Career Fair Forecast: 3 Tips to Securing Your Dream Job

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Last week students from all majors and backgrounds suited up for a chance to land their dream job. Being a Double-Boiler, one would think that I would be comfortable with the annual experience of attending Purdue’s major career fairs.

The process always repeats itself: I perform thorough company research, practice my elevator pitch, and approach the recruiter just to get a politically correct rejection.

I was rather used to having my “job fitting capabilities”, as one recruiter called it, being put into question for the simple fact of having a non-traditional undergraduate major. This, on the other hand, was not the case in this year’s Industrial Roundtable (IR) and School of Management Employers Forum (SMEF) career fairs.

"The nerves that once prevented me from approaching my dream job recruiters were simply gone, and it was all thanks to the amazing individuals that form the Krannert family."

Last week as I walked past the numerous companies in attendance, I tried to remember all of the skills that my Krannert career coaches at the KPDC (Krannert Professional Development Center) equipped me with in the previous weeks: from my level of confidence to the delivery of my ideas. It was their constant support and encouragement that allowed me to truly feel prepared at a career fair for the first time in my many years as a Purdue student. The nerves that once prevented me from approaching my dream job recruiters were simply gone, and it was all thanks to the amazing individuals that form the Krannert family.

For upcoming career fairs, my three pieces of advice to MBA/MS students prior to attending would be:

1. Meet with your Career Coaches.

Your coach will be your greatest resource during the recruitment season. These coaches are available through the Krannert Professional Development Center (KPDC). You can register to meet with them any time throughout the year. Always be prepared, not just before certain events.

2. Reach out to Alumni.

With an alumni network of 400,000+, the Krannert School of Management's global community is a tool you’ll definitely want to utilize during your job search. Whether alumni come through for classroom visits, leadership forums, mentoring opportunities or virtual events- take advantage of their networks and knowledge.

3. Use the Capital IQ database to obtain detailed information on your target companies.?

Within the first 10 seconds of talking to a recruiter, they already know if you’ve done your homework. Understanding a company- its mission and values is crucial when making a first impression and securing your initial interview.

Best of luck!

Christian Bencid

1st year MBA