Job Fairs
Career Fairs (Jobs, Internships and Graduate School)
The Fall CAREER FAIR will include employers to discuss the organizations they represent and available opportunities. Students may meet representatives, collect information, have brief interviews, and leave resumes with a significant number and variety of employers, all in one location and on one day. Many career fields are represented, such as human services, engineering / technical, business, merchandising, pharmaceuticals, government and biotechnology.
Job Expos
The Part-Time Job Expo, held during the first week of classes each Fall, links students with on-campus and off-campus job opportunities. University departments offer work-study and student assistant positions. Off-campus employers, many of whom are accessible by bus, visit campus to hire students for part-time positions.
Companies attending the Fair
Go to ZebraNet for the list of companies attending THE FAIR. We have included the positions they have available, the majors they typically seek, and links to their websites.
Benefits for Students
Why attend? Maybe you'll plan to:
- Just check out what's going on
- See a friend who graduated last year and now is representing a company
- Visit with specific companies you might want to work for
- Find an internship or part time job
- Apply for full time positions
- Collect company literature and free stuff
Preparing for the Fair
Click here for an article from Jobweb on Preparing for the Fair.
Click here for another article on Preparing for the Fair.
- Students who prepared ahead of time have told us they felt more comfortable, more confident, and made better contacts than those who just showed up.
- First things first - get your resume together. To learn more about writing your resume, click here.
- Research the companies who plan to attend, and draw up a list of those you want to visit. Divide your list into three sections:
- First, list the companies you very much want to see and impress.
- Second, list those that seem interesting, but for which you need more information
- Third, list companies to check out if you have time.
- Prioritizing allows you to focus on what's important to you. It also gives you the chance to set goals and feel good about the work you've done prior to the Fair.
- When researching the companies, take notes. What interests you about ABC Co.? or XYZ Inc.? Jot down questions.
- Prepare your 60 second commercial. Huh? Imagine you approach your first choice. You get to the table - what do you say? Do you offer a limp handshake? Your personal commercial could include some basic information about you - your class standing, major/ minor, career interests, as well as what you are looking for.
Here are two examples:- Hi, my name is Pudge Hefflefinger. I'm a senior here at Stony Brook, and I'm interested in your management training program. A friend of mine works for Enterprise and tells me that the training program really helped her learn how to build a business. She loves her job, and that, along with good training, is very important to me. May I give you my resume?
- Hi, I'm a Computer Science major with a 4.0. I'd like to get a job making $100,000 a year and work for a company who will pay for grad school. Does this company pay for grad school?(How might an employer react to this student?) A couple of minutes is probably all you will have to impress a company rep - use your time wisely.
- Hi, my name is Pudge Hefflefinger. I'm a senior here at Stony Brook, and I'm interested in your management training program. A friend of mine works for Enterprise and tells me that the training program really helped her learn how to build a business. She loves her job, and that, along with good training, is very important to me. May I give you my resume?
- What to wear?
Does it have to be a dark blue pinstriped suit? No, of course not. The best choice for Job Fair attire is a business suit - but it certainly doesn't have to be blue pinstripes. Other choices - for men - shirt & tie, slacks and blazer. For women - skirt and blouse with blazer. Regardless of your outfit, make sure it is clean and pressed, and fits properly. - What to bring?
The ideal is a portfolio that contains several copies of your resume, and a place to hold company literature or business cards you collect. A bookbag is OK if absolutely necessary, but a briefcase or conservative handbag is better. Stash a few breath mints in your pocket - they always come in handy!
Employer Feedback
Every semester employers are asked to complete an evaluation. Some of the employer comments about student participants were positive and others were not. Read the feedback carefully to learn how to make a positive impression on employers at future events.
- "Students are always motivated, eager, and friendly."
- "Enthusiastic, outstanding students."
- "Many students were interested in the give-aways (pens, candy) and did not even want to talk with us regarding employment."
- "Students should 'all' dress for interviews. Students should have an idea of what their career goals are and review job descriptions 'before the Fair'. Students should not start conversations with 'what jobs do you have?'"
- "Students should know to be dressed professionally."
- "Students should not expect employers to match them to any job available. They should review open positions and tell us they are qualified or why they are interested."
What Happens at the Fair
When you arrive at the Stony Brook Job/Internship Fair, you will receive a map of the floor including the location of each table. With a prioritized list, you won't waste time walking randomly through the Fair; you can locate your top choices immediately.
After the Fair
Your sending a thank you or follow up note is entirely appropriate. Organize your follow-up strategy. Click here to learn more about writing thank you letters.
