SO WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?
LEARN ABOUT THE STUDENT EXPO:
WHAT?
A student expo is the opportunity for students to showcase their achievements to potential employers.
It is similar to a career fair in reverse. The students display their work and the employers visit the
student groups that appeal to them.
WHY?
Unlike typical career fairs, a student expo allows students to showcase much more than just a resume,
cover letter, and 3-5 minutes of conversation. Done correctly, a student expo provides students the
opportunity to showcase a greater depth of their work and leads to richer conversations with
employers.
HOW?
Admittedly, preparing for a student expo involves more work for students than a typical career fair. For
example, it is recommended that students have samples of their work on display to create a welcoming
showcase of achievements. Rather than approaching employers, personal appearance and the quality
of one’s display will be the reason employers decide to visit.
PREPARATION IS KEY
Prior to the student expo, it is very important to prepare properly. This involves:
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Choosing your attire
Practicing your presentation
Creating a welcoming display
Creating materials for employers learn more about you
Developing a follow-up plan
HOW CAN THIS GUIDE HELP ME?
This guide was created as a basic “how-to” for preparing and doing well at the student expo.
Additionally, we encourage meeting with a career advisor and using the additional resources contained
in this guide to support your understanding of this event. Career Development Services is here to
support you, and we look forward to working with you to ensure that you are presenting yourself in the
best way possible.
LOOK GOOD
APPEARANCE IS A MAJOR PART OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
We strongly recommend wearing Business Tailored style of clothing (see guide above)
WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO WEAR?
Career Development Services hosts an attire lending service, Hire Attire, which is free to all LSSC
students. Simply make an appointment by calling our office at 352-323-3603, visiting our website at
http://www.lssc.edu/careers, or by emailing us at [email protected] to set up an appointment.
HELPFUL LINKS
Simple Sample Dress Codes for Business Attire
http://humanresources.about.com/od/dresscodesforwork/a/simple-sample-dress-code-forbusiness-attire.htm
Attire Guide: Dress Codes from Casual to White Tie - The Emily Post Institute, Inc.
http://emilypost.com/advice/attire-guide-dress-codes-from-casual-to-white-tie/
What to Wear: "Professional" vs. "Business Casual" | Career Services
https://careerservices.princeton.edu/node/1279
KNOW WHAT TO SAY
DEVELOP YOUR PRESENTATION
Take the time to develop talking points with regard to your work, your career aspirations, and your
contributions to potential employers.
ELEVATOR PITCH
One typical method of preparing for meeting potential employers is to have an elevator pitch ready. In
essence, and elevator pitch is a short (1-2 minute) verbal presentation that builds value for the
candidate.
TOPICS
Consider highlighting the following topics in an elevator speech:
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Related work you did in your classes (projects, presentations, etc.)
Your interest in the career industry you are targeting
Related extra-curricular activities
Knowledge of the employer (if applicable)
Your future aspirations in the industry
IMPORTANT TIPS
Practice delivering an elevator speech before the student expo, paying attention to the following:
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Sounding natural and confident
Ensuring an ease of understanding
Being engaging, entertaining, and poised
HELPFUL LINKS:
How to Create an Elevator Pitch - Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/sites/chicceo/2013/02/05/how-to-create-an-elevator-pitch/#47d89de572a3
The Perfect (Elevator) Pitch - Bloomberg Business
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2007-06-18/the-perfect-elevator-pitchbusinessweekbusiness-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice
How to Master the Elevator Pitch | Inc.com
http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/how-to-master-the-elevator-pitch.html
SHOW YOUR STUFF
ACTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS
Other than your attire, the display is what draws potential employers. One standard approach is to
have a tri-fold poster board, however, a more unique or creative approach could be more engaging if
done correctly.
WHAT TO INCLUDE
Regardless of how the information is presented, it is important to target the information toward
potential employers. For example, a tech company is likely to be much more interested in your
experience developing software applications rather than your participation in the film club. Here are a
few ideas for what to include:
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Project samples
Presentation samples
Physical evidence of your work
Evidence of your success (i.e. awards, increases in productivity, earnings, etc.)
Brochures
Resumes
Cover letters
Business cards
HOW SHOULD IT LOOK:
HELPFUL LINKS
Jacksonville State University | A Day to Display: Reverse Career Fair Set for February 4
http://www.jsu.edu/news/articles/2015/01/a-day-to-display-reverse-career-fair-set-for-february-4.html
Reverse Career Fair - IPFW
http://www.ipfw.edu/offices/career/reverse-career-fair/
SPEAK THE RIGHT (BODY) LANGUAGE
MAKE SURE YOUR BODY IS SENDING THE SAME MESSAGE AS YOUR VOICE
A good portion of communication is visual. Does a person appear confident or afraid? Welcoming or
dismissive? Happy or angry? Excited or bored? These questions are continually asked and answered
subconsciously. A message can be on point and masterfully crafted, and it will fall flat if the body
language does not match the message.
WHAT BODY LANGUAGE IS IMPORTANT FOR THE STUDENT EXPO?
Consider the following questions:
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How are you standing? Tall? Slouched?
Are you alert or distracted? (i.e. looking at a cell phone)
Are you open to conversation? (smiling, hands welcoming)
Are you engaging? (making eye contact, shaking hands)
Are you confident? (Standing tall, appearing confident but not intimidating)
WHAT DOES GOOD BODY LANGUAGE LOOK LIKE?
WHAT DOES POOR BODY LANGUAGE LOOK LIKE?
HELPFUL LINKS
Body Language Basics - Syncrat
http://www.syncrat.com/posts/4872/body-language-basics
BE UNFORGETTABLE
THE EXPO IS JUST THE BEGINNING
Hopefully this guide will help you develop an engaging impression on prospective employers. The
career expo is just the beginning. The worst thing that can happen is for a prospective employer to
forget about your meeting. Therefore, a follow-up plan is essential.
YOUR CONTACT INFO
Most importantly, employers need to have your contact information. This can be given via a business
card, resume, brochure, or cover letter. Make sure your email is professional, your phone number is
your direct number, and your full name is used.
EMPLOYERS CONTACT INFO
During your conversation, request a business card from a prospective employer. This will allow you to
then remember his/her name and contact information, making it much easier to send a follow-up thank
you letter.
SAY THANK YOU
At the end of your conversation, be sure to thank the prospective employer for his or her time.
Consider sending an email thank you follow up to remain on the forefront of a prospective employer’s
mind. Include a reference to your conversation and a desire to follow up.
EXAMPLE THANK YOU
Dear [Employer’s Full Name],
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me at the Lake-Sumter State College Student Expo. I
enjoyed our conversation and especially appreciated learning about [insert a topic of your
conversation]. After our conversation, I felt that my experiences and education matched the needs of
your organization. I look forward to hearing from you and further discussing my fit with your
organization. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at [Phone Number] or
[Email]
Best,
[Your full name]
NEED HELP? CONTACT US!
If you had a promising conversation with a potential employer, Career Development Services can help
craft your follow-up and prepare you for interviews as well.
Career Development Services
352-323-3603 | [email protected] | www.lssc.edu/careers
SSB 144 Leesburg Campus