Getting ready for Career Showcase and your job or internship search is much more than a nice suit and polished resume. The following information will ensure you have the Essentials covered by providing information, links, and workshops that will inform, prepare, and even give you practice so that you are prepared to succeed in your job.

Showcase Essentials

Preparation

Research

Leaving a Lasting Impression

Professional Appearance

Resume (click for Extreme Resume Makeover and Employer Resume Critique Schedule)

Preparation

Your preparation for Career Showcase or an interview has a lot to do with your success at the event. Make sure that you take time to think about and get the following things ready before Career Showcase arrives.

Gator CareerLink
Sign-up for a Gator CareerLink account if you do not have one. This free tool is essential to on-campus interviewing after Career Showcase as this is how you will apply for and schedule interviews. Also, use Gator CareerLink to search for new positions, submit new applications, and stay up-to-date on information and activities to enhance your search.

Resume
Make sure you write or update your resume and have others proofread it. Bring it the Career Resource Center to have it reviewed, and make copies before the event. For more details, see the Resume section below.

Attire
Make sure you have professional clothes to wear, that they are clean, fit well, and ready to wear. For more information about what to wear to Career Showcase, see the Professional Attire section below.

Items to Bring to Career Showcase
	Portfolio/folder to hold your resumes and notes
	Copies of your resume
	List of your targeted companies
	Pen and paper for making notes for yourself
	Gator1 card ? this will be scanned as you enter
	Name tag ? simple but professional looking
	Padlock to secure items in a locker room of the O'Connell Center if you need to change clothes or leave behind extra items before you meet with the recruiters
Items to Leave at Home (or lock in the locker room at the O'Connell Center)
	Backpacks, big book bags -- use a simple, professional looking portfolio/folder instead
	Class books and notes -- don't lug everything for your entire day around the event with you

Know Yourself
Sharing your strengths, skills, experiences, and qualifications is the point of talking to recruiters at a career fair. In order to this effectively you need to know yourself and then work on how you will tell someone else. Study your own resume, know what you have listed and examples that illustrate those items. Then know how you can share this information with a recruiter so that they know why you are an outstanding candidate.

Quick Tips for Studying Yourself
	Study your resume and think about everything you listed so that you can provide more details on each item.
	Check out the One-Minute interview handout for more information on how to study yourself and prepare for your conversation with recruiters.

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Research

Knowing the employers and preparing to speak to them is key to your success. Follow these few basics to ensure that you are ready to speak to the employers. A lot of information is provided through the Employers Attending link.

Find Out Who Will Attend
All of the organizations attending the event are listed online. Use the online listing to search for employers looking to hire people in the fields where you want to work. Make a list of all the possible employers that you could see at the event.

Learn about the Employers
Use the details provided through the Employers Attending page to read about the organizations. Also, look at each organization's website. You should know some basics about every company. You may not be able to find out everything, but you should definitely review the basics that you can find.
Company Mission
Products/Services they provide
Location(s) of organization
Place in industry -- competitors, niche, specialties, etc.
Positions they have available
Work culture

Make a Top Ten List
Which employers have the positions, location, culture, opportunities, et cetera, that fit your goals and desires. Make a list of the organizations you most want to meet.

Know the Companies
Continue to find out more about your top choices. Make sure you know the basics, but look for information on training programs, opportunities for advancement, benefits, their interview process, and more. The more you know, the less they will have to tell you and this makes you look good!

Have Questions
While researching you will also have questions that you may not be able to answer. These are great questions to ask recruiters when you meet with them. Write the questions down and feel free to refer to your list at the event so you can remember your good questions.

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Leaving a Lasting Impression

Sharing your strengths, skills, experiences, and qualifications is the point of talking to recruiters at a career fair. In order to this effectively you need to know yourself and then work on how you will tell someone else. Study your own resume, know what you have listed and examples that illustrate those items. Then learn how to share this information with a recruiter so that they know why you are an outstanding candidate. Practice telling them about your skills, experiences, strengths, and motivation.

Quick Tips
	Study your resume so that you can provide more details on everything listed.
	List out all the skills, experiences, and characteristics that a great candidate would have for the position(s) you are seeking.
	Next, write down an example of every time you used, demonstrated, or have done the things on the list you made.
	Check out the One-Minute commercial handout for more information on how to study yourself and prepare for your conversation with recruiters.

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Professional Appearance

Your skills, experience, and personal qualities are very important in your search for a job or internship. Making sure you look the part helps the recruiter hear why you are a good candidate, rather than being distracted by a less-than-professional appearance. Looking professional will not get you a job, but an under-dressed or poorly groomed person does not portray an image that gets the right kind of attention.

