My son recruits for a company in Iowa and has given me a couple of helpful hints to share when talking with potential employers.
1. Practice a 30 second pitch to sell yourself on why you would be valuable to an organization.
2. Employers struggle with people not being able to communicate effectively. So practice, practice, practice and sell yourself.
3. Make a good impression right from the start-dress professionally!
4. Recruiters see many students, so the more you stand out the better chance you have in getting a call back.
- Freshmen: Start to get a feel for the career fair environment. Set a goal of talking to three employers, and ask them general questions about their company and what they look for in employees. This will help you formulate some ideas about what you’re looking for in a potential career or internship, and help you determine what skills you should be building throughout your time in college. It will also help with you gain confidence in your ability to interact with others in the job
- Sophomores and Juniors: Seek out internship opportunities. Talk to several companies about potential internships and be flexible -- an opportunity might not be what you’d envisioned, but it could be a great way to develop new skills. Have a copy of your resume ready to upload and make sure to engage company reps in conversations about what you could offer as an intern.
- Seniors: Go to a career fair with concrete ideas about what you are looking for in a full-time job (position, location, organization), and talk to companies with positions that meet your criteria. Do some research ahead of time and choose specific companies to speak to. Have your resume updated, ready to upload, and be confident in expressing your interest in the company.
Good Luck!
