Tech Topics - Spring 2009 - (Page 45) LIFE JACKETS 26th Annual Alumni Career Fair Dress the Part, Learn Your Lines By Kimberly Link-Wills J ob seekers attending the 26th Annual Alumni Career Fair on March 24 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta must be prepared. The Alumni Association can help. Two Alumni Association services in particular can help ready Career Fair attendees. The free Career Beam system, accessible at gtalumni.org/pages/careerbeam, provides information on writing resumes and cover letters and being interviewed. Alumni also can network and find Tech graduates who already work for certain companies through the Association’s LinkedIn group. To join, visit www.linkedin.com and search for the Georgia Tech Alumni Association within Groups. Career Fair check-in will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Cobb Galleria. The fair will be open from 1:30 to 6 p.m. Register at gtalumni.org/pages/ careerfairalumni. A lunch workshop, which costs $10, will be conducted from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. Career Fair attendees “need to be self-aware of the impressions they’re giving to other individuals,” Len Contardo, Alumni Association vice president for Outreach, said, adding that job seekers should ask for feedback from peers “about what messages they’re giving off and be prepared to change the things they are misstating so when they’re doing that introduction they’re leaving a positive impression. “The recruiters may meet with hundreds of people in that one day. What’s going to make them remember you versus someone else?” Contardo asked. He advises warming up by visiting companies that aren’t at the top of the job wish list. “I usually suggest going to one that’s not on your radar screen. Practice your intro. See what kind of feedback you get.” Caroline Taylor Player, Alumni Association director of Career Services, tells fair attendees to concisely communicate their accomplishments and qualifications in five sentences. “Include how you’d relate to the organization both from an educational standpoint and your experience.” Dress for success, Player advised. “Err on the side of formality. People have seen recruiters come to career fairs with a golf shirt on, and they think, ‘They’re not dressed up, why do I need to have on a suit?’ You should dress for the job you want. Some environments are more conservative than others. You need to dress the part of the job seeker.” White-and-gold ties and accessories are encouraged, said Player, who laughed as she cautioned SHUTTERSTOCK “Some people spend too much time out in the commons area reviewing fair materials and company information. Don’t overplan. Just get in there and give it a try.” Caroline Taylor Player Alumni Association director of Career Services against wearing red when meeting with fellow Georgia Tech alumni. “I think when people have the Georgia Tech colors on it makes them more memorable. It even gives them something to talk about. A lot of the recruiting personnel are alums,” she said. Most importantly, be neat and conservatively dressed, Contardo said. “Then the interviewer can focus on ideas, what’s coming out of your mouth. If you have on a wrinkled tie, they’re going to be focused on that.” Arrive with resumes and a plan, Player stressed. “Be strategic about the companies you’re going to talk to. You’re not going to necessarily be able to talk to everyone there. Don’t spend too much time planning. That’s one thing we consistently see,” Player said of the job seekers who pore over the Career Fair booth layouts and employer lists. “Some people spend too much time out in the commons area reviewing fair materials and company information. Don’t overplan. Just get in there and give it a try.” TechTopics | Spring 2009 45 http://www.gtalumni.org/pages/careerbeam http://www.linkedin.com http://www.gtalumni.org/pages/careerfairalumni http://www.gtalumni.org/pages/careerfairalumni
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