Looking professional is a combination of simple grooming and professional attire. There are some basics that apply to both men and women. While organizations vary in regard to dress code, professional dress is the standard for job searching. The following tips provide the basic, conservative, can't-go-wrong suggestions for making sure you have a professional appearance at the event.

Quick Tips - Clothing
	Dress in professional business attire -- business suit
	Dark gray and navy (dark blue) are traditional colors for business attire
	White is a traditional shirt/blouse color to wear under the suit, but other light colors work, too (no pastels, however)
	Proper fit is the most important feature of any suit you wear
	Make sure your clothes are clean and winkle-free
Quick Tips - Grooming
	Wear very little or no perfume -- scents can easily become distracting or overwhelming, so it's best to use very sparingly or not at all
	Hair should be neat, clean, simply-styled, and out of your face
	Make sure your breathe is fresh -- carry breathe mints with you
	Minimal jewelry and make-up is standard -- too much of either can be distracting
Tips for Men
	Two or three button suits are traditional
	Never button the bottom button -- that's just how suits are worn
	Black shoes are best with a dark gray or navy suit
	Ties can vary, but avoid very bright colors and gaudy/distracting designs
	Facial hair should be clean-shaven or neatly trimmed if you have a beard/mustache
	No suit? Dark dress slacks and light-colored shirt with a tie is the next-best outfit
Tips for Women
	Skirt suits are most traditional, but pants suits are very common
	Pieces of your outfit should fit well but not be tight-fitting
	Skirts should hang down to nearly the knee; some fashions are just below the knee, but avoid skirts that are very short
	Closed toes shoes are traditional in a business professional setting
	No suit? A dark skirt or dress slacks and a blouse is the next-best outfit

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Resume

Your resume is like your calling card to the recruiter, just with a lot more information. This will be the representation of you they take with you, so it needs to polished, thorough, and represent you well.

Quick Tips
	Never written a resume before? Start first with the information, guides, templates, and examples online. View resume information, guides, templates, and examples
	After finishing your first draft, review it, edit it, and then bring it the CRC to have it reviewed. Complete the changes after having it reviewed and have it reviewed again, if necessary.
	Customize your resume for your targeted employers (objective, contents, etc.)
	Bring enough copies so you have 2 for every employer you plan to visit, plus 10-15 extras -- better to have extras than to run out
	Put your resume on high quality resume paper (available at any office supply store). Stay with basic white, off-white, or other light colors. Avoid pastels, colored specks, or marbled designs.
	Bring a few copies of your resume on plain white office paper. Some employers will scan your resume into a database and the plain white paper will work best for them.
Information for starting or editing your resume
Information, guides
How to Become Employable Workshop - Prepare for your employment search with these employer-hosted seminars:
	January 17, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. , CRC Classroom The Power of First Impressions 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. First impressions last a lifetime; learn how to present yourself to employers effectively. Looking in All the Right Places 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Learn how to conduct a successful internship/job search. Interviewing Do's and Don'ts 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Learn interview strategies to calm your nerves and sell your experience with enthusiasm. Writing a Winning Resume 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Learn how to create an effective resume or bring a current copy for tips to improve it.
Extreme Resume Makeover - Bring in your typed resume for a brief one-on-one critique session. No appointment needed.
	January 22-25 and 28, from 10:00am - 3:00 p.m., CRC Interview Module A
Mock Career Fair - Hone your approach at Career Showcase by practicing your one-minute commercial, handshake and discussion points with employers ahead of time.
	January 23, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. , CRC Library Contact Eric Hall at the Career Resource Center for additional information at EricHall@crc.ufl.edu or call 392-1601.
Employer Resume Critiques - Bring your typed resume for a critique session by a recruiter.
	January 24, 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., CRC Interview Module B Contact Eric Hall at the Career Resource Center for additional information at EricHall@crc.ufl.edu or call 392-1601.
Career Showcase Essentials Workshop - Not sure what to expect at Career Showcase? Let employers help you prepare. January 28, 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., CRC Classroom
College of Liberal Arts & Science Employer Panel - Connect with UF CLAS alumni and other professionals with Liberal Arts & Sciences Bachelor’s who work in various career paths. Learn about the value of your degree, the marketability of your skills, the career opportunities available to you, and how you can conduct a successful job search.
	January 28, 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., CRC Library
Internship Roundtables - Talk to employers in a personal setting and ask questions about your internship search, networking and the job market. Employers from different industries will be in attendance.
	January 29, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Reitz Union Ballroom **The Career Showcase is for UF students and Alumni only**

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