Aggies should be preparing their resumes, ironing their best clothes and doing their company research for the 2010 Spring Career Fair on Feb. 18.

Cynthia Downing, assistant director for career counseling programs, said students can expect to interact with about 227 representatives from over 85 employers willing to offer advice to students about marketing themselves in the professional environment, as well as looking to hire students for full-time and part-time positions, co-ops and internships.  Downing also said that at least 20 of the 85 companies will be looking for students in any discipline.

“It’s a matter of what you want to do with your degree and your degree can more than likely fit within some aspect of those 20 companies,” said Downing. 

“So, it’s up to the student to determine what they really want to do and based on what they want to do, that’s what they need to go and communicate to the employers.

“They need to sell their skills, their qualifications, and their degree to those employers. We send invitations out to all disciplines.  It’s not just one particular set, not just for engineering, not just for business … [The career fair] is for every area within the campus setting as far as the majors.  It’s a matter of who decides to accept that invitation and who decides to come,” Downing said.

Downing emphasized that employers are looking for more than one particular discipline because one company cannot operate with one discipline.

She said in her experience with recruiters, it is important for students to communicate how they can benefit the company, not only through their resume but through their personal presentation as well.

For students who are seriously pursuing an employment or internship opportunity, Downing had several tips for landing the job.

1. Make sure that you have a well-developed resume, that’s going to be key. 

2. Make sure your communication skills are up to par. Know how to sell yourself, your skills, your qualifications and how to communicate intelligently with that employer to brand yourself and sell yourself. 

3. Do your research. Look up the companies that are coming. Know what type of opportunities are available at that company, and not just what they say they are looking for when they come to the fair, but what type of positions are at that company.

4. Network and get to know the representatives at the fair and get to know people in general. A lot of positions may not be advertised. There may be behind-the-scenes type positions that are not posted, but because you have connections, the opportunity may become open for you.

5. Use all of your avenues and all of your resources. Use the career fairs, use AggieLink for employment opportunities, the Web site (www. careerserv.ncat.edu), eLeads and organizations that you belong to. Utilizing the Office of Career Services will offer several ways you can gain employment in addition to a career fair. 

6. Attend national conferences and programs. There are programs and conferences, such as leadership programs sponsored by large companies such as Cargill and Nestle, which students can also attend to better their chance for employment. Students attend these programs, go through an interview process and if companies are interested in a student they can extend an offer to that company.

Downing encourages students to preview the career fair brochure at the career services Web site and to prepare answers to potential interview questions, as well as preparing questions of their own for the companies.

 “The career fair is a great one-stop location to get your name out there to employers, to network and to sell yourself,” said Downing.

“Of course. be dressed for success and have your resume together. Once they start to see all the wealth of students that are here at A&T, you will start to find companies bringing more recruiters to hire other disciplines as well.”

While the Office of Career Services encourages students of every discipline to attend the Spring Career Fair, the staff is also preparing for the Education and Arts and Sciences Expo (EASE) on March 16. 

The EASE is a career fair targeting employers who hire more of the students within the education field and arts and sciences disciplines. 

There are currently more than 25 organizations already signed up for EASE, but Downing and the rest of the career services staff and other departments are projecting more confirmations soon.   

• Marcus Thompson