#GWCTalks: Virtual Career Fair Etiquette
It’s official — career fairs are going virtual. And, to be honest, we kind of like them better than IRL fairs. At least, that’s after we talked to the panelists for this week’s GWC Talks session. Suddenly, meeting a potential employer on Zoom doesn’t seem so daunting. If you missed this week’s session, no worries. That’s what this handy recap is for. You can also watch the full session here.
Big thanks to our panelists — Keisha James (Vice President, Enterprise Platforms & Digital Operations at GE Renewable Energy), Jill Gibson, (Senior Director, Global Talent Programs at Walmart), and Magaly Soto-Arce (Manager, Global Product Group Engineering- Track and Excel Programs at General Motors).
Thank you also to Tracey Patterson, Managing Director at Accenture for moderating! And, of course, thank YOU for joining!
THE BEFORE
First things first, register. Then, find out which companies will be at the fair and what kinds of roles they’re hiring for. Schedule meetings with those that are most appealing to you first, so that you and the recruiter are both fresh — a full day of interviews can be taxing for everyone!
Do your research! Learn about the company, the sector, and the role. You want to come prepared and able to articulate why you’re interested in working with that firm specifically. It’ll make the conversation more meaningful for you and the recruiter.
And finally: would you show up to a career fair in your leggings and a hoodie? No (unless maybe you’re applying for a gig with an athleisure brand). So put on your best Zoom shirt (and pants!!) — and don’t forget about your background either, said Tracey. Anyone follow Room Rater on Twitter? Let’s get your setup to a 10/10. And if you can’t set up a few books or a succulent in the backdrop, a blank wall will do just fine!
THE DURING
Well first — congrats because showing up is half the battle. We had viewers asking whether attending a virtual career fair even makes sense. What if you aren’t based in the U.S.? Or feel under-qualified? Or need a work permit? No matter what your situation, it’s always beneficial to attend a career fair to explore what opportunities might be appealing to you. Just be sure to be upfront about your situation with employers. And, as Keisha reminded us, a lot of companies are actually more open to hiring remote talent now that they know it’s possible, post-COVID.
When it comes to asking questions, Magala and Keisha agree — make sure you’re asking questions about professional development, the growth strategy of the company, their workplace culture (which is especially important now that lots of folks have gone remote!). Of course, make sure to ask questions that show off the research you’ve done!
What not to ask? Don’t ask questions you can find answers to online (i.e. where they are based), said Jill. And definitely do not ask about salary — there are many steps in the hiring process, you will have plenty of chances to ask about compensation.
And remember, quality over quantity. If you have one meaningful conversation with a recruiter, that’s better than ten conversations where you just read your resume verbatim.
THE AFTER
The career fair isn’t over when you finish the interviews and exit the browser! Don’t close your laptop just yet. (If you want to change into sweats now that’s fine by us).
It’s time for follow up. For this, LinkedIn is your best friend. Make sure you follow all the companies at the fair that you thought were interesting, and definitely follow-up with the recruiters you connected with. For recruiter follow-up, we love this little tidbit that Magala shared with us: in your note, include something specific to your conversation with the recruiter. The truth is, they’re speaking with dozens of candidates in a day. Make sure your follow up note stands out as much as your conversation did.
Then, close your laptop, relax, recharge… and get ready for the next one! Good luck.
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Huge thanks again to Keisha, Jill, Magaly, and Tracey for making this conversation so informative and so delightful!
#GWCTalks is a free virtual event series for our alumni and our community, to come together to address uncertainties around college, internships, and careers in tech during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To view prior sessions, see links below:
Session #1: College During COVID-19
Session #2: Career Pathing in a Crisis
Session #3: No Internships, Now What?
Session #4: How to Be Brave Not Perfect in a Crisis
Session #5: The CompSci Class Experience & How to Succeed
Session #6: How to Craft the Perfect Tech Resume
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