3 reasons to attend the Graduate Recruitment Fair (GradFair) University of Manchester Careers Blog

3 reasons to attend the Graduate Recruitment Fair (GradFair) Youve probably heard or seen quite a bit about The Grad Fair happening next week. Its one of The Universitys biggest Careers Fairs and this year there will be over 140 exhibitors attending, offering local and national graduate jobs, further study courses and other opportunities for students graduating in 2018. Yes exams and deadlines are looming but can you spare just a few hours to start sorting out a graduate job? 1. The Fair provides an opportunity to explore whats out there. After years and years in education, you may feel that youve been quite sheltered from the outside real world. A lot of the time students arent sure what they want to do after University simply because theyre not aware of what is out there to do. There will be a wide range of employers attending the Grad Fair some small, some large working in a variety of sectors, from Finance and IT to Education, HR and Retail. Wandering around will offer a chance to get exposed to the world of work the companies and industries out there and what they really do and the range of options open to you. If youve already got an idea of what sort of industry you want to work in or which companies you want to work for, you can find out more about the roles available within these fields or companies and see what the job would involve day-to-day. There are also a number of Universities attending both days of the Fair, so you will be able to explore postgraduate study options too and find out if this could be the right next step for you. 2. Speaking to employer representatives face-to-face can improve your applications. Imagine youre really interested in a Management position with Abercrombie Fitch. By chatting to one of their representatives at the Graduate Fair, you can find out what qualities a good Manager at Abercrombie Fitch has and what activities and responsibilities the job encompasses. With this knowledge, you can tailor your application so that your CV and cover letter clearly demonstrate how the skills and experience you have make you the perfect fit for this Management role. Get the name of the employee you spoke to and reference this conversation in your cover letter (e.g. After speaking to xxx at The Graduate Recruitment Fair in Manchester, I was really inspired by xxx about the role/company). This will reinforce your enthusiasm for the job and the company. Not only that, but approaching employers can help you with your interview technique. To make a lasting impression during your conversations with company representatives, you need to succinctly summarise your previous experience of relevance to the role on offer and explain why youre interested in this particular job/company. Before attending the Fair, make sure youre aware of your strengths and the skills and experience you have to offer employers. Rehearsing how you will introduce yourself, your experience and your motivations to company reps at the Fair will increase your self-awareness, providing a good foundation that you can build on when preparing for interviews. 3. You can get practical advice and support, whatever stage youre at. Along with a host of interesting and inspiring exhibitors, you will also find The Careers Service at the Graduate Fair. Chat through your options, ideas and worries with us and get practical advice on steps you can take next, whether youve got a clear career goal in mind or are still unsure about what you want to do after University. If youve never been in touch with The Careers Service before, use this opportunity to get connected now, as you can access our services, support and events throughout the summer and for up to two years after graduating. Manchester Graduate Talent will be another feature of the Fair. This programme is exclusively for University of Manchester students and sources paid graduate-level roles based in Manchester. We advertise a variety of different roles with a range of organisations, from start-ups to multi-national firms, as well as positions within The University itself. If you want to stay in Manchester, are looking to gain some experience in a particular field, or would just like to give something a try, MGT could be the right next step for you. The Grad Fair is next week on Wednesday  9 May, 10.30am 3.30pm at The Armitage Centre in Fallowfield.   You dont need to stay for the full day (but you can if you want to). Check out the list of companies attending and get your free tickets here All Events and fairs Graduate Postgraduate Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted career planning Careers fair Careers Service Getting started graduate fair Graduate jobs Graduates job hunting manchester graduate programme networking Options summer fair