If there is a slowdown in the economy, it isn?t at our Fall Career Fair! For the first time, our Fall Career Fair will span two full days, and recruiters have reserved every table in the ballroom on both days! It?s a new record for CSUS. The event is HUGE this year ? and that?s great news for graduating seniors and student looking for internships. Recruiters are still hot for CSUS!

Two words of advice for this year?s Fall Career Fair: arrive early. No doubt we?ll have a line of students waiting to enter at 10 a.m., but the floor really gets packed later on. Recruiters from across Sacramento, the Bay Area and nationwide are ready to talk. You?ve got a great cross-section of open positions in companies, government agencies and non-profit companies to consider.

Employers have told us many times that CSUS students are unique. Recruiters recognize that in many cases you are balancing school, work and families. For you, this translates into extremely valuable work skills: effective time management, the ability to multi-task and determination. The Career Fair is a great place for you to bring these skills forward in a one-to-one meeting with the recruiters.

The key to attending and making the most of the Spring Career Fair is PREPARATION. Before Oct. 2, go to: www.csus.edu/careercenter/events.htm and see the list of recruiters attending. They are broken into two groups: recruiters attending Oct. 2 and recruiters attending Oct. 3. You will not only be able to see who?s attending, but you can click through to their Web pages to view job descriptions. In addition, you can stop by the Career Center and view job descriptions in the Career Fair binder.

Also, don?t miss getting a little one-on-one help before the fair. The Career Center offers walk-in hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Students can drop in and have a 20 minute session without an appointment. You can use this time to review your resume, job search or brainstorm your future career goals.

Next, hit the Web and RESEARCH. Once you have an idea of your dream job, find out who?s offering it. If you approach a recruiter during the Career Fair and can talk intelligently about their company, you?ll be noticed. Just a bit of research on the Web can make you the one candidate that a recruiter remembers ? all because you made an extra effort! Start your research at: www.csus.edu/careercenter/events with the list of companies attending the Career Fair. This list will give you direct links to begin.

Before the fair, you?ll also want to pull together a list of questions for recruiters. You can get suggested questions from the resources in the Career Center library or various handouts available in the Career Center. In addition, drop in and discuss your question list with a career counselor.

PRACTICE. PRACTICE. PRACTICE. You want to arrive at the fair confident and ready to talk. Take time before the fair to practice what you?re going to say to recruiters. You can use a mirror, a friend or drop-in and see a career counselor. It?s easy to get nervous, but if you?re prepared you?ll feel more confident.

On the day of the Career Fair, be rested and DRESS for SUCCESS! If you are seriously seeking employment, don?t be afraid to look good ? you?re making the first impression on what could become your future employer. Have your suit and shirt cleaned and pressed, make sure your shoes are shined. Dress as if it?s your first day on the job, and err on the side of conservative. It?s better to be over-dressed than too casual. We also have a great Dress for Success handout at the Career Center.

If you don?t have a suit, don?t worry. Neat, coordinated casual clothes are also acceptable in a Career Fair atmosphere. Don?t let what you wear discourage you from seeing the fair and talking with recruiters.

With your resume and question list in hand and company information notes, now it?s time to hit the fair. First, pick up the floor plan at the entrance to the ballroom and locate your target companies. You should arrive with a list of the companies you?ve researched in order of priority.

You may want to first go to the third or fourth company on your list to do a “warm-up” conversation. Give yourself a chance to see what they ask and try your questions. After you?ve talked with a couple of recruiters, then hit that first company on your listBe prepared to EXPRESS YOURSELF clearly to recruiters. You?ll want to emphasize your skills, values, interests and personality traits that relate to the position you are seeking. At the same time, evaluate the recruiter. Are they prepared? Do they know the company? Have they been well-trained? This gives you an idea about the company, too!

Lastly, don?t forget the FOLLOW-UP. Get a business card from the recruiters you talk with. Follow up in the form of a thank you note, along with a clean copy of your resume. This last step is extremely important; it shows you have initiative, a genuine interest in the job and company, as well as puts your name and resume in front of the recruiter again.

Although the economy is changing, there are jobs. Now?s the time to take charge and go get that GREAT JOB! You?ve worked hard in college, so let?s make it pay off.

The CSUS Career Center provides career exploration and counseling, workshops, on-campus recruiting, student employment, internship development and listings, career events and a career resource library. The center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Lassen Hall, room 2000.

Walk-in appointments are available for current CSUS students weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., and Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. For details, contact the Career Center by phone: 916-278-6231, e-mail: [email protected] or fax: 916-278-6872. Visit the Career Center Web site at www.csus.edu/careercenter for information on services, career events on campus and featured career resource Web links.