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Prepping for The Career Fair

Career fairs can be nerve-wracking — I mean, you’re going into a room full of accomplished and successful well-dressed adults, so it’s totally normal. Don’t feel discouraged; instead, go in with a plan of attack. Prepping yourself as much as possible is key in calming your nerves. As the saying goes: “Proper preparation prevents poor performance.” So, let’s get prepped!
 

Perfect Your Elevator Pitch

A lot of these Career fairs are about selling yourself to potential employers. Perfecting your elevator pitch is a great way to do so ­­–– not only for career fairs but in your day-to-day life as well. You never know when you’ll run into an opportunity that could turn into a possible job, so you want to be prepared. An elevator pitch is essentially what you would say to a potential employer about yourself and your skills, all in the time it would take to ride an elevator. It’s short, sweet, and to the point. Perfect yours and you’ll be going in confident which will really wow employers.
 

Dress The Part To Feel The Part

When you feel as though you look your best, you perform your best — this is called “enclothed cognition.” In this case, you definitely want to be feeling your best when pitching yourself and networking. Dress to impress, but make sure you still dress for the occasion –– business casual would be my suggestion. Aim for dark pants, either black or navy, a simple, plain top with a blazer, and you’ll be good to go! Stick to neutrals and plain items instead of bright colors and loud patterns. YOU want to be the highlight of your interaction, not your clothes. You will feel the most confident in yourself knowing you look the part.
 

Come With Your Resume/Portfolio In Hand

You never know when one of your conversations will turn into a possible opportunity. Coming with a copy or two of your resume (and portfolio if necessary) will not only wow employers, but it will also allow you to be taken seriously, boosting your overall confidence. If you have business cards, bring those too! Employers will remember you. Make sure to ask each table you go to for their business card as well, if they have one. Then, you can easily keep track of all the companies you visited, along with their contact info. It will show that you are an eager and prepared individual, and employers love that!

Coming armed with the proper mindset and materials will ease your anxieties, leaving you feeling confident and prepared come career fair day. You got this!

Happy job hunting!

Conquering the Career Fair!

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The post How to Navigate Your First College Career Fair When You’re Super Anxious! appeared first on StudySoup Blog.