To help meet the needs of school districts, the Career Center is hosting the Fall Education Career Fair. Held the morning of Tuesday, November 5, students and alumni in education and related fields have an opportunity to connect with school districts earlier in the academic year than usual.
In the past, the Education Career Fair was held only in the spring. While it will still be held next semester, the Career Center is hosting the Fall Career Fair in November as well, to give students a chance to begin exploring career opportunities earlier and give employers a chance to meet Redbirds.
Although the Fall Education Career Fair provides students an opportunity to meet those who are responsible for hiring candidates, the event is not just for those who are graduating. “It is important that students from all class standings consider attending the Fall Education Fair, including non-seniors,” states Career Advisor Renee Carrigan. “This fair allows students who may not necessarily be looking for a job right now to be able to meet employers early on and begin making connections. It’s a student’s chance to get a jump start, even before they need to find a job.”
Fair preparation
Because administrators, superintendents, and other employers from the field of education will be attending the Fall Education Career Fair, the Career Center is hosting these programs to help students prepare for the event:
- InstaCareer, October 29: Coordinated specifically for students interested in working in the kindergarten through grade 12 industry, participants rotate through various stations to learn firsthand from school district recruiters how to properly introduce themselves to employers, make a good first impression, dress appropriately, research schools and positions, and follow up with employers after networking and career fairs.
- Late-night Résumé Reviews, November 3 and 4: Students can have their résumés reviewed by trained career ambassadors who will help them to stand out positively to employers.
Other resources
The Career Center also provides a number of other career resources to help students to prepare for connecting with employers at the Fall Education Career Fair:
- Symplicity Jobs and Careers app: Available for free from the App Store or Google Play, Redbirds can review the list of employers registered for the fair to identify those they most want to meet, notify them that they will visit them at the fair, and even apply for positions they may have posted.
- Career Resource Guide: Located on the Career Center website, this booklet is filled with helpful tips and advice such as how to interact with employers at career fairs, construct an effective résumé and cover letter, commonly asked interview questions, and more.
- InterviewStream: Also available on the Career Center website, this online tool videotapes students answering common interview questions by industry so they can practice their answers and review how they did for themselves.
- Résumé paper and printing, and business cards: Available for free to Redbirds to help them make a good first impression.
- Social media: The Career Center is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and uses social media to provide fair updates and helpful preparation tips.
Recruiter participation
It’s not too late for recruiters to register to meet exciting talent from Illinois State University. The Fall Education Fair still has spots available for employers to attend. Registration is available for employers through Hire-A-Redbird. (Students do not need to register.)
The Career Center assists students with developing, evaluating and/or implementing career, education and employment decisions. The Health Care Industry Fair supports Illinois State University’s Educate ● Connect ● Elevate strategic plan.
