Making the Most of National Career Fairs

University at Buffalo
School of Management
Career Resource Center
Preparing For Success at
National MBA Conferences
mgt.buffalo.edu/careerevents
National Black
MBA Assoc.
Conference &
Exposition
National Society
of Hispanic MBAs
Conference &
Career Expo
(PROSPANICA )
Oct 11-15
(Fair 13-14)
Asian MBA
Leadership
Conference &
Career Expo
Sept 28 – Oct 1
Nov 4th
New Orleans, LA
(Fair 8-9)
New York, NY
Houston, TX
http://events.asianmba
.org/8th-annual-ambaagenda
http://www.nbmbaaconf
erence.org/aboutConf/de
fault.aspx
http://nshmbaconferen
ce.org/registrationstudent-promo.html
Other events:
APICS Int’l Conference
DISCO Int’l Career
Forum
Net Impact Career
Expo
Women for Hire
Online Fair Careers In
Africa
European Career Fair
Melissa Ruggiero, Sr. Associate Director, CRC
Hi Ilana,
All of the diversity conferences National Black MBA, NSHMBA, etc. pride themselves on being nondiscriminatory towards all ethnicity and cultures so it is commonly accepted that students of all races,
etc. are allowed to attend the conference. I can't speak to specific numbers as it will vary year to year.
I would recommend doing some reframing with your students.
As I national recruiter for Cisco Systems, I was looking for diversity but I often struggled to find it. It's
much harder to recruit diversity than to just recruit good people in general. So, when I went to a nat’l
conference, I looked for your students! Even if students of a non-diverse type are available and
waiting in the career booth lines, I was still there to recruit diversity. (At the same time, I can't legally
discriminate against anyone, so I talk to everyone). So, it's important to paint these conferences as
one of clear advantages that your students have and if they are turning down the opportunities to
meet top companies, they are missing out.
Now, it's possible the students that went in the past didn't get interviews or offers, which means they
were underprepared. If your students don't take this advantage where recruiters are looking for them,
how do they expect to stand out?
Mike
-----------------------------Mike Tomasello
CollegeCareerSpeaker.com
Los Angeles CA
Who should attend?
Professional
Development
Sea of suits
2 minutes to impress!
Individual
Interviews
Comparison & Useful Info
Conference
National Black MBA
Career Expo:
- Career Success Network® Center
- Meet the Experts Sessions
- Corporate Hospitality Receptions
NSHMBA now PROSPANICA
Career Expo:
-Career Management Center
-Professional Development Series
-Company Info Sessions
-Networking Events
Asian MBA Leadership Conference and
Career Expo
List Co’s See Jobs
Online Online
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Networking and Educational Sessions
Career session, but that is not the point of the
event
Fees: Career Expo Only
Not Open Yet
$250 non-member
$150 Member
$125 non-member
$50 member
Not Open Yet
No at door registration
Not Open Yet
Early Bird(June 30)-:
Member-$1179
Non-Member - $1429
One day conferenceEarly Bird(June 30)-:
Member-$459
Non-Member - $709
Full Conference:
• Marriott Ownership Session
• Welcome Reception
• Conference Sessions
• Luncheon & Hospitality Receptions
• Keynote Luncheon
• Friday Night Entertainment
• Nightly Networking Events
+ Everything Expo gives you
Full Conference:
• 4 meal events
• Gala
+ Everything Expo gives you
Yes
Yes
Full Conference:
• Professional Development
• Networking & Info Sessions
• Luncheons
• HR Reception (by invite)
• Networking Reception(by Invite)
+ Everything Expo gives you
Career Expo:
-Resume Critique Sessions
-Employer Showcases
-Career Coaching Workshop
APICS
Fees: Full Conference
Not Open Yet
Yes
No
Students can apply to be a “Scholar” to attend for free by
June 26, 2016.:
• Complimentary conference registration
• Hotel accommodations
• $200 travel stipend
• Reserved seating at general session presentations
• A professional APICS member as your mentor
• Networking events
• Conference-geared student programs such as the
Think Tank, Poster Session and Volunteer
Leadership Workshop student tracks.
National Black MBA Association
NSHMBA now PROSPANICA
Asian MBA Conference
APICS
National Association of Women MBA’s
Before the Conference… (squish if soon)
• Review your career
goals—what are you
looking for? What
do you have to
offer?
• Perfect your résumé
• Register for
conference
• Review job
descriptions and
apply for jobs
60-90 days
prior
30-60 days
prior
• Develop a list of
targeted companies
Research jobs,
companies,
industries
Rank order your list
Prepare talking
points
•Conduct preconference
networking
•Arrange travel and
logistics
• Plan your agenda
 Meals, speakers
and networking
events
• Craft your elevator
pitch statement
 Tailor it to
company and
job
 Conclude with
open-ended
question
• Prepare pending
interviews
• Buy a suit
30 days prior
When You Arrive…
Arrive the first day
of the conference
and check in!
