Top Companies Give Advice to Potential Employees

By Zan Parker on September 14, 2012

Picture contributed by carmichaellibrary from flikr.com

 

 

A career fair could hold the key to your future. It’s also only one letter away from being “career fail.” What will make the difference?

At a workshop titled “Career Fair: Inside Edition,” Wednesday in Clemson’s McKissick  Theatre, HR representatives from two leading companies gave advice for the upcoming job blitz. Dan Garrison and Thad Gregory of Milliken, a successful textile company based in Spartanburg,  and Mark Brewer of GE’s healthcare sector, held a question-and-answer session after the career center’s short presentation covering the basics of career fair etiquette.

The Michelin Career Center’s Power Point refocused students on those common sense touches so easily forgotten in the heat of the moment. Its slides can effectively be condensed into the following:

Career Fair Checklist

Resumes: Resumes targeted to specific companies as well as general resumes for serendipitous encounters

Snazz-Factor: You’ll need a snazzy leather portfolio for holding said resumes. If you don’t have one, get one, and be willing to splurge on the snazz-factor. None of those rinky-dink Justin Beiber folders from Wal-Mart, please.

Spiffy Clothing:- suits, ties, shoulder-pads, the works. Iron them. Leave the fedora and spiked dog collar at home.

Comfy Shoes and Water Bottle: Littlejohn Coliseum is an arid desert of ceramic tile.

Brain: Complete with facts on companies you want to like you, good questions, and a short introduction (It’s okay to practice!).

The evening’s theme seems to have been “pay attention to the details.” Garrison, Gregory, and Brewer took up this baton when discussing their likes and dislikes in job candidates.  “Cellphones,” asserted Gregory. “Cut them off when you go to talk to an employer.” Also, “Perfume–please do not wear a lot of perfume. That’s one of the biggest complaints you’ll hear from employers.”  Brewer finished the session with an astute observation: “ You will be judged more on the questions you ask than what you know… plan to interview the interviewer. If you ask questions, get them talking about themselves– they’ll see it as a good interview.”

The Clemson University Fall Career Fair has two divisions: Tech Connect and Connect2Business. Both will be held in Littlejohn Coliseum  Tuesday, September 18 and Wednesday, September 19 from noon until 5 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to go to Clemson Joblink  to view a list of participating companies.

http://career.clemson.edu/clemsonjoblink/index.php

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