Graduate news.

Make a Great First Impression at Career Fairs

Did you know that making a solid first impression with an employer during a careers event can positively impact your future employment prospects.

PM Group’s UK team were on the road again recently at Coventry University’s EC Futures Careers Fair as it continues the recruitment drive for its IChemE accredited Next Graduate Programme. It was another busy day, with plenty of interest being shown from a variety of disciplines including Civil, Mechanical and Electrical.

The key to getting the most out of a careers fair is prior preparation. Doing your research and planning ahead will help you to the following to give the right first impression.

• Ask the right questions – Don’t lead with the standard ‘do you offer placements?’ or ‘Do you have a graduate programme?’.  Ask about recent news that you have read about the company; it shows you’ve done your homework and it’s a conversation more likely to be remembered by your prospective employer.
• Use the Careers fair as an opportunity to Sell Yourself – Treat it as if it’s a preliminary interview. It’s not just about the employer selling themselves, it’s also about selling yourself to ensure that the employer is eager to hear more about your great skills and contacts you to arrange an interview!
• Look the part – employers will come across hundreds of students in a single day, so take that extra bit of time to dress for success to grab their attention and present yourself accordingly; be enthusiastic with firm hand-shakes and big smiles to separate you from the crowd. Its these finer details that will catch employer’s eyes.

Want to be part of our team? Apply now to join our Next Graduate Programme!