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Students Should Attend MBA Career Fairs Ready to Impress
By Chris Hassan
Posted October 12, 2012 12:00 PM
Students should come to an MBA career fair prepared.For students pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or similar graduate degree, entry into business school can mean having access to job opportunities that those outside of academia do not. After all, many colleges and universities either host or participate in MBA career fairs that are designed to connect students with employers eager to fill their ranks with qualified candidates.
In the months ahead, many career fairs are planned for students currently pursuing an MBA degree. For example, Chicago, Illinois, is set to host the Midwest MBA Career Fair on October 19. Students from 11 institutions, including Michigan State University, the University of Notre Dame and The Pennsylvania State University, are all expected to attend, according to the event's website. Further down the line, on March 27, 2013, students from schools such as Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will attend the Carolina MBA Connection Career Fair in North Carolina, the event's website states.
While MBA career fairs may not be hard to come by, jobs in the current economy are a whole different matter. With the nation's unemployment rate still high, those attending these events will want to put their best foot forward and make the best impression possible on the company representatives they meet. Of course, a successful MBA career fair experience hinges on attendees' level of professionalism and preparation.
Have a Plan
Whether students are making their first or second visit to an MBA career fair, they need to go into this event with a goal, Bloomberg Businessweek reports. Some individuals will show up hoping to track down a job, while others attend just to gather information. No matter what the point of their visit may be, students need to be prepared to answer whatever questions company representatives ask of them, such as why they want to work in a specific industry.
Have a Pitch Ready
According to Businessweek, students should approach company representatives with a prepared elevator pitch that should last 60 seconds and sound natural. This very brief speech provides MBA career fair attendees with a chance to introduce themselves and tell potential employers what type of position they are looking for.
Manners Matter
The exchanges students share with company representatives may not be official job interviews, but that does not mean manners do not apply. MBA career fair attendees should leave the casual clothes back home and always be respectful toward fellow students, according to The Stern Opportunity, the student newspaper for New York University's Stern School of Business. If a company representative is conversing with someone, individuals should respectfully wait their turn and avoid interrupting.
