Tag Archives: careers fair

How to prepare for a science careers fair: At the fair

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_NJCE(Long)eps
You’ve done your before you go preparation and it’s the day of the careers fair. What now?

In Part 2 of this blog series, we provide more practical advice to ensure you get the most from the show.

1. The early bird catches the worm. As we mentioned in Part 1, a careers fair is like a series of mini interviews. As with any job interview you have, it’s paramount that you arrive on time. Things are a bit more flexible at a fair, but if you want time with the recruiters it’s best to get in early before the mad rush. This will also give you the chance to schedule some meetings for later on in the day if you think there is a need.

2. Be patient. If a recruiter you want to talk to is busy in conversation, go away and come back when you can see that they’re free. Lingering in the background can be annoying for everyone involved.  Continue reading →

How to prepare for a science careers fair: Before you go

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_NJCE(Long)eps
You’ve bought your ticket to the Naturejobs Career Expo, which is only a short while away. Hurrah! (If you haven’t, and you can make the dates, you should definitely book a place—it’s going to be awesome.)

But how do you prepare for a science careers fair?It’s time to start planning. In this three part series we offer some practical advice to help you get the most out of the Expo. Part one: Before you go.

1. Swot up. You’ve received the conference information and accessed the website. Read it. Then read it again and make notes. Look up the conference speakers; research the organisations which are exhibiting. . In working through the list of exhibitors, identify those that offer careers which align with your professional goals. Have a look at their current vacancies. If you know that an institution or company is hiring, you can ask them about specific roles at the fair.

2. Prioritise. Now you know exactly who will be at the conference, make two lists: The A-List and the B-List. It’s unlikely you’ll have time to meet every employer so prioritise who you want to speak to the most. The A-List will be the organisations that you definitely want to make contact with, the companies that match your career needs. The B-List is for the companies that you think would be of interest, but aren’t directly related to your preferred career path. Continue reading →