I think that going to career fairs is really important because you immediately have a sense of, okay you can talk to this representative and get their contact information and follow up with them later. Going to the career fairs in those early years in college can help you get those opportunities. And reason I had two internships was because I started early, I went to the career fair my freshman year, didn’t hear anything anything back, went back sophomore year and because I had already practiced and I had already met the recruiters, I was more successful. So starting early gave me more of a, an opportunity, more time to get in more industry experience. By the time your senior year rolls around, you’re much more aware of the process and you know how to navigate your way through that career fair and be successful when it
really matters for that full-time job, for that career. It’s, it’s a little intimidating if it’s your first time just because you walk in, and so I walked into the Career Fair and there’s so many people, so many students kind of looking for the same job that you’re looking for so it’s a little nerve-wracking. When I went to the fall career days, after I did all my research and, you know, looked the part and then, you know, handed my resume out to companies, I found myself in very serious conversations with them getting offers and going through interview processes. I looked to see which employers were going to be there and then I made a list of people that I wanted to talk to and then I, I prepared myself a little bit, I worked on my resume, I, I practiced talking to students, pretending they were recruiters. It kind of shows, because it’s not difficult to. Google Who’s Cognizant, what do they do, and just pick up, when we’re, when we were founded in such like that, the small little tidbits of information that so you did a little bit of research, a little bit goes a long way. They will ask you what are, what are your interests, what’s your major so if you already have an answer, it’s better for you, you’re more successful. Most of the conversations at the career fair felt that way. I think they were looking more just to connect with you, to get a feel for who you are, what your story is And that way you get a sense of what aligns more with you and you can make your decision that way. So I kind of had to do some self-exploration and what I really enjoyed doing so I would highly encourage that to anybody. Beyond that, though, don’t be afraid of face to face if there are job fairs, if there are places to go to meet people, networking events specific to your interest, it’s important to go there, have a person see a face to face and then follow up, don’t be afraid to send an email or a text or however you met them, and to say I’m the guy who did X Y or Z. It’s a little different going online and applying because you don’t get that, that intimate
personal connection. So it I did not do any career fairs, I wish I did after doing them now, there’s the aptitude of jobs that are out there are amazing and just maybe, I could have found a career that I like right away, in a sense, instead of doing some more exploration, but I wish I did.
