Because ESB recently attended a career expo (as mentioned here), we thought we’d share some tips on how to stand out from the masses.

1. Look the part. First impressions are everything. Regardless of your education, work experience and drive, a sloppy appearance gives the impression you don’t care. Though donning a suit is not necessary, looking sharp is a must.

 2. Make personal contact. Don’t just sling your resume onto the employer’s table without so much as a hello. Stop and greet whoever is there. A friendly demeanor along with eye contact and a firm hand shake make you more memorable.

 3. Be prepared. Have plenty of resumes on hand. You want them to have something they can take back to the office. You should also do your homework and try to find out in advance which employers will be participating. It will help you in composing educated questions about the companies and knowing what part of your education and experience to emphasize.

 4. Don’t go overboard. While looking like you don’t care is detrimental to getting hired, being overly-zealous can be off-putting. Though you clearly want to get their attention do not try to dominate it. Briefly discussing the company and what you can bring to the table makes for much better use of your time than going over your resume verbatim.

5. Visit every table. Though you may be partial to one employer over another, it is important to reach out to as many of the companies present as possible. The more people you know and the more contacts you have the better.  It is a small world, and you never know where a good opportunity might spring up.

 We want to know…

Do you have any career expo do’s and don’ts you’d like to share?