Last year I was determined to attend at least once out-of-town career fair. I needed to get out of my comfort zone and challenge myself.
One bright morning I drove to Oklahoma City for an internship interview, OKC AWC chapter luncheon and a HireOSUGrads’ career fair.
The event was huge with at least 80 employers from various fields. Students checked in via computers and were given information bags, nametags and a diagram of the fair.
Before coming to the fair, I had reviewed the list of employers, noted the ones I was interested in and did some preliminary research. I thought I was set – I was dressed professionally and had brought several neat copies of my resume and references on resume paper.
Unfortunately, as I browsed the booths, I discovered that most of the businesses there weren’t interested in my major, public relations, or weren’t offering any PR internships. I collected contact cards but weren’t sure what to do with them (more on that in another post – I’ve Got Contacts, Now What?).
As I walked out the door, downhearted from the few prospects, a man old enough to be my grandfather joined me and chatted with me as I walked to the parking lot. Though somewhat professional, most of his comments were geared toward my relationship status. I didn’t think he needed to know any of that information, and told him so. As we parted ways, he asked for my phone number so “we could talk more.” I promptly said no and left.
As I drove away, I couldn’t believe that the one interesting thing from me attending the career fair was that an old man hit on me. Gross.
I know this won’t happen at all career fairs, but it’s hard not to be leery of attending them after my “old man encounter.”
What experiences have you had at career fairs that have been great or miserable? An old man doesn’ t have to hit on you to make a career fair interesting…
