Joining the Rat Race: Career Fair Comes to Campus

By Broadside News Editor Noah Martin

A tumultuous stock market has left many Americans unsure about their future. To help in the job search for George Mason University students and alleviate fears, University Career Services will be hosting a job internship fair on Tuesday, Oct. 7 and Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Dewberry Hall.

One hundred and sixty employers will attend the fair, 80 on each day, representing employers from all sectors of the economy.

The fair is going to be different this year, according to Career Services. “For the past three years, we have been trying to shape the fair so that it has more diversity and range of possibilities for students,” said Janice Sutera, director of career services.

Event planners have been carefully selecting and recruiting employers since June. They initially invite a target list of employers and then begin to fill the gaps as plans and markets change.

When asked what she was most looking forward to about this year’s job fair, Sutera said, “Two things—I think that our students have taken the responsibility of preparing themselves very seriously and that is exciting to me. Second, I am excited to see the types of recruiters that are clamoring to be here. ”

The Career Services Web site suggests that students prepare for the job fair in a number of ways. Researching employers of interest, discovering positions available within the company, and identifying employer specific questions are an important part showing the employer you are interested.

“At Career Services, we are very student-centric. We are here for you, but you have to have your own rudder. We are just trying to blow the wind into your sails,” Sutera said.

Employers interviewed at previous job fairs have expressed how unappealing it is to have students approach a booth and generically ask what the company does or what they have available.

Students should bring multiple copies of a professional résumé with them to the job fair. Career Services also suggests that students prepare a one-minute commercial, or introduction, selling your best qualities and practice it with a friend.

Students planning to attend the job fair should dress professionally, avoid distracting mannerisms, and ask how to follow up with employers.

More information can be found on the Career Services Web site at http://careers.gmu.edu/jobfair/index.html