Ways to Prepare for CID

CID is an excellent opportunity for you to make a strong impression with a potential employer. It is critical that you are prepared and able to present a positive professional image. There are several things you can do to prepare for this event:

• Read the company profiles: List of participating organizations
• Read our CID Preparation Tips below:

CID Preparation Tips

• Set your goals
  Why are you attending this event? Do you want to learn about career paths, establish contacts, find out who is hiring?
  
  
• Identify your strengths
  You will have a very limited amount of time to communicate with each representative. Think about your relevant skills, education, experience, and accomplishments. These may be different for each organization.
  
  
• Research the organizations
  It is important that you demonstrate to the representatives that you are specifically interested in their organizations. Check the list of organizations attending and take the time to read their profiles. Also, most of the organizations will have links to their websites. This will help you understand the needs and the goals of the participating organizations. Some of them will be attending because they wish to accept resumes. Others will be attending to promote career paths within their organization and future opportunities. By reviewing the organizations’ needs and priorities, you will be better able to ask relevant questions.
  
  
• Prepare questions
  The questions you will be asking the representatives should reflect your goals as well as your research on the organization. Questions such as "What does your company do? " would demonstrate a lack of research. A better question to reflect your insight into the organization could be: "I understand your organization is launching a new product line in China. How do you feel that will affect your North American production? "
  
  
• Plan your approach
  You probably won’t have time to visit every booth. As you review the list of organizations, consider which organizations you wish to visit first.
  
  
• Practice what you will say
  If you’ve never been to a career fair before, practising with your friends and family what you will say to the representatives will help make the process less intimidating.
  
  
• Update your resume
  Prepare or update your resume. You may even want to consider having it critiqued. Attend our Resume and Cover Letter workshop, bring your resume to the Resume Clinic, or read more on this topic. Remember to make sufficient copies of your resume for the event. It should be printed on high quality resume paper.
  
  
• Behave positively and professionally
  Remember that your behaviour can be observed at all times. If you are waiting in line, a company representative could observe what you are saying. It is also very important that you make eye contact and smile as you are speaking with the representatives.

Important Things to Remember

Make sure you:

• Bring your TCard
• Dress business casual
• Bring your resume
• Ask for business cards from employers
• Don’t bring a backpack