Career Blog for CSU Students

The Secrets are out...Employers TELL ALL About How YOU Can Get Hired!

Janell Peterson, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts (www.careers.hyatt.com):

There are obvious things to making a good impression such as being dressed in an appropriate manner.  You don’t have to go out and buy an expensive suit but be neat, clean and pressed.  Keep piercings to a minimum and abstain from chewing gum. 

Perhaps the not as obvious, research the companies you are interested in.  Prior to the event, do a little homework, research about those companies…approach the booth with some understanding of what the company does.  A recruiter shared with me one of her recent negative experiences where a student walked up to her unprepared and asked “Why don’t you tell me what you have for me?”

Remember that during the Career Fair you are getting information about the employer but the employer is very interested in getting to know you.  Just think of an interview as a way to get to know someone better. 

If at all possible, get to that information session.  That is a key thing.  That is your opportunity to get to know the company better.

Angela Heyroth, Charles Schwab (www.aboutschwab.com/careers)-

Show that you are serious by being dressed appropriately. 

Don’t try to see every employer at the Career Fair.  Instead, do the research and focus on those employers you are most interested in to learn about those companies.  Have some good questions ready that demonstrate that you have done the research and know a little bit about the business.  That is very impressive to us recruiters. 

Have a good, natural introduction prepared…not too rehearsed.  I’ve heard some students coached to have an elevator speech prepared. Practice with your roommate, your friends.  Introduce yourself including your name, your major, when you are graduating and what kinds of careers you are interested in.  Let us have a conversation with you.

At the Career Fair you may want to warm up on a less preferred employer and save you “A list” employers until you have practiced a few introductions. 

Also, ask for a business card from the recruiter—she always shares hers with students- and follow up with the employer if you are interested in the company.  If the recruiter doesn’t have any, ask when and how you should follow up with her/him. 

Please keep in mind that some employers, like Schwab, may direct you to apply on line.  Don’t be offended or think the recruiter is putting you off but an important part of their application process.  While we accept resumes, you do not become an applicant until you apply through the online application system.  Some companies, due to government regulations, are not allowed by OFCCP employment law to accept paper resumes at all, especially defense contractors and government agencies. 

Richard Robinson, Agilent Technologies (http://www.jobs.agilent.com/)

Richard echoed what had been said so far.  As a student, a Career Fair is a great opportunity to get in front of the employer.  Have a great introduction, be prepared, have good eye contact and firm handshake.  Be prepared with some knowledge about the company and have a couple of key questions ready.  Show some of the things that you have, like enthusiasm, when you are talking with the recruiter. 

Also, you may want to know that the recruiters are not official recruiters or from HR and that they may be coming from different functional areas of the company.   Use this to your advantage and talk with that volunteer recruiter and ask them about what his or her job is like.  If the employer offers to keep in touch with you, take them up on that, follow up.  It’s a great opportunity for you!

Karrin Hogan, Kelly Scientific (www.kellyscientific.com)

All of what has been mentioned so far are all great tips.  Bring your resume in a folder or portfolio and make that all important good first impression.  Ask the employer “how should I follow up, what next steps do I take.  Come up with the good action plan as you wrap up with the employer.   Visit employers individually, not with friends and family, so that the employer can have a conversation with you. 

One big tip that she would like to share is to make sure that you have a professional email address, first initial, last name at gmail.com.  It’s time to think “professional. “  Make sure that you have a professional sounding voicemail message on your cell phone.  Of course, your cell phone should be off during this event and, of course, during interviews.  At this point, when you are looking for a job, it’s good practice to make sure that you have a plain, standard ring tone. 

I hope everyone had a relaxing winter break, and that the new semester is off to a good start! We have been busy here at the Career Center, and have a lot of exciting events coming up soon to help you with your career development.

One of our newest programs is the Career Road Trip Series, and it is specifically for first and second year students who want to learn more about career options in a variety of fields. We have three Road Trips planned throughout the semester, where we will pile into a couple of vans and travel around Northern Colorado to visit employers on site. Road Trips are a great way to get a behind-the-scenes perspective on different careers, as well as learn about internship opportunities and what real employers are looking for in new hires. All Road Trips will be open to first and second year students only, whether you are still deciding on a major, or if you are in a major but want to learn more about your career options.

Check out the Career Road Trip webpage at http://www.career.colostate.edu/roadTrip/ to learn more about the employers we will be visiting, and to register—space is limited, so sign up now!

Hi! I wanted to write and thank you again for all of your help with interviewing/cover letters/my job search, etc. Per your advice, I switched up my cover-letter strategy and looked more in-depth at the PR positions listed on the career website. I ended up with several interviews (and subsequent offers for each one!) and have accepted a position with the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce for the summer as their Communications Intern. I couldn't have done it without all of your assistance! Thank you so much! Hope you are having a great week! S (Liberal Arts student)

Three economists and a real estate expert shared their predictions about the 2008 – 2010 economy – hang on for a potentially bumpy ride down the job slope! The Northern Colorado Business Report sponsored this panel yesterday – here's a short scoop as I see it (you can view the full report at http://www.ncbr.com/article.asp?id=90996)

• Northern CO has seen economic growth over the past few years but it comes in fits and starts.
• Colorado maps with the US economy -- though we lag a bit, the patterns are very similar.
• In 2003, Northern Colorado bottomed out because of the recession the country experienced beginning in 2001. Since then, employment growth has gone up but not to the degree of the 1990s.
• Dr. Tucker Hart Adams predicted a recession and gave a 50/50 chance of it being mild or severe (she also predicted the 2001 recession before anyone else).
• The panelists differed in their specific predictions, but, overall, the feeling is that the best the economy will be for 2008 is stagnant. There may be some growth, but it will be minimal at best.
• Dr. Martin Shields (CSU economics professor) said he 'expected employment gains in all local sectors in 2008 and through 2010, with the business, technical, professional and scientific sector being "the growth engine" for that period.' (from NCBR article above)

So, what does this mean for you as you look for jobs or internships?

• Networking will be critical. Activate YOUR network – family, friends, friends of family, family of friends, faculty, advisers, your career counselor, etc.. Another GREAT resource is CareerRAM network. We currently have 348 active mentors in this online database  – these are alumni and friends who WANT you to contact them and ask for career advice. While this isn't a job search database, the connections you make there might help as you narrow down your areas of interest and get great tips on resumes, interviewing, etc. And you can always ask mentors how to formally apply to positions they may know of (that's the language you can use so they don't feel pressured to be your job search agent – they can just share advice and opinions). To get to CareerRAM Network, go to www.career.colostate.edu and click the CareerRAM graphic on the left hand side of the page. Once you're in, just click the 'CareerRAM Network' tab on the top of the page and conduct your search.
• Attend the upcoming Career Fairs – Seniors, this is a given. But this is especially important for juniors and sophomores. This is YOUR time to build your network that will give you an edge in the future.
  • Currently, we have almost 140 companies registered for the all-university fair (Wed 2/6 & Thurs 2/8), over 120 companies for the Engineering Fair (Wed 2/13 & Thurs 2/15), and over 50 for the Ag/Natural Resources fair (Wed 2/20). That is over 300 DIFFERENT companies coming to campus within a two-week period! Take advantage of these opportunities! For more info on these, check out the 'Career Fairs' box on the Career Center homepage.