So I am a in the college of management and we have a fair coming up...

However, I am sophomore and should I even bother?

I was talking to my advisor the other day and she seemed to think everyone should go....

But its not like I am looking for a full time job yet or anything....

10/20/2008 12:34:30 PM

You could at least maybe score an internship

10/20/2008 12:38:18 PM

if you want an internship, you should probably go

plus it's good practice for when you'll actually need to look for a job

10/20/2008 12:38:24 PM

Are you interested in internships? In my experience with career fairs at universities (both as a student and as a recruiter), a lot of companies recruit younger students for internships and co-ops. Besides, it couldnt hurt to familiarize yourself with some of the companies out there that you may not already know much about.

10/20/2008 12:39:15 PM

i'm a senior and debating on whether or not to go. i know it's probably a good idea, but how often do students get offers for jobs this far ahead of time? or is it more just so you can talk to people and give them a call later?

10/20/2008 12:51:16 PM

In engineering, we have one in the fall and spring of every school year. I went to both of them my soph, junior, and senior years and I would highly recommend it if you have the time for it.

1) For starters, you can look for internships or co-ops (let them know that is what you are looking for specifically as a sophomore)
2) It will give you a good idea of how your fair is run and experience that will allow you to be more efficient in planning for and attending future career fairs as a junior and senior.
3) Check out a lot of companies you havent heard of! As a sophomore, this career fair obviously isnt as crucial for you, so take the time to talk to as many companies as you can. This can help you pinpoint some companies you can keep in mind for the future when you are finally looking for a real full time job. Perhaps you can even find one flying "under the radar" that interests you that isnt as well known.

10/20/2008 12:55:12 PM

^^ I went to one career fair my senior year as a computer science grad. Handed my paper resume to two companies and spent about one minute talking to them. Left.

A few months later just before final exams I got a phone call from one of the companies that had scanned my resume into a computer database. Flew up and interviewed and got a great job offer on the spot. This was for Computer Science/Engineering.

10/20/2008 1:29:05 PM

I know when I was there we were looking for both full-time and intern positions in engineering. Basically I was interested in anyone except freshmen.

You should definitely go your Senior year if you are still looking for a job. We went looking for people graduating in December, but we'll be hiring in May if we don't find someone now...

10/20/2008 1:29:12 PM

Definitely go. You'll get exposure to what you will need to look for in the future. If nothing else you can talk to a recruiter and see what they look for in a candidate so that you can work towards that as your schooling moves along. And you can get some nice freebies too

Quote :

"i'm a senior and debating on whether or not to go. i know it's probably a good idea, but how often do students get offers for jobs this far ahead of time? or is it more just so you can talk to people and give them a call later?"

I didn't get it through a career fair, but around this time in 2006 I did get a job starting in June 2007, so there is definitely a chance. I'm in engineering though, so I don't know how different it would be in management.

10/20/2008 2:30:57 PM

I agree, definitely go to the career fair.

10/20/2008 2:33:38 PM

Go just to get your feet wet, learn company names that target NCSU, score free stuff, aslo possible internships but some of this has been said

10/20/2008 2:56:24 PM

Go - it's great practice. The more time you spend in "interview" situations, whether formal or informal, will make you more comfortable once it really counts. I graduated from COM and went every year except my freshman year.

And the free stuff is cool too. Just don't be greedy

10/20/2008 3:21:42 PM

Do you just smile, shake hands, and hand out resumes?

Is the the protocol?

10/20/2008 7:53:53 PM

Well if you're actually looking for a job or internship you might want to do more than half-ass it. They can pretty much tell who's there to "oh my mom said I should go and try it" and who's got the "I'm confident in how I can communicate my abilities and skills to benefit your company"

Go around and seriously just objectively look at a few of the other students talking to the recruiters. You can see who's looking like they're lost in a maze and who's in there to make it happen. This is for your future and it can only be helpful by letting you know not to waste your precious time during your junior and senior years or finding what companies to seek out when you're job hunting.

10/20/2008 8:03:42 PM

The majority of the competitive full-time rotational programs (at least in finance) look to hire in the Fall for the following year. If you wait until Spring you will probably find only leftover spots from the Fall if there are any and mostly sales type jobs.

A number of internships begin the application process as early as October/November, but you will continue to find some throughout the Spring.

