Tips career fair meet@uni-kassel
Similar to applying for a job, remember that being well prepared is essential before attending any career fair.
The next fair is scheduled as a hybrid format on Wednesday and Thursday, May 10-11, 2023. The presence fair will be held in the Campus Center at HoPla campus. on the 9th of May participating companies will be hosting presentations online.
- Try to gather as much information as possible about the desired company and the desired position. Familiarize yourself with the company's homepage, their various print and online resources, and read their job postings carefully to get a feel for the significant factors the company considers when screening potential employees.
- Take advantage of the services and help provided by the Career Service: attend our application training workshop on Monday, 9th of May and our other preparatory events.
Should you have any questions, please feel free reach us via email (career@uni-kassel.de) or phone calls 0561 804 2472 (DE)/ 0561 804 2290 (EN) or come to our open consultation hours.
No. You can come and go whenever you want. Meetings can be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on an equal basis. Regarding the social distance rules, it is even better if not everyone wants to visit the fair at the same time, e.g. at the beginning of it or during the lunch break.
Regarding the Corona virus, only a certain number of visitors are allowed to be in the fair area at the same time, so there will be no queues in front of individual booths.
As the fair is in a hybrid format, you can also make and carry out appointments at any time via our platform.
Yes, of course. Job fairs can be a great place to help you develop career goals, and understand what you need to do as a student to reach these goals. For example, you can ask what kinds of entry-level positions they recruit for, i.e. interns or working student and what the tasks are.
Without a career plan, you still need a way to engage the company, which means learning more about the company before the fair; what industry are they in, what are their values, what kind of positions are they looking for. That way, you can ask the right questions to get a better idea of how you can fit into their company.
At this kind of fair, the employers who will be participating, look for workers from different backgrounds. No matter wherther you have technical or economic qualification, you can use this chance to redirect your career. Companies usually offer a wide range of speciaties. Start looking for position in departments such as public relations, corporate communication, human resources or special projects. Your personal profile has a greater impact on your career path than what your degree is about.
If you have doubts or want to look for other positions, feel free to contact us.
Because of Corona virus, only a certain number of visitors are allowed in the fair area at the same time, so there will be no queues in front of individual booths.
Since it is a hybrid fair, you can equally and simultaneously use our online platform.
No. You are not obligated to bring your curriculum vitae or any other application documents with you to the meet. Most of the time, it is possible to fill out an online application at the exhibition stand. Make use of it and mention the name of the person you are talking to at the fair, and have them give you the business card. For more information on better materials to bring to the meet rather than the curriculum vitae, please stop by the Career Service; there we can assist you with short applications, application fliers, and other ways to contact the companies present. Book a meeting here.
Remember the names of the company representatives and save their contact information (ask for name and email address!). Write down the most important information which could be useful for an immediate or future application.
If you want to apply for the job immediately, do not wait; send your curriculum vitae within 48 hours following your conversation. If you wish to apply later, always mention the meet@uni-kassel and your contact conversation in the application letter.
Of course, practically all of the company representatives attending (in person and/or online) will be able to speak English. You are more than welcome to speak to all companies in English, but it would be a good idea to inform yourself about the company in advance:
- Is the company active internationally and not just in Germany?
- Is their website also available in English?
- Is the company headquartered in an English speaking country or are they a part of an international corporation?
- Does the company have close contacts with English speaking partners and contacts?
- Are there specific projects or departments where the office language is English?
If the answer to one or more of these questions is ‘yes’, then your chances of success are much higher, if you decide to contact them in English.
All of the aforementioned tips are valid for other career fairs. The content and areas of focus can change from career fair to career fair (international fairs, fairs for specific occupations, alternative fairs) and as such have different conversational situations, regardless the strategies for visiting the fairs are generally applicable everywhere.
Along with the central career fair, the meet, the University of Kassel annualy offers the 'Firmenmesse des Fachbereichs Elektrotechnik/Informatik' and the 'Praxismesse des Instituts für Sozialwesen'. The meet always takes place in the second half of May and the other fairs in June.
Be direct, genuine and focused when establishing contact for the first time, as you would present yourself in a personal conversation. Getting their attention and making a positive first impression is paramount.
Remember, in order to be successful in establishing contact with a company and making a positive first impression, you are always responsible for taking the first step.
Example:
"Good afternoon, my is name is X. I am studying Y with a focus on Z. Searching online, I saw that your company has a department for Z. Luckily, I already have some experience in that department from my part-time job at B (give an appropriate example for the position) and similar material was covered during my studies on Y (give an example fitting to the position). What does an internship involving Z look like and how do I go about acquiring one?"
You should pay attention to your outfit. Casual clothing is not ideal. You do not need to attend in a full suit or formal business attire.
For women: a skirt with blouse, or a shirt with a blazer are acceptable.
For men: a button-up shirt and possibly a jacket is acceptable.
Tip: Take a look at how people dress on the websites of companies you’d like to work for, and dress accordingly. This is also a good idea when attending a job interview.
Infos to virtual job fair
The job fair on Wednesday and Thursday, May 11-12, 2022will be held in a hybrid format. This means that you will be able to use our digital booths as well as the booths in the Campus Center.
You just need to register in our platform to participate. There you can make appointments with companies as well as participate in exhibitor's presentations.
You have the option of filling out your personal profile in our online platform. Most of the information is voluntary.
However, at virtual job fairs, candidates with completed profiles are approached much more often by employers than candidates who lack potentially important details.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us (at career@uni-kassel.de or 0561 804 2490).
- Learn as much as possible about the companies and positions you want to apply to/for the company and position you want. Take a close look at the company's website, browse online and print media for more information.
- Take advantage of the support offered by the Career Service: Come to the preparation seminars and/or come to our open consultation hours.
- Register for the Job Fair and familiarize yourself with the online platform. Fill out your profile carefully. All company information will be available there.
Present yourself in the digital format just as authentically as you would in a face-to-face conversation. Be direct and focused when establishing contact for the first time, getting their attention and making a positive first impression is paramount. Remember, in order to be successful in establishing contact with a company and making a positive first impression, you are always responsible for taking the first step.
Example:
"Searching online, I saw that your company has a department for Corporate Communications. Luckily, I already have some experience in that department from my part-time job at X (give an appropriate example for the position) and similar material covered in my studies with Y (give an example fitting to the position). How does an internship involving Corporate Communications look like and how do I go about acquiring one?"
Although such an introduction does not guarantee that you will find a fitting job or internship, it does significantly boost your chances of getting positive feedback.
Of course, practically all of the company representatives attending (in person and/or online) will be able to speak English. You are more than welcome to speak to all companies in English, but it would be a good idea to inform yourself about the company in advance:
- Is the company active internationally and not just in Germany?
- Is their website also available in English?
- Is the company headquartered in an English speaking country or are they a part of an international corporation?
- Does the company have close contacts with English speaking partners and contacts?
- Are there specific projects or departments where the office language is English?
If the answer to one or more of these questions is ‘yes’, then your chances of success are much higher, if you decide to contact them in English.
