Arts & Sciences Career Fair - Student Information

You can practice the communication skills you will need during an interview by introducing yourself and asking about what you are seeking and describing your experiences.

The Career Fair is a great opportunity to introduce yourself to representatives from companies and schools and begin building a networking relationship with important career contacts.

• Discover your likes and dislikes early​

• Create an action plan to utilize your time at Texas A&M effectively​

• Be on employers' radars in the future​

• Feel confident about your ability to navigate the process once you need the Career Fair for a job or internship

• What are some skills and/or experiences you’re looking for applicants to have by the time they apply?

• What are the daily responsibilities of someone in this career?

• What are some of the challenges that come with working in this industry?

• What is rewarding about working in this industry?

• What are the trends you expect to see within this industry in the next 3-5 years?

• What are the factors most used by employers to hire in this field?

• Where are most of the jobs in this industry located?

• This is the only document employers will have to remember you!
• Utilize walk-ins in the Career Center Mon-Fri from 1:30pm – 4:00pm.

• Explore the list of employers, and identify who you want to meet.
• Visit the websites from your list of employers that interest you to learn about the organization.
• Visit HireAggies.com to research possible positions available from the employers you identified.
• Use AggieNetwork.com for the Find An Aggie feature to research former students hired by that employer.

• Practice telling your story in 30 seconds or less.
• Identify why you are a strong candidate for the organization.

• Individualize your introduction to each employer to incorporate your pitch and highlight your knowledge of the employer.

• Prepare questions that you would like the employers to answer.
• Print your resume on resume paper and take a professional portfolio or folder to keep everything organized.
• Bring a pen and blank paper to write additional notes on the day of the fair.

• Look employable!
• First impressions are lasting impressions to the employers and attire is a part of that.
• A suit will show you are prepared for the career transition and will help you feel confident.
• Visit the Career Closet in the MSC to rent a suit for the fair if you don’t already own one and for professional attire advice.

• Walk through the fair to get the layout and strategize your approach for each of your key employers.
• Check your appearance one final time and silence your phone.

• Prior to your introduction, listen to the conversations before yours to get a feel for your upcoming conversation.
• After your introduction, learn as much as you can about the opportunities the employer has available.

• Greet the recruiter with a confident and firm handshake.
• Maintain eye contact when talking with the recruiter.
• Introduce yourself, share your pitch, and explain why you are interested in their company and their position(s).
• Be enthusiastic and smile!  This is your opportunity to share your passion and project your interest in the organization.

• Take notes and always ask for a business card.

• Take breaks between meeting with recruiters.
• Write down any additional notes following meeting the recruiter and create a list of any follow-up actions so you don’t forget.
• Collect your thoughts for the next meeting so you are refreshed and prepared for the next meeting.

• Send an email to thank the recruiter for the conversation and to remind them of your interest in and your fit with the position.

• Consider which employers you felt the best connection with, and decide what your next step should be.
• Think about your connection with each recruiter.  To what extent could you see yourself working alongside them?  What impression did they give about the kind of people who fit their corporate culture?

• Complete any follow-up actions and apply to the positions you are interested in.
• Don’t expect to get an immediate job offer based on a conversation with the recruiter at the fair.
• Utilize your Career Fair experience as one of the many way you will explore potential career paths and where you see yourself after graduation.
• Create a professional contacts list and add the information you gathered at the fair so you can reference it for future professional networking purposes.

• What kinds of skills and experience do you look for in the employees you hire?
• What kind of entry-level positions (or internships) exist within your organization?
• Are there specific career tracks within the organization?
• What is your organization’s culture like?
• What can I do to help add value to the company?
• What made you choose this company and why do you stay?
• How long have you been with the company?

• Concrete information
  • Name
  • Graduation (month and year)
  • Degree and Major
• Subjective information
  • Themes of your experience
  • Emphasize high impact practices (ex. Study Abroad, Leadership positions, etc.)
  • Share your interests and passions
• Connecting Information
  • Why this organization?
  • Why this job?

• Register for a HireAggies account: https://tamu-csm.symplicity.com/ 

  • @HireAggies on Instagram has helpful tips to prepare for a Virtual Career Fair

  • Ensure the resume you have on HireAggies is current and relevant

• Look at employer list on HireAggies to see who is attending the Career Fair

  • Create discussion topics and talking points to engage with employers you are interested in 

• Utilize the Career Center Youtube channel that has a playlist for Career Fair preparation

  • You can access it here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcHKBV0j-aU8PoTIW3ttqqSi51CR2bUas

• Have a professional background (but we recommend not using a virtual background)

  • ​Inspect your room around you and remove any distracting objects

  • If you use a virtual background, keep it to a professional one

• Make sure you are somewhere with strong Internet connection 

• If you live with other people, mention that you will be participating in a Virtual Career Fair to help limit background noise 

• Have a physical or virtual copy of the resume you submitted to HireAggies nearby so that you can reference if needed

• If you experience technology issues - don't let it shake your confidence! You are not the first and you won't be the last. Overcommunicate with the employers any potential difficulties you may have and have a plan in case you lose connection, such as getting their email address at the beginning of the conversation.

• Dress the Part!

  • Pretend this is an in-person fair - wear the exact same thing! 

  • Business professional is the dress code if you are looking for a position, business casual if you are only interacting with employers

  • Make sure you are FULLY dressed for success! You never know when you may have to get up, and you want employers to always see you at your best!

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to email us, schedule an appointment at tx.ag/ccappointment, or drop in for walk ins at tx.ag/ccwalkin.