Please comment on the appropriate dress for students attending a Career Fair:
AMD: “Appropriate dress for students attending the career fair should be "business professional dress" : Jacket should NOT have to be worn, as it is HOT; however, long sleeve shirt (preferably starched... but definitely ironed, and a tie). Dress pants and dress shoes (polished if possible). For the females... same thing. Jacket should NOT be necessary, especially if it is HOT. I have noticed, however, an enormous difference between the engineering career fairs and business career fairs. Business students are expected by the corporations to "dress-up" for the fairs, while the engineering students are NOT expected to. I have my suspected beliefs as to why this is, but my recommendation above would be best served by Business students (undergrad and MBA).”
Consolidated Graphics: “Business attire or business casual. If the student is a sophomore or junior who is just getting to know the companies and is not looking to get an interview this is not necessary. Something you would wear to the beach or a nightclub is never appropriate no matter what year you are.”
Dresser Wayne, Dresser Inc.: “A first impression can never be made again. Although I think suits are too much, I think business casual is appropriate. When I talk to a student and have their resume in hand, I immediately write down my impressions. I personally believe that shorts and mini-skirts are unacceptable.”
DuPont: “Regarding dress - men - pressed dress slacks/khakis, long sleeve button down collar dress shirt - pressed, tie and sport jacket or blazer, loafers. Guys - make sure your shirt stays tucked in through out the day! Women - dress slacks & blouse - pressed, low or no heel dress shoes, women's matching blazer.”
Guaranty Bank: “Business professional (suits) or business casual. We don't mind if students stop by in jeans while on their way to class, but it certainly makes a better impression if they are at least wearing khakis and a nice shirt. I don't like seeing the girls wear short shorts or skirts and big clunky shoes or the guys with the baggy pants.”
Hope Lumber & Supply Company: “Regarding question on appropriate dress, for males I recommend shirt and tie for career fair...suit is fine but not needed for me...I know they've got to go to class. For women, keep it professional...not short dresses or skirts or cocktail dresses. On a side note, some other schools I recruit at do not educate their women on that. I have always been impressed by the professional appearance of the women at your career fairs.”
Invocon: “One thing I have been disappointed with in the past is student dress for an interview. Unless he/she knows otherwise, a student should always assume professional dress for the interview regardless of how good or bad the current job market is.”
JCPenney Company: “We like to see them dressed professionally. That does not have to mean a suit and tie for guys and dresses only for girls. True Business Casual is well received also. The key is to be well groomed and looking sharp. It tells the recruiter that you are serious about starting to look at your future career.”
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics: “I realize that students are taking time out from going to class and we are happy that they come at all, but, like it or not, their appearance does make an impression. A student wearing nice shorts or pants and a nice shirt is going to send a different impression than a student wearing a tank top, flip flops, with blue hair and their tongue pierced. In the current job market, which tends to favor the employers, the students need to make the best impression they can. That said, we do not think the students should wear any business formal attire (coats, ties, etc.). We don't wear them, so they don't need to. They just need to look clean and presentable.”
Kiewit Offshore Services: “Career Fair attire should be business casual: Men - slacks with pressed shirt (tie optional); Women - conservative lengthed skirts, or slacks with tailored shirt. (The business suit should be reserved for the formal interview, if location is appropriate). Our company fabricates steel structures, mainly for offshore drilling purposes, so we are out in the "fab yard". I usually recommend "Business Casual" for our formal interviews. However, in an office setting, nothing short of a suit should be considered.”
Kennedy Consulting Inc.: “First impressions are extremely important. If you’re looking for a job or meeting potential employers at the career fair, then wear what you think the interviewer is going to wear. Career fairs are very long days, so we typically wear business casual. Business casual for students is appropriate as well. Docker style pants with a nice shirt (fairly simple). Extra points are not earned wearing a dress/suit, but points are definitely deducted for wearing flip flops, tank tops, torn up shorts with your skate board on the back of your back pack. Dress as if you were meeting your boyfriends/girlfriends grandparents for the first time.”
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network: “We're in suits daily as recruiters. We're the front lines of the company. Students are not in suits daily and we recognize that. However, first impressions can be pretty powerful. No earrings in strange places. Our financial reps enter people's private lives and a sense of trust is vital!
Try on your clothes the night before and get your roommate to look you over to make sure you have no tags, strings, etc.”
S&B Engineers and Constructors, Ltd.: “Student dress - I think that business casual is a minimum requirement, though I feel that a suit is a little extreme. Students should look neat, clean, clothes should be ironed and tucked in when appropriate. Sloppiness is a turn-off - can register as sloppiness in work and attitude (sometimes true!).”
Teague Nall and Perkins, Inc.: “Business Casual makes a good impression; professional attire is always good, but not something we would critique at a career fair. We are dressed comfortably and would like the students to feel comfortable too. We approach it as a relaxed setting where we can give out information about our company and meet prospective candidates. Someone walking around in jeans and a backpack going from booth to booth taking brochures and free stuff probably won't get a call.”
United States Gypsum Company: “In my opinion, students should dress from usual class attire “up to business casual” on the day of the fair. First impression has value, but certainly not the final nor only element. I am an older recruiter, nearly as old as dirt, but I think students should remove the tongue things, eye brow jewelry, green hair in four directions, etc. It may be cool, especially for young people, but young people usually are not hiring, and the business world has not evolved with the latest fads.”
Vitesse: “Nice casual is fine for a school career fair. We realize that they are attending classes, but that is not an invitation to wear torn/dirty clothes...or pajamas.”
