Recently I made the rounds to college campuses visiting with students looking for a career that coincides with the recent degree they earned. I am most confident that higher education degrees do and will make a difference in your place of employment, but determination and aptitude will take you further. (different blog title

Let me go thru a few Great and not so great things that I learned through my career events this year and in the past. Maybe you can agree or add a few to the list...Either way its my list and it may not even matter to you..

Great things to do at a career fair:

• Research who you want to work with. I simply mean have a clear understanding of the job you want and look into the companies that will be at the event and determine they offer the type of job you want...
• Have a name tag that tells the recruiter what your degree is in and when you graduate...
• Dress for the CEO's job.
• "Take the Bull by the horns" basically, don't walk around waiting on the recruiter to stop you. Introduce yourself and be excited that your there. If the line is crazy long go to the booth beside it, usually they put like industries in areas together. The chances are they have the same position you're looking for.
• Brush up on your manners..."hey Bro" "was sup" and introductions like these are not always the best way to get the ball rolling. I understand that you may want to show personality, so be funny, be yourself, be brief...but don't be rude

Not so great thing to do at a career fair:

• Don't ask "how much does the position pay?" this information is learned in your research stage...
• If your resume has a link on it, it better be active. avoid typos on your resume and be sure the contact information is correct.
• Don't over stay your time at the booth...have a few questions for the recruiter to answer, and then leave.
• Most booths have "SWAG" for the students to take. You are not there for your kids, nieces nephews or even the lazy roommate. Take one or take what the recruiter offers, Please refrain from asking for another one or something else.

These things will BLOW UP your chances:

• bad breath!!!!!
• sweaty palms and handshakes!!!
• cutting line to get swag only!!!

I bet you can think of a few more, I have seen a list like this in the past and started to write them down and realized it is not just me that notices. And yet students continue to make the same mistakes. I know that nerves can play a part in the process, but the more comfortable a student is with preparation these mistakes can be limited if not avoided.

I plan on speaking with Career resource centers in my local area and hopefully we can eliminate some of these together.