• Save time, second
day is always
busiest day.
Review the
conference
brochure, the Expo
floor map, and
become familiar
with event location
and hotel
Attend professional
development
sessions
If available, visit the
• Sponsored and
facilitated by
recruiters
• Land an interview
on the first day
• Additional
practice on
interview skills
and elevator
speech.
Career Management
Center
During the Career Expo…
Keep
organized
Stay focused
Be efficient
Be
professional at
all times
Never miss an
opportunity to
network
Avoid
“shopping”
Meeting Recruiters
Recruiters
are
People!!
Tired Stinky
Annoyed Cold Hot
Irritable Bored
Achy Distracted
Forgetful
Approach
Engage
Close
• Smile, eye
contact, firm
handshake
• Relax, speak
slowly and loud
enough to be
heard
• Elevator pitch
and answer
interview
questions
•Open Ended
Questions
• Request contact
information and
ask about next
steps
• After leaving
the booth, make
notes
• Return later, use
what you
learned
•Ask relevant
questions
about the
company
Tips for Success
As for introductions if
interested in a different
role
If the company is
conducting interviews
during the event, ask for
an interview
Engage in conversation –
ask what the person
does, etc.
If at first you don’t
succeed, try, try again!
Keep an open
mind…sometimes a
company you hadn’t
considered may be the
perfect fit
Conclude your
introduction by asking an
open-ended question.
Begin with your
positioning
statement/introduction.
Tips for
Approaching
a Company
Be mindful of the
recruiter’s time.
Sample Introduction
Relevant | Engaging | Smile | Open Ended Question
“I noticed you have an opening for an ERP specialist posted on the conference
website. I found this opening and your company very intriguing because you are
in the life sciences industry and the position calls for the development and
support of the processes for the creation and revision of master data for your
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. This is exactly what I am looking to
do after graduation this spring. I have two years experience with ERP systems
already and some of my most rewarding projects have been with life science
clients. Here is a copy of my resume which also shows other internships that
have helped me develop my organizational, negotiation and teamwork skills.
Also, I am really looking forward to the intense data and stats-focused
coursework I am taking this semester. Can you tell me what your role is at
Company X and if you know what ERP system your company is currently using?”
Interview Center
Arrive Early! Allow
time to check in
and prepare for
interview
Interviews happen
every day of the
conference
Be prepared for
face-to-face and
video conferencing
interview
Multiple interviews
for one company
Upwards of 200 to
600+ interviews
happening at once
After the Career Fair…
Follow up
Follow through
Be persistent
• Send thoughtful,
substantive
follow-up notes –
acknowledge
what was
discussed, what
you learned, etc.
They help people
remember you.
• Do everything
you said you
would (complete
online
applications,
assessments,
etc.)
• Be professional
and persistent
• Focus on building
relationships for
the long term
• Look for
opportunities for
“repeat
performances”
After the Career Fair…
Follow Up | Follow Through
Dear Mr. Smith,
I cannot thank you enough for our first round interview this morning for the
product development role. Our conversation about how the balance between
using technical skills and leadership was extremely interesting. This is the
exact role I see myself excelling in upon graduation from my MBA as it can
capitalize on my previous engineering experience and degree as well as my
current LeaderCORE certification program and campus leadership activities. I
have recently completed the online application as you requested, including my
reference list and I look forward to a potential next round interview at your
location this November.
Sincerely,
Joe Schmo
Apply to
for school support!
All undergraduate, graduate and
PhD students in the School of
Management are eligible to apply.
Questions and Open Discussion
Apply via BizLink in Jobs/Internships Section
• Going to a national career fair?
• Attending a national professional development conference?
• Traveling to a case competition?
• Financial support to individuals, groups or organizations interested in traveling to
national conferences or competitions
• Life-changing, “wow” experiences for a student
• Offset the costs of your travel
All undergraduate, graduate and PhD students in the School of Management are eligible to apply
To be considered:
• Provide a description of the event and purpose.
• List names of participants and student organization (if applicable).
• Indicate any other potential sources of funding.
• Indicate how will this be transformative for you or your group.
• Provide breakdown of estimated costs for the trip per person
(i.e. costs for registration, lodging, transportation, etc.).
Please note:
• Recipients will be required to post their experiences to approved
social media channels and bring back photos.
• Additional application rounds will take place during 2016-17 if funds
are available.
The Wow Fund