Before Careers Fair
Basics (基本功) is the fundamental part of kung fu (which translates into “job hunting” at Careers Fair) as you cannot progress without a strong foundation. Without footwork (“preparation work” for job-hunting) such as researching on the companies, preparing for interviews , and getting name cards and resume ready, you cannot fully grasp the opportunities you may have during the Careers Fair.
Research – Refer to the Careers Fair 2009 Programme Scheme for a list of participating organisations. Research on these organisations and their corresponding fields and have your questions ready. Use this opportunity to find out information which is not available from other public sources such as websites and annual reports.
Resume – A few of the participating organisations are hiring! You may have a few resumes ready for use. To book an appointment with our Honourary Career Consultant for one-on-one consultation about your resume, please contact Mr. Tsui of CEDARS at 2859-2314 or via email.
Name card – A name card can be an impressive marketing tool. At the Careers Fair, there will be a name-card generator and we will provide you with quality paper to print your cards. All you need to do is to key in your personal particulars and then you can get your name cards instantly. Please check out the name card generator here.
In addition to your personal particulars and your contact information, you can also insert a statement which summarises your qualities and your career objective, for example, “An ambitious and meticulous accounting student looking for an entry position in an audit firm”.
Target Your visit – Prepare a list of employers/ firms that you would like to meet. Prioritise these organisations as it is wiser to visit those of your preferences first. Collect as much information as possible by picking up their leaflets and brochures. They will be useful for you to compare different fields and organisations.
During Careers Fair
After building a foundation, you need to perform stances (steps or “步法” in Chinese) so as to make good use of the Fair to facilitate your job-hunting.
How to approach a counter – Go to the targeted booth with confidence. Offer a firm handshake and introduce yourself to the representative with eye contact. If you want to approach the hiring firms, you are advised to dress formally to show your sincerity and maturity.
How to introduce yourself – You may only have one to two minutes to give a positive impression on the potential employers, so your self-introduction needs to be powerful, organised, well-planned and tailor-made for different organisations. You may prepare a 30-second self-introduction by taking reference from the following script:
30-Second Script Format
STEP ONE - 0”-5” - Introduce your personal information such as degree, year and major;
STEP TWO - 5”-15” – Explain why you are there and the type of opportunities or information you are looking for;
STEP THREE - 15”-25” - Briefly describe your relevant experience such as work, internship and volunteering, and highlight your accomplishments;
STEP FOUR - 25”-30” – Demonstrate your knowledge of the company/ field.
Exchanging Name-card – you can give your name card to the company representative. You may also ask the representatives for their name cards politely for further contact and future enquiries.
Handing in resume – Bring along sufficient copies of your resume, application letter and academic certificates with you.
How to end the conversations/discussions – thank the representatives for their time sincerely.
Reminder: As not all the participating organisations are hiring, please be prepared to modify your script and approach to fit different purposes.
After Careers Fair
Your job-hunting/career planning does not end with the Fair, good kung fu practitioners (“job-seekers”) should take further steps (“步法” in Chinese) to achieve their goals.
Thank-you note – After the Fair, write a thank-you note to the representatives of the companies that you have met to thank them for their time and consideration. The notes should be personal and not off-the-shelve (please don’t use the same letter for all). Do so better within three days. If the company is hiring, you may restate your interest and qualifications for that position and ask for interview opportunities.
Interview preparations – You may be arranged to have interviews with prospective employers shortly after the Fair. Therefore, it is wise to have early preparation. Further research on the company/ field/ current affairs is therefore necessary. If you would like to polish your interview skills, please contact Mr. Tsui of CEDARS at 2859-2314 or via email to arrange an interview practice session with our Honourary Career Consultant.
