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Making the Most of a Career Fair
Office for Alumni Affairs & Career Advancement
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Learning Goals: At the end of this workshop, participants will…
• Understand the importance of pre-career fair preparation
• Be able to describe actions one should take before, during, and after a career fair
Agenda
Before the Fair Research organizations
Elevator pitch & other preparation
During the Fair Interacting with employers
After the Fair Maintaining relationships
Remember…
Before the fair… know your goals
Are you…
looking for full-time, part-time, or internship opportunity?
exploring career opportunities?
investigating companies?
practicing networking skills?
other reasons?
Before the fair… Research employers
Review the list of participating employers in CareerConnect
Research organizations before the fair!
Review company websites, LinkedIn page, news articles
Learn about company background, mission statement, types of positions
available, and skills and experience the company seeks
Create a list of organizations that you are most interested in visiting
Before the fair… Order Business Cards
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/career-services/
For Students Job Search Tools Job Listings Field Practice Fellowships Business Cards
Before the fair… Prepare a well-written resume/CV
Work with career coach to refine your resume or CV
Print your resume and bring multiple copies
Keep your resumes organized & ready
Know that some employers cannot accept
hard copy resumes and will ask you to apply
online. This is to comply with federal
regulations about the way employers keep
data on applicants, and to manage applicant
data efficiently.
Before the fair… Prepare an elevator pitch WHAT: A quick snapshot of your career, goals, training, and experience.
WHY: You will need to introduce yourself repeatedly so get used to succinctly
saying who you are and what you do/hope to do.
Even if your specific career goal is not clear, communicate that you are figuring it out is important.
HOW: Present – what are you doing now
Past – what are your accomplishments, skills, and qualifications
Future – what are your goals
Example of Elevator Pitch
Hello. My name is Alex Graphs. I’m an MPH student at the Harvard Chan
School of Public Health with a concentration in Global Health. I am
researching the hidden factors that have historically influenced global
HIV/AIDS policy.
Previously, I worked for an NGO in Botswana doing HIV/AIDS treatment
and prevention.
I want to use my training and experience in international public health to
influence governmental and international healthcare policy.
I’ve read about Organization X and am really interested in learning more
about the research analyst position. Could you share with me more about
this opportunity?
Before the fair… Prepare your questions Ask questions such as:
Have you hired Harvard Chan graduates? What might new graduates typically work on in your organization?
Does your company hire only at certain times of year?
What are the most important qualifications your organization look for ?
What is the hiring process like?
What are the organization’s major goals for the next few years?
Are there training opportunities for new hires at the organization?
During the fair… Make a Good First Impression
Give yourself enough time at the fair
Dress and act professionally
Greet employers with a firm handshake
Make eye contact & smile
Pay attention to time constraints
Be confident and show enthusiasm
Ask your questions
Request business cards
Take any available brochures and employer literature
After the Fair…
Send a thank you email to anyone you had a meaningful
conversation with
Send any materials that have been requested of you
Be patient – don’t expect an immediate response
Organize notes, company literature, and business cards
Reflect on your experience – what did you learn about the
company and yourself?
Additional Resources
Schedule a coaching appointment
to review resume or CV
Tip sheets and career resources on
our website
Attend other workshops, career
fairs, career treks, and site visits
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