Students at St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Long Island campus, received some much-needed preparation tips for this week’s Internship and Job Fair at a highly informative preparation course, led by Assistant Director of the Office of Career Preparation and Professional Development Matt Skolnick.
“Employers are going to expect you to be prepared,” said Skolnick. “To show off your professionalism, be sure to prepare a folder with multiple copies of your resume, portfolio and professional references.”
When talking to employers, it is recommended to ask questions to show your interest. Some good starter questions are:
What does it take to succeed at your company?
What do you enjoy most about the company?
Though asking questions is great, you must prepare yourself to answer questions. The dreaded tell-us-about-yourself question will be asked, and you must develop a good answer. A good way to nail the response is to make sure you include previous education, job experience and future job goals.
Being prepared is a good way of keeping nerves to a minimum. “Warming up with one or two employers you’re not very interested in can help you get rid of some nerves and get comfortable,” says Skolnick. “Doing this will allow you to get a feel for how the conversations with employers can go.”
There are going to be a bunch of people talking to the same employer, so making yourself stand out is very important. You can do this by sending out a follow-up email. “Following up is key,” says Skolnick. Though this gesture may be small, a lot of people forget to do it. This allows you to show the employer your interest and professionalism but also makes them think of you again. Be sure to send the email within 24 hours of the fair and keep it short and simple but professional.
Though these kinds of events may be nerve-racking, they allow you to expand on your professional skills while getting you comfortable with talking to potential employers.
The Long Island campus’ Internship and Job Fair will be held this Thursday, October 24 from 12-1:45 p.m. in the Danzi Gymnasium. For more information, call 631.687.1247 or email sjcareers@sjny.edu.
