FIT has always had a wonderful reputation of providing its students with one-of-a-kind learning experiences outside of 27th street. Every week on campus, there is another opportunity offered to students. Everyone at FIT, from professors to students, are so connected within their respected industries. Through those connections, internships and even entry level jobs are often easier to find than you may think! However, it does take a nice resume and a good head on your shoulders to nail it down đŸ˜‰
To make it even better, FIT’s Special Events class puts on an annual Advertising & Marketing Career Expo, which is a fancier way of saying Job Fair. About 60 New York based companies gathered in the John E. Reeves Great Hall Wednesday evening from 6-8 pm in hopes to gain some new interns and even employees! Ranging from corporate fashion designers like Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan to smaller boutique agencies like 24/7 Laundry Service, there is bound to be a company that interests you.
Students are able to walk around to different company tables and introduce themselves and start a conversation with these