When you think of the term “career services” or generally think about a career services department, what is the first thing that comes to mind for you personally? Take a second to ponder and think about your own experience with career services. Depending on the utilization of a career services department as a student or alum, it may vary.
One of the most popular answers across students and alum is “career fairs”, complemented by “internships and jobs”. Although this has been a common response over the years, it seems as though the “career fair” expectation and approach is changing.
In general, career fairs are a great opportunity to meet representatives of companies on your college campus looking to network and potentially hire talented employees. For a student or alum, a career fair allows you to present yourself professionally. Getting direct insight from an employer and industry leaders can really show a career fair attendee what is out there in the job market and what some of the expectations are in different industries.
The approach and expectation from the employer side of a career fair is ever changing. There was a time in the existence of career fairs on college campuses where you would potentially interview with an employer that day and maybe follow it up with an offer shortly.
Jumping to present day, is this still the case, at least for career fairs on US college campuses? The answer is no – in a very direct and honest way. You may have noticed some of your big brand and well known employer’s in your industry are not even showing up to your college career fair. It may not make sense at first, but there is more to it. These employers are now becoming very selective in which fairs and the number of fairs they will attend in a recruiting cycle. More and more, there is the pressure to show value and a ROI in a fair. Sometimes a bigger, more national conference might seem like a better option for a variety of reasons. Without diving too deep into the future of recruiting, AI is becoming a factor and might be the best ROI.
Now that you have a little insight from the employer side, you may ask yourself, now what? What should my strategy be at a career fair? How should I approach career fairs in the near future? Well, leave it to your career services department to provide you with assistance:
- Network, network, network. This is something you will probably hear from every career services representative. It’s a common and easy thing to say, and the return on investment can be life changing.
- Use career fairs as a starting point to build relationships with individuals at companies in your professional field. At Illinois Tech, we even show you step-by-step how to be effective at #BusinessRelations found in our Index. Most students and recent graduates do not have an industry network. With career fairs and employers on campus, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t start building your professional network. And, with tools like LinkedIn, you can transcend the career fair, continuously grow even more relationships to conquer the ever-changing job search landscape
- At career fairs, you can also connect with alumni who are back to network and help recruit talent for their companies. At Illinois Tech career fairs, over 50% of employers in attendance have an alum back on campus helping with the career fair event.
- Gain insights and industry trends. Doesn’t it make the most sense to see what employers are looking for in candidates, what they are using in terms of softwares, systems, etc.. Think about how valuable a conversation with an employer on these topics can be for you and your preparation entering the application process and eventually the workforce.
- Use career fairs as a springboard. This is not the end all/be all when it comes to finding an internship or job. Career Fairs are just one of many things you can do to engage with employers and learn about opportunities. If you do things right, multiple engagements with an employer can lead to acknowledgement and more importantly consideration.
So, as you attend a career fair throughout your time as a student/alum at Illinois Tech, consider this one of many opportunities to connect with professionals in your industry. Stay up to date by adding Career Services Events to your calendar where more than just career fairs are offered.
The overall key to a successful career fair experience is preparation. One thing Illinois Tech students can do is utilize Career Services as a support system while preparing for these important events. Utilizing tools such as our 24/7 Index on our LinkedIn Group provides many resources.
I encourage you to visit Career Services at Illinois Tech in the McCormick Tribune Campus Center, Room 106 maybe more than you plan. Taking full advantage of our services will help in your professional development. Getting insights from our professional and student staff may open your eyes to a career services department. You can contact Career Services at careerservices@iit.edu or 312.567.6800.
