On Wednesday, March 30, the School of Media and Communications hosted its career fair. For someone who tends to keep to himself, this was very overwhelming. Approaching strangers and proving to them why you are the best candidate is not easy. But in the public relations world, it is critical. It all comes down to you mustering up the courage and showing people what you’re made of. This is something everyone can improve on, and from my experience at the career fair, I took away a few lessons for the future.
The Fundamentals
First things first, you should always dress the part. There is no such things as being underdressed for an event. Show people that you know how to clean yourself up. Next thing is research. Know what companies are going to the event. By showing them you took the time to learn more about the company is a great start. This transitions small talk into medium talk. The last thing is having copies of your resume and cover letter. Make sure your resume is up-to-date and printed on nice stationery paper.
Own It
There is no denying the nerves that come with networking events. But they get easier as you continue to put yourself out there. The simplest advice I’ve ever received is fake it ‘til you make it. Sooner or later you’ll start becoming more confident and not timid approaching people. Additionally, just have fun with it! Each company you talk to is a different opportunity. Change up your elevator pitch. Alter your style on how you talk to people. If you mess up with one company, there are 50 more you can talk to.
Learn
After leaving a career fair, you should have an idea of how it went. If it didn’t go to well, reflect and see what you can change for next time. Should I do more research? Did I talk to enough people? How did I come off? These are just some of the questions you should ask yourself. Conversely, if it did go well, how I can I improve more? How can I perfect my elevator speech? What is something I can do next time to really stand out? By thinking about how to better yourself causes you to grow and become a better person.
Final Thoughts
It’s tough being shy in the public relations world. But just know there are ways around it. By doing your part through preparation and practice, even the most introvert person can shine at career fairs.
This guest blog post was written by PRowl account associate Chris Vazquez.
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