The 2023 Fañomnåkan Job Fair is coming. On April 28th, 2023, more than 30 different companies on will gather on the floor of the UOG Calvo Field House to recruit current or graduating students. As a student, this is an excellent opportunity to get your resume out there and potentially land a job!
But what does it mean to be “job fair” ready? We’ve got you covered.
Preparing for the Job Fair
- Join or Download Handshake. More and more companies are utilizing social media platforms such as Handshake to connect specifically with college students. Handshake is an easy tool to conduct job searches, upload your resumes, and connect with potential employers.
- Social media — whether you like it or not, some employers are going to look into your online presence. So, stay ahead of the game by doing a quick Google search on yourself and see what pops up. Clean up any questionable posts, memes, images. Make sure that your profile picture is clear. You always want to make sure that your presenting your “best face”.
- Resumes. Have some physical copies on hand to present to employers if they ask. If you can’t print it out, uploading a physical copy on your Handshake or LinkedIn profile is always helpful. Additionally, use cloud-based storage services like Google Drive to have a PDF readily available to send to a representative’s email.
- Check out and attend a career workshop hosted by the Career Development Office. These workshops are available to get you polished and ready for the job hunt. Can’t attend the workshop? No worries. Check out our DIY Career Prep resources.
- Dress the part! Make a good first impression by showing up in business or business casual attire.
- Prepare and practice your elevator pitch. With so many potential employers to meet, you won’t always have time to have a long extended conversation with a recruiter. You need an elevator pitch to give employees a quick TL;DR about who you are.
- Do your research. When available, you should always check out the list of companies attending the event. Select up to five companies that you might be interested in talking to. Go to their company website and find their Mission Statement to get a sense of their values and their goals. This is a good way to align yourself with the company before meeting them.
- Don’t neglect the soft skills. The resume only shows who you are on paper — you need social skills to connect with someone else.
- Prepare to Follow Up! Part of rounding out a good impression with potential employers is to follow up. Prepare a card or an email containing a thank-you message to the employers you’ve met. Not sure how to write that email? Check out this article.
What if I’m a Freshmen or Sophomore?
No matter what year or where you are at in your academic/career journey, we encourage everyone to sign up and attend the job fair. Even though you might not be currently job hunting, it’s never a bad idea to attend and gain an idea of what the job market is like and what sort of opportunities await for you in your latter college years or after graduation.
Speaking of Handshake
The University of Guam has partnered with Handshake, which is another easy to use, and simple tool to widen your job search. While it is quick and easy to sign up, a crucial step is to build your profile with relevant information, experiences, and documents such as a resume.
- Make sure to have “My Career Interests” filled out. Be sure to select:
- A Job Type
- How You Want Handshake to Help You
- Job Roles and Location of Interest
- Industry and Job Functions
- Don’t forget to have at least a resume uploaded on to your profile. You can add more documents — like a general cover letter or a portfolio of various projects you’ve been involved in.
- Fill out the details on your profile. Nothing saps interest more than a blank profile with a greyed out silhouette.
- Make sure you upload a nice, clear, professional-looking picture for your profile. Don’t neglect the power of first impressions and good lighting.
- Privacy Settings — Community vs. Employers only? Be sure to take a moment to view your “settings” and check out your privacy status and select an option that you feel comfortable with.
- Even if you check your UOG email frequently, make sure to add an alternate email in the settings page so that you still get those job notifications both as a student and as an alumni.
Want to learn more about Handshake? Check out our Handshake Resources page!
A Game of Questions
The Job Fair is a great networking opportunity, but students should also remember that it is a Game of Questions as well. Let’s say that you’re in a scenario where you find yourself selected for an on-the-spot interview, or you happen to get into an extended conversation with a company representative. Be prepared to–
- Connect your values and education to the company’s mission.
- Discuss how your skills can further the company’s goals
- Elaborate on your work style and communication style.
On the flip side, you need to ask good questions. If time permits, try to ask some of these questions. If not, save these for the interview day!
- “What does a day to day in the office / field look like?” Job descriptions are often loaded with tons of detailed, minute information that it sometimes can feel intimidating to apply. With this question, you might be able to get some insight as to the day-to-day tasks.
- “Is this a position where I can receive more training that could lead to upward mobility?” In other words, is there a way for you to receive training or professional development so that you not only grow but also get a raise? Are companies willing to invest in growing you?
- “What type of benefits come with this position?” This is a crucial question because you want to know if benefits like employee-backed healthcare, dental coverage, retirement plans, and 401(k)s are available. On the other hand, non-monetary benefits like flexible schedule, remote/WFH, wellness programs, or experiential rewards are an added plus.
- “What’s the starting pay for my educational background and experience?” Knowledge is power so arm yourself with the knowledge of what the average pay would be for someone with your level of training or education. It can be frustrating to sign on to a job and realizing that you might not be adequately compensated.
- “Are there any up front costs?” Many jobs have some costs upfront; it’s just good to know what they are instead of being surprised. Examples of costs upfront are required certifications, administrative costs (ie. background checks, clearances), and uniforms/equipment.
We hope that this article will arm you with the knowledge and tools to land that next job or make that first career step. Got questions? Need advice? Email the Career Development Office or call (671)-735-2233.
