Selling my soul tomorrow to the highest bidder

[ultranos]

So, there's the Fall Career Fair tomorrow. Lots of companies come to campus and try to recruit people. Lots of free swag to be gotten. Except, for the first time, I actually, you know, have to actually try to get something other than free pens or finger arrows. Since I'm doing this "I'm going to graduate in the spring, NO REALLY" thing.

Er. Anyone have advice for how to deal with this stuff? I actually have to pretend I'm a responsible and worthwhile human being. I have to wear NOT JEANS AND A T-SHIRT (horrors). Actually, I'm mostly unused to attempting to sell my soul to corporate America and/or The Man.

Comments

[abyssinia]

1) Slacks and collared shirt and comfortable decent-looking shoes
2) Have good-quality printed copies of your resume ready to hand people.
3) Eye contact. Smile. Shake hands. If the company list is posted ahead of time and you have a chance, look for the ones you're most interested in and try to research them a little so you can ask intelligent questions.
4) Nobody you talk to will be as cool as Amanda Tapping, so this should be less scary, so you can do it just fine :P

Good luck! Get great swag with your shiny new job! Avoid the AmeriCorps booth!

[ultranos]

1) I was thinking black slacks and a black polo, with a black suit jacket since it's cooler tomorrow and I'd at least like a jacket. Or possibly a teal polo. Thanks for reminding me about shoes. I'd have thrown on my black sneakers, since they're the most comfortable shoes I own. I'll have to check the comfort level of my dress shoes (I don't think they're ideal for wandering around campus all day), or just polish my black boots so they look reasonable. *flail*
2) Laser-printed resumes fine? Also, they seem to like you submitting resumes online, so...
3) Done that. :)
4) Haah! Possibly true!

[aurora_novarum]

yes, laser printed resumes are fine. And it's always good to have a folder with some hard copies on hand to whip out. (Recruiters may make notes associating you right then as oh it was that cool chick ultranos! rather than which one of the people I met at the fair?)

Yes, yes, for 3. Try and be a bit targeted in your search. Make sure hair is neat and stuff. Think of it as an initial job interview...and you're interviewing them as much as vice versa.

You may want to have some stock questions on hand too of what do you like most about your work and what first attracted you to the company/organization.

Try and have fun and GOOD LUCK!

[ultranos]

Okay, got it! I was going to print out a stack of the things. (I am ridiculously proud I got it down to a page)

I've been searching for awhile, with some companies I know I'd like to check out and they are coming to the career fair.

Make sure my hair is neat? That's a task and a half. :P My hair has a mind of it's own some days.

I've been told not to worry too much about it.

[abyssinia]

1) I recommend against all black. Either khaki's and a black shirt or black pants and a non-black shirt. Or you could do all black under if your suit jacket isn't black and you will keep it on.

Shoes are, admittedly, less of a bit deal and I'm guessing they don't expect as much fashion sense from MIT-ers, but looking as professional as you can never hurts.

2) Oh, a lot like online, but if someone wants a paper copy, you don't want to be stuck without (plus, bear in mind I come from college career fair days where paper was way more common than online submission). Laser-printed is fine - higher quality paper is good if you have it.

[ultranos]

1) I was thinking not all-black, it's just, uh, most of what my clothes are. I could do a white-button-down shirt. (the jacket's black.)

2) Yeah, I was just going to print off a stack of them tonight. I just don't have time to go running for the fancy resume-paper, so I was hoping laser-printer is fine.