If you want to make yourself competitive for decent full-time jobs when you are a senior, I would recommend getting internships now. Employers will give you a less and less leeway with lack of experience the longer you wait. It's understandable when a sophomore doesn't have relevant experience, not so much when you are a senior.

10/20/2008 8:09:50 PM

^^^Realize that the recruiters often are looking to tell you about their company as much as they are to hear about you....so that takes some pressure off of you.

Do some research and find a few companies that you want to talk to. Go up to them, shake hands and introduce, tell them a little about yourself, hand resume, and then ask them questions about their company and the positions they have.

The impression you make is about as important as your resume for some companies....I know it was for me. I remember a few candidates, and they were the ones that handled themselves well or that I could tell prepared for it.

It's 30-45 minutes of your slack college life that may have an impact on your career. You'd be a fool not to go. I didn't until I was a junior in college, but I was a stupid kid that thought sleeping in was a better idea.

Don't be like me. It's well worth going if only to see the companies there and talk to people.

10/21/2008 11:28:54 AM

I am assuming we are supposed to wear a tie to career fairs? Is a coat necessary?

10/21/2008 4:28:07 PM

^ if you're just going to look for internships and such, go with business casual

if you're really looking for a job, make sure you're in full-on interview attire (suit, etc)

in the end, overdressing (suit, tie) is probably safer than underdressing

10/21/2008 4:30:38 PM

here's good advice. Split off from your friends. Seriously

10/21/2008 4:34:00 PM

Of course you should go. Any amount of networking you can do NOW will make your job search in a few years that much easier...

P.S. - any company with finance positions for MBAs open have them PM me

[Edited on October 21, 2008 at 4:40 PM. Reason : x]

10/21/2008 4:38:55 PM

If you don't intern somewhere, or do anything to further your career during the summer; when you graduate, chances are you're going to be next to worthless.

10/22/2008 11:47:34 PM

so sophomore summer is the typical start date for internships for ncsu biz kids?

10/23/2008 8:43:15 AM

Quote :

"i'm a senior and debating on whether or not to go. i know it's probably a good idea, but how often do students get offers for jobs this far ahead of time? or is it more just so you can talk to people and give them a call later?"

I went to the career fairs and got offers as early as November my Senior year (May Grad). These were offers from career fair companies too. There is a reason they are there.

Quote :

"here's good advice. Split off from your friends. Seriously"

couldnt say it better. It is easy to just hang with your friends and not leave your comfort zone, but it makes you look weak.


I do recruiting at some schools as an engineer now and do the career fair at Penn State, WVU, and Virginia Tech. What I have noticed is that most students are just walking around. If you are walking by a booth it is ok to say, "I don't know a whole lot about your company, what do you do and what kind of positions do you have for [insert major]." If there is a line at the company, you are wasting your time you could be spending at other booths. Wait until the line goes down. People remember what happenned to them first, last, and any special people in the middle. If you are just another face in the line you have less of a chance.

10/23/2008 8:58:54 AM

Quote :

" if you're really looking for a job, make sure you're in full-on interview attire (suit, etc)"

Is it really appropriate to wear suits if you are looking for a full-time job? I heard lots of people didn't wear suits and I'm wondering if a suit really makes you look better if no one else is wearing one.

10/23/2008 4:10:35 PM

I definitely wore a suit my junior and senior years at the career fair. I mean, a suit is definitely not overdressing for a career fair so why not wear one if you are serious about looking for a job?

[Edited on October 23, 2008 at 4:13 PM. Reason : ]

10/23/2008 4:13:14 PM

Eh, you can wear a suit, but the majority of guys I have seen at career fairs just wear nice pants/nice shirt. I guess it depends on the type of career fair though, so for management I could see a suit being more the norm.For instance at the CALS career fair, the dress was business "informal." Hell, most of the employers I remember at the CALS fairs didn't wear suits.

10/23/2008 4:35:22 PM

I just went to a career fair representing my agency, and although as a recruiter I was instructed to only wear a polo/khakis, one of the things we were looking at was how they were dressed. People in suits definitely were more well received. This is for engineering btw.

10/23/2008 4:51:53 PM

Good to know, I'm in chemistry, so I'm trying to get my outfit together for the PAMS career fair.

10/23/2008 7:14:20 PM