It might seem like school just started, but the UNC Career Services Job and Internship Expo is Sept. 15. A week full of events and interest sessions building up to the Expo starts now. Career Services and The Daily Tar Heel have partnered to bring you the ultimate guide to the Expo at career.dailytarheel.com. Before you check out this treasure trove of helpful information, here's a quick guide to giving yourself an edge for the Expo. (Plus GIFs!)
Instead of doing this:
Type your resume using a Microsoft Word template.
Try this:
Consider using a program like Adobe inDesign to give your resume a distinctive look. (Find a friend in the School of Media and Journalism to help you.) But it's still okay to use a more common program like Microsoft Word if you aren't there yet. No matter the program, make sure to save your resume as a PDF before sharing it. Fonts and sizing can change from one computer to the next, and you don't want your careful spacing to be destroyed.
Instead of doing this:
Only visit the booths of your top prospects at the Expo.
Try this:
Be open to companies and summer plans that aren't on the top of your list. You'll gain valuable networking and interviewing experience every time you connect with a new company's recruiters. And you never know when a great opportunity you hadn't considered before will present itself.
Instead of doing this:
Avoid the Job Expo because you think it's only for seniors or business school majors.
Try this:
See the previous answer. Plus, the Expo brings in a variety of recruiters, and they're aren't looking for one particular kind of student.
Instead of doing this:
Rely on old-school paper resumes and work samples.
Try this:
Build a portfolio website to display your most up-to-date resume and projects, social media feeds and more. Having a portfolio site with good SEO does more than show off your resume — it helps control how people encounter you online. There are plenty of platforms for building a site with limited tech skills, including Wordpress and Squarespace.
Instead of doing this:
Walk into the Expo without any prep.
Try this:
Visit career.dailytarheel.com to research the companies who will be at the Expo and which industries they represent. You can also access a map of Rams Head Recreation Center so you won't get lost when you walk in the door. And you can see the listing of information sessions on the career fair companies, as well as tips for making the most of the Expo.
