Tips from UBC Career Services on networking at career fairs.

1. Career Fair Networking

2. Career Fair Networking
September 27, 2011
John Horn
Associate Director, Career Development
UBC Career Services

3. Today’s Agenda
• Learning Outcomes + Three Things
• Networking | The Big Picture
• Career Days | Preparation & Execution
• Case Studies
• Next steps

4. Learning Objectives
By the end of this workshop, you will be
able to…
• Describe networking best practices – in
general and for Career Days
• Identify and evaluate the components of a
professional introduction or “pitch”
• Create a target list for Career Days 2011

5. Three Things
1. Know Your Purpose
2. Research Your Targets
3. Have a Great Pitch

6. What is the
purpose of a
Career Fair?

7. 1. Networking | The Big Picture

8. Networking Ideas
(with pictures)

9. Courtesy of HighlandBlade and Flickr Creative Commons

10. Courtesy of AfghanistanMatters and Flickr Creative Commons

11. Courtesy of PA King and Flickr Creative Commons

12. Courtesy of rpongsaj and Flickr Creative Commons

13. Courtesy of sa_ku_ra and Flickr Creative Commons

14. Networking Ideas
(with explanatory drawings)

15. Finding Work: Employers & Seekers
Networking + Direct Calls
Approach
Networking
Resumes (3-6)
Target
Job Seekers Companies
The Internet
HR / (Monster, Workopolis,
Agencies Careers Online)
Company Ads and Job
Ads Postings

16. Re-Think Your Strategy
Employee Notice Decision Human Ad or
(Labour Market Information)
Maker Resources Posting
HJM Timeline Review
No Cost No Cost $ 1000’s $100’s-$1000’s
1–2 3–6 100s 100s – 1000s
weeks – months weeks – months weeks – months months

17. The Expectation
Job
Visit 10
companies
Career
Days
UBC

18. The Reality
Studying Abroad
Volunteering
Networking
Academic Courses
Service Learning Career
Opportunities
Career Days
Mentorship
Part-time Job(s)

19. Bill Clinton’s Black Book
Your Networking List
• Name | Title | Organization
• Contact | email | phone
• Touch points | “Fun Facts”
• Ranking connections
Courtesy of sharedferret and Flickr Creative Commons

20. Your Black Book
Fun Activity:
1. What is your Career Days Top 10?
2. How will you learn about them?
3. How are you going to introduce
yourself and have a conversation?

21. What is the
purpose of a
Career Fair?

22. 2. Preparation and Execution

23. A Career Fair Networking Brainstorm
• What works well?
• What needs improvement?
• What are your questions?
• What are your ideas?

24. “A Target Rich Environment”
• Roles
• Values
• Mission
• Projects
Courtesy Bogdun_Sudhitu

25. Preparation Counts
• Research
• Questions
• Targets and Roles
• Fitting the Corporate Culture
Courtesy of Andrew-Hyde and Flickr Creative Commons

26. Do Your Homework
“Spectacular achievement is always preceded by
spectacular preparation.” - Robert H. Schuller
• Leverage “open source content”
• The Internet | website, news, LinkedIn, Twitter
• UBC Library | articles, reports, databases
• The organization’s PR Department
• One-page Summaries | Always

27. Okko_Pyykko from Flickr

28. The Preparation Funnel
Google
•Company
Website
UBC •Article or PR
Library Report
•Cases
•Databases
Primary
Source
•Information
Interview
SYNTHESIZE
“TOUCH POINTS”
[YOUR QUESTIONS HERE]

29. Identify your network
Employers
Faculty
Family
Mentors
YOU
Friends Community

30. Identify your network
Employers
Faculty
Family
Mentors
YOU
Friends Community

31. Impressions
Count
• Dress for Success
• Gone in 20 Seconds
• Eye Contact and Body Language
• Your Pitch
• Business Cards Courtesy of Shawnisa and stock.exchng

32. The Professional Details
• Smile
• Dress for success (with a haircut)
• Handshake | firm + double-pump
• Toolkit | pen, cards, resume

33. The Professional Details
• Learn the power of nonverbal cues
• Be sincere
• Conversational currency
• Adjust your Johari Window
• Invite a continuation of the relationship
• Make a graceful exit

34. The Professional Details
Introduce yourself with your NAME:
Name
Academic Background
Motivation for attending
Enquire about them

35. The Professional Details
Find a partner (someone don’t know) and
introduce yourself with the NAME formula.
Name
Academic Background
Motivation for attending
Enquire about them

36. “Hello, my name is _________. I am
studying __________ and have a strong
background in ________. My ________
skills nicely match your company’s need for
___________. During my research for this
event, I became interested in your
organization’s ________(project/program).
Would I be able to ask you a few questions
about it at this time?”

37. Courtesy of Schoko-Riegel and Flickr Creative Commons

38. 3. Case Studies

39. Career Days Scenarios
The Process:
• Get into teams of three, four or five.
• Five different Career Days scenarios.
• Brainstorm two or three solutions.
• Present your team’s best answer.
• Be fun and professional.

40. Career Days Scenario One
“We don’t typically hire students with your
background.”
The Scenario:
• A UBC Arts student introduces herself to
an employer and hears the above
statement. The company typically hires
students with expertise in computer
science or engineering.
How can she make herself relevant?

41. Career Days Scenario Two
“Nice to meet you! My name is Stephanie
Johnson, Director of Recruitment for
Appnovation.”
The Scenario:
• This is your chance to impress a top recruiter
with your pitch. Show how you know your stuff.
How do you introduce yourself?

42. Career Days Scenario Three
“Hey. Wait your turn, man!”
The Scenario:
• Career Days is coming to an end and there are
long line-ups for the PepsiCo and Devon Canada
booths (you really want to talk to them both).
How will you get some face-time with PepsiCo
and Devon Canada?

43. Career Days Scenario Four
“…and then we hired Peter, who is working out really
well – where did you say you were from? – wait, never
mind, Peter is from Toronto, but Jane is from Regina –
wow, these snacks are really good – and there are no
real opportunities for you in our firm, but Vancouver is
such a great place and I…”
The Scenario:
• You need to escape. Now.
How do you make a graceful exit from this conversation?

44. Career Days Scenario Five
“Why are you interested in our company?"
The Scenario:
• After a very good introduction, you’re engaged in
a conversation with a company of interest. They
are looking for someone who stands out from the
crowd.
How do you demonstrate knowledge of the
organization?

45. 4. Next Steps

46. Following up with a contact
• After connecting | ASAP
• The write stuff
• Don’t forget the go-between
• Reaffirm what was discussed
• Be brief and to the point

49. Ask. Questions. Frequently.

50. 5. Coming Soon

51. From the Expert
Accenture: Leverage Your Online Brand
Date: Monday Oct 17, 2011
Time: 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Location: Career Services Lounge
Stuart Olson: Dress For Success
Date: Wednesday Nov 16, 2011
Time: 5: 00 to 6:00 pm
Location: Career Services Lounge

52. • Like Facebook for professionals/job seekers
• Build a searchable professional project
• Meet new people in discussion groups
• Learn more about a company
Linkedin.com

53. From spettacolopuro on Flickr

54. 6. Wrap It Up!

55. Learning Objectives
By the end of this workshop, you will be
able to…
• Describe networking best practices – in
general and for Career Days
• Identify and evaluate the components of a
professional introduction or “pitch”
• Create a target list for Career Days 2011

56. Three Things
1. __________________
2. __________________
3. __________________

57. For more information:
careers.ubc.ca