February 19th, 2010 10 AM - 3:30 PM

Towson Center, Towson University

•  PARKING ALERT 

All guests wishing to park on campus must follow Towson University’s visitor parking policies -http://www.towson.edu/adminfinance/auxservices/parking/parking/visitors/index.asp  Please note that parking is not guaranteed, and may not be available adjacent to the fair.  Student participants should expect to pay for parking.  A better alternative is to ride the shuttle to campus.  Please contact your institution’s Career Center for information about shuttle service.   The CollegeTown Shuttle is also available for participating schools.

• RESEARCHING EMPLOYERS

New employers are added every day!  To view currently registered employers, please visit http://asp.symplicity.com/mdcareerfair/ and under “attending employer profiles” click on “research employers”.  There you will see the list of organization names and their websites.  To learn more about the employers, including available positions, click on the organization’s name.   Information available is based solely on what employers have provided in their registrations.  MCC makes no guarantees about the accuracy of employer’s information.  Attendance of employers is subject to change without notice.

•  CAREER FAIR TIPS 

Note: Career Fair 2010 is free to students!

Before the Fair
Research Employers – Know who is attending the fair and research the employers ahead of time using the company website or through searches on vault.com or hoovers.com. 

Come Early and Show Initiative – Express your interest and motivation by arriving early to meet with employers before the fair gets crowded. Remember to bring a list of employers you are interested in meeting.

Prepare Questions – Have a few relevant questions you would like to ask the employers such as positions available with the organization or the types of skills the employer is seeking.

Practice Answering Questions – Think about the interview questions you may be asked, specifically about your skills and strengths. Practice out loud so you become comfortable.

At the Fair
Dress & Act PROFESSIONALLY – Consider this a preliminary interview.  First impressions are important so leave the sneakers and jeans at home as well as the slang language.

Bring Resumes and References – Make sure you have enough copies printed on resume-quality paper to give to employers. Prior to the fair have others proof read your resume for errors. Your references should be on a separate piece of resume-quality paper with your name and contact information at the top. For each reference include name, title, organization, address, phone number, and email. Don’t forget to ask permission to use your references.

Approach Employers Confidently – Make eye contact and shake hands with the employer when you introduce yourself. Prepare a brief introduction. (Ex: Hello, my name is Mary Brown and I’m a junior at Goucher majoring in Biology. I am interesting in learning more about the research internships with your organization).

Discuss Your Strengths and Interests in the Organization – Tell the employer why you would be an excellent candidate for the position and why you are interested in the organization.

Take Employer Materials – Ask for company materials and business cards. Have something to refer to when you follow up with an organization. Take notes immediately after leaving the employer so you remember relevant information.

After the Fair
Follow Up with the Contact – Send a thank you letter or call the employer representative. By letting them know your interest, you will stand out in the employer’s mind.

• MAKING THE MOST OF THE FAIR

Who’s Here?
Read the Employer Directory and identify employers you’re interested in
Where Are They?
Locate employers of interest on the floor plan
Develop Your Game Plan.
Who will you visit and when?
Individualize your approach to each employer based on research and information in the Employer Directory
Double Check – Are you...
Dressed professionally?
Prepared with lots of targeted resumes?
Ready to approach employers with your 30 second commercial?
Prepared to make a great (and your only!)first impression?
What’s Next?
Reiterate your interest. Thank the employer for their time. Ask what their recruitment process looks like from here and what, ifanything, you can do to advance your candidacy.

•  PREPARING A RESUME

How to Get Started
• Consider what the employer is seeking, as well as your own skills, interests, and abilities.  Self-reflection is critical to writing an effective resume. 
• Meet with a staff member in your Career Center to have your resume reviewed.

Content
• When writing your resume, always represent yourself in the most positive light.  This is YOUR advertising tool.  Let your employer see all of your most POSITIVE qualities.
• Always tell the truth on your resume.  Facts can be checked from former employers.
• Let your resume draw the employer’s attention to your qualifications and abilities.
• Use action verbs, such as led, developed, and organized, instead of passive phrases to give your resume strength.
• Qualify and quantify your skills.  Use numbers and adjectives to give a factual weight to your experience.  For example, “Increased sales by 20% in 2000.”
• Revise your resume to fit the position for which you are applying.  It’s extra work, but it will pay off.  Draw parallels between your qualifications and the job requirements. 
• Emphasize the work experience that is most relevant to the job for which you are applying.
• Depending on the style of your interviewer, your resume may set the tone for the interview.  Be sure to include topics on your resume that you would like to talk about in your interview, such as international and volunteer experience.
• List your high school information only if it really makes you stand out.
• Avoid salary information on your resume.
• For companies that scan resumes, try to use “key words” that are used in the job advertisement, such as specific computer skills, foreign languages, or job responsibilities. 

Format and Style
• Make sure your name and contact information are prominent and correct.  Put your name on every page.
• Fonts should be 10-12 points in size.
• Avoid fancy graphics.
• Print your resume on high quality bond or resume paper.
• Leave space between paragraphs, and allow for adequate margins.
• Job Objective sections on your resume are optional.  You may include one if you have a very specific job in mind or if it would be difficult for an employer to understand your objective based on your resume. 
• The Summary section should capture the essence of your characteristics, skills, and experience in several short phrases.
• List your Relevant Experience in reverse chronological order.  A chronological format is usually best for entry-level jobs.
• Include additional categories on your resume such as Leadership, Awards, Professional Organizations, and Volunteer Experience.
• The phrase “References Available Upon Request” is optional. You may exclude it from your resume if you are short on space.
• Always make sure the resume and the cover letter are error-free. Proofread, and have others proofread as well.
• Prepare a separate reference sheet with the names, titles, and contact information of three people who will speak positively about you.  Always ask for permission prior to including someone as a reference and give them a copy of your resume