Countdown to the Career Fair – Day 5
The Economics Career Development Office will be posting tips each day until (and after!) the Spring 2012 Career Fair, held Tuesday, January 31st from 4:30-8pm. You can use these tips for the career fair but also as you start your career search or prepare for any interviews.
WHAT TO WEAR
Your attire is an important part of any career search and shows an employer that you are serious about the process. Your appearance is often the first thing an employer will notice. According to a study by Frank Bernieri, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at Oregon State University, within the first 10 seconds of meeting your interviewer–otherwise known as the meet-and-greet–that person has decided whether or not you’re right for the job. Those who come across as polished and pulled together are quite simply more likely to be hired than those who are seen as putting in less effort. Make sure you give a positive impression!
You should dress business professional for every career-related event you attend both on and off campus. This includes the career fair, employer information sessions, networking trips with your student organization and interviews. It is always better to be over dressed than under dressed.
If you do not have a suit, buy or borrow one prior to the career fair. Make sure it is a well fit suit. Have it tailored. Take your suit to the dry cleaners if it’s been sitting at the bottom of your closet! Check carefully for any wrinkles, stains, rips or threads hanging.
What about your shoes? They should be shining and scuff free! For any male student I’ve met with you know my rant on your socks! DO NOT wear some big, bulky, white athletic socks with your suit. Trust me on this. You’ll thank me someday.
IMPORTANT: If you would wear an outfit out to a party or a bar, it is not appropriate for the career fair or any other professional situation!! Ladies – be careful of shirts cut too low, skirts cut too high and your belly showing.
Suit up! The only good thing you can learn from Barney Stinson is how to dress in a Legen…wait for it…Dary way.
If you have questions about any of the information provided you can contact Bethany Nelson, Career & Outreach Coordinator, at banelson2@wisc.edu, or stop in to 7329 Social Science!
