It is already eleven years that the University of Luxembourg, together with Moovijob.com, co-organizes the biggest Recruitment fair in Luxembourg, for both entry-level students and experienced alumni. In this context, the Unicareers recruitment fair is a great opportunity to meet and interact with employers. You will find out when they are recruiting and the kind of profile they are looking for. Make a strong impression and be invited for an interview or, at least, strongly encouraged to apply. Boost your employability at Unicareers by following these simple tips given by Romain Raux, Project Manager Career Centre at the University of Luxembourg...
Before the recruitment fair
Target your chosen businesses and professions
Before attending the recruitment fair, make a list of the companies you would like to meet and then ask about:
- Its activity, its flagship products or services, its competitive advantages, its culture, its values;
- The jobs it comprises, and which could interest you;
- Offers already posted on their career site.
Prepare an elevator pitch
Once in front of the recruiter, you will only have a few minutes to talk to him/her about yourself. Ahead of the recruitment fair, prepare a quick elevator pitch, which should include:
- Your main professional and/or associative experiences;
- Your academic background;
- The areas of businesses you are considering;
- The compatibility between you and the company: interests, skills, experiences that match the profiles they are looking for;
- Your soft skills: now inescapable, such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, client-oriented…
And don't forget to print enough copies of your CV!
During the recruitment fair
Adopt a professional attitude in all circumstances
Keep in mind: "You never get a second chance to make a great first impression." Dress for success, you must look polished when you interact with employers.
If you have prepared your pitch well, the recruiter will certainly not have positions to offer that exactly match your profile. Be open to these opportunities, which are often very interesting!
Think about taking notes during the interviews
The information they give you is crucial, either sending an email to the recruiter after the recruitment fair or to prepare you for the interview.
Note the name, the position and the company of your contact person, the jobs or the offers he/she has talked about, the insights he/she gave you on the tasks, the skills sought, or the recruitment process.
Network with everyone
- Build a network with the recruiters, ask the representatives for their business cards;
- Network with your fellow jobseekers in terms of sharing information about job leads, companies, and their recruiting strategies and styles;
- Attend the conferences and round tables. In addition to get job search advice, you will have more opportunities to network.
After the recruitment fair
You scored points during the recruitment fair, take advantage of it!
After the interview with the recruiter, quickly send them an email with your CV and reiterate your motivation by reminding them of where you met them and the various points you raised during the interview.
If they asked you to apply via the career website: in your cover letter, remember to mention the person you interacted with at the recruitment fair (name and position), and what stroke you in this conversation. Sending an email to the recruiter or the employee to whom you spoke during the recruitment fair will not be too much.
Interview checklist
Congratulations, you have landed an interview! Before you go, think about:
- Finding out about the company (size, sector, jobs, news) and the recruiter;
- Gaining good knowledge of the job description;
- Printing many CVs and ensuring you have pen and paper;
- Being ready to answer to the question: “Tell me about yourself” or ”Walk me through your background”. Prepare a concise and enthusiastic response. This is also the opportunity to share some information about your extra-curricular activities and transversal skills;
- Identifying keywords that define your skills and personality;
- Having concrete examples to illustrate these skills (if possible quantified);
- Preparing a list of two or three questions for the recruiter;
- Dressing appropriately. First impressions are important;
- Putting your phone on silent;
- Last but not least, don't forget that smiles open doors!
This article was written by Romain RAUX, Project Manager Career Centre at the University of Luxembourg
