UA Career Fair Kicks Off This Week with Hundreds of Employers

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Two-hundred and fifteen employers will be on the hunt for prospective employees at The University of Alabama Career Center’s bi-annual career fair Wednesday and Thursday at Coleman Coliseum from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Both graduates and students are welcome at the fair.

On Wednesday, the employers at the fair will recruit all majors. Thursday’s fair is for employers looking to hire those with engineering and technical education.

Melinda King, executive director of the UA Career Center, said that as of May 2015, 92 percent of UA graduates who responded to surveys said they were employed in their desired job field or were enrolled in graduate school within six months after graduation.

She said the UA majors with the highest number of graduates in 2015 were public relations, finance, marketing and accounting.

“They really want to talk to people who want to be strong leaders,” King said.

“Employers are recruiting for internships and full-time employment. We encourage freshmen to come as well and make connections. We advise that students not try to reach out to every employer, but instead do your research on the companies that you’re most interested in and let those be the ones you try to connect to.”

Click here for a list of employers scheduled to attend the fair.

TIPS ON PREPARING FOR THE FAIR

• Dress for success (professionally)
• Wear a suit that would be appropriate for an interview
• Polish your shoes, wear minimal jewelry and forgo cologne or perfume
• Place your nametag on your right side
• Prepare to impress
• Check the list of participants, and identify the employers that interest you, then research them
• Make keyword notes about what you’d like to discuss with employers
• Have resumes printed on quality paper, and offer one to each recruiter when asked, or at the end of your conversations
• Consider printing business cards with your contact information, degree/major, projected graduation date, university and targeted occupational areas
• Practice giving a brief introduction on what you seek in a job or career
• Employers evaluate candidates on how they communicate qualifications, interest and goals, so be able to share why you would be a valuable hire
• Demonstrate your best
• Walk and stand with an upright posture that reflects confidence, make eye contact, speak clearly, offer a firm handshake, and remember to smile
• Don’t grab at freebies; wait until they are offered
• Ask how you should follow up regarding the hiring process
• Send a personalized thank you note to each recruiter you engaged with

For a crash course on how to make the most out of a career fair, a class entitled “Career Fair Crash Course,” will be offered Tuesday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Ferguson Center, room #3108.

After the fair is over, King recommends that students come to the career enter for help with things like resume critiques, major selection and connections with employers.