excited about that. I think the perception out there is that no one is hiring, and it's definitely not true. What I would suggest, though, is that you prepare exceptionally well for this fair--you have a lot of competition, so you need to be on top of your game with your resume, attire, and rehearsed speech to employers.

For more info on who will be coming to our career fair, check out www.ipfw.edu/career.

SustaIN: Indiana's Green Ideas and Networking Event

Even in this down economy there’s one employment sector that people can’t stop talking about: Green Jobs. From crafting environmentally sound public policy, to designing solar powered cell phone chargers, employers and job seekers are very enthusiastic about the opportunities available in the green market.

To support this trend, and as part of the Indiana Collegiate Career Fair , on April 22, there will also be another event called SustaIN. “SustaIN is a unique forum for students, business professionals, and the general public to meet with and learn from Indiana’s research and industry leaders about green and sustainability initiatives and practices.”

Summer Internships

Want an internship for summer? DON'T WAIT! Start now to increase chances of your top internship choice. Indiana INTERNnet published some simple steps in their December 2008 Newsletter on how to get an internship by summer. Click here for the complete article.

Here are some basic steps to get you started:
January

1. Visit the Career Services office (KT 109 at IPFW)
2. Write down some goals/objectives for a positive internship experience
3. Update your resume
4. Research companies and internship directories (like JobZone and Indiana INTERNnet)

February

1. Attend workshops and practice your interviewing & networking skills
2. Request a mock interview with Career Services
3. Attend any career fairs in the area
   

March

1. Attend career fairs
2. Continue to apply for positions found on company websites and internship directories
3. Begin interviewing (don't forget to send thank you notes after interviews)
4. Continue networking with faculty, alumni, and employers
5. Attend the Mock Interview Day on March 25th (call 260-481-0689 for more info)

April

1. Attend Summer Job & Internship Fair (April 2nd in Walb Ballroom 10am-2pm)
2. Attend NICE Expo (April 16th in Walb Ballroom 2-6pm)
3. Continue researching companies, applying and interviewing

May

1. Accept offered position via letter of acceptance
2. Contact the Office of Career Services or your major department (which ever applies) to inform them of internship and ensure all proper paperwork is completed for the school
3. Start your internship (some internships won't start until June, though)

For more information about which office you should contact at IPFW when doing an internship, please review the slide presentation below. Good Luck Internship Hunting!