| Employer information sessions |
 |
| |
| |
| On this page: |
| |
What
they are |
| |
Why
go |
| |
How
they make interviews better for you and the employer |
| |
Length
of sessions |
| |
Who
can attend |
| |
Where's
the calendar / list of information sessions? |
| |
What
if you don't have an interview with the employer? |
| |
What
to wear |
|
|
|
| What they are: |
| |
Employer information sessions are typically
held the evening prior to an employer's first interview day through
On-Campus Interviewing.
However, some employers hold them in conjunction with attending
career fairs, or with other reasons they have personnel on campus. |
|
|
| Why go: |
| |
Learn more about the organization and
meet company representatives in a less formal situation than an
interview. You have the opportunity to ask questions (not about
salary, please) in advance of the interview. |
|
|
| How they make interviews better
for you and the employer: |
| |
Consider the employer's perspective
on interviews:
S/he sits in a small room all day, and conducts 13 30-minute interviews
with 13 students. That's not much time to get to know each candidate.
The employer would rather use that time to get to know you, not
repeat info about her/his company 13 times. Information sessions
let employers cover that information once, and give students the
chance to think over the information before interviews. Students
meet someone from the organization (might be your interviewer or
someone else) and it breaks the ice. If you don't go before an interview
and you don't have a good reason why, it tells the employer you
really aren't that interested — wrong message to send. |
|
|
| Length of sessions: |
| |
Most are 90 minutes to two hours. Sometimes
they are formal presentations. Sometimes they are receptions where
you can arrive and depart throughout the session. If you need
to arrive late or can't stay for the full duration, contact the
employer representative and let him/her know. Employers won't mind.
They'll be glad you're interested in attending. |
|
|
| Who can attend: |
| |
Any student interested in the employer
is welcome to attend advertised information sessions, regardless
of whether you have an interview scheduled. Some sessions, particularly
receptions, are by invitation only. If you have heard about a session
but can't find the public announcement, contact the employer and
ask if it's okay to attend. |
|
|
| Where's the calendar / list of
information sessions? |
| |
Log
in to Hokies4Hire.
Select calendar search from the Calendar pull down menu bar.
Under "Event Type," select "Information Session."
You'll see the list of all upcoming sessions; select "information
session" to view time and location.
|
|
|
| What if you don't have an interview
scheduled with the employer? |
| |
You can still go; you might be able
to arrange an interview. Even if you tried, but didn't get an interview,
if you are very interested in the employer, go to the information
session, take your resume, introduce yourself, and explain that
you would very much like to interview if there is any possibility
of doing so. The employer might have had a cancellation on the interview
schedule and be willing to work you in or make other arrangements
to meet with you. Maybe your resume didn't stand out from the crowd,
but you can present yourself well in person. Employers are impressed
by initiative, so this often is effective. The worst possibility
is that the employer says no; you haven't lost anything. |
|
|
| What to wear: |
| |
Business
casual unless the invitation or announcement says otherwise.
Events on-campus are usually less formal than events in hotels.
Some employers may specify business
/ interview attire for receptions in hotels.
If your schedule doesn't permit you to change into appropriate attire,
contact the employer in advance and ask if that's okay. |
| |
|
| Return
to interviewing information. |
