By Andrea MacRae - Sr. Manager, Viacom College Relations
If you are getting ready to meet us and other internship recruiters at the Tisch Internship Fair on November 5th, I hope that you will start your preparation now! As part of our internship recruitment, during the fall we travel to a variety of college campuses to find talented students (like you). It’s always rewarding to meet students in person, hear about their passions, and tell them about the great opportunities they have ahead of them. Some of the young people we meet really blow us away, but unfortunately that’s not always the case. It’s easy to make a great impression if you follow a few rules! Here are some tips for you!
Don’t: Show up empty handed
Do: Come prepared; bring copies of your resume
The whole point of attending an Internship fair is to promote yourself and your abilities. Come prepared with your resume and an explanation of why you would be a great addition to a company. Make sure you visit the Tisch Office of Career Development (TOCD) before the fair to have someone review your resume!
Don’t: Wander aimlessly through the fair
Do: Some research on the companies attending and have an idea about which ones meet your interests
We often have students come up to our table and ask “What is Viacom?” Of course, the purpose of fairs are to learn more about a specific company but students can see who is attending beforehand, So check us out ahead of time. It’s impressive when a student approaches us and they are already familiar with our network. It shows initiative. Let a company know if you are excited to meet them, or if you came to the fair just because you heard they were attending. This will make you stand out among the rest.
Don’t: Give a limp handshake
Do: Give a firm handshake and a polite greeting
There’s nothing worse than a limp handshake. A firm handshake shows confidence and enthusiasm. It almost says “I’m here, and I’m ready.” It’s equally important to see a big smile on a student’s face. It makes an employer feel even more excited to speak with you. When we can see the passion on your face, we know without you saying a word that you are interested in our company.
Don’t: Come if you are feeling under the weather
Do: Find out a list of contacts from the TOCD and follow up when you feel better.
As previously mentioned, you shake a lot of hands during fairs. I’ve gotten sick after attending a few (and I’ve learned that hand sanitizer is your friend). Believe me, it will not impress a company if you tell them you were sick but came anyway to meet them.
Don’t: Be unclear about your aspirations
Do: Have an idea of what type of internship you’d like to obtain
When you are working with a company the size of Viacom, the opportunities are endless. We have a variety of internships in everything from Business Development to Design. And when you are in a “speed dating” like atmosphere you may only have a few minutes to speak to an employer. Therefore, the clearer idea you have of what you are looking for the better. This way the employer can tell you right away the type of options they have in that specific field.
Don’t: Roll out of bed and come to the fair
Do: Dress to impress
You want to treat this experience as you would an interview. Business professional attire is best. Most companies view this as an initial interview stage, and some companies have been known to hire students right on the spot at fairs.
Check out Viacoms opportunities and stop by our table and say hello at the Tisch Internship Fair, 11/5 in the Riese Sudent Lounge from 2-4. Hope to see you there! Don’t forget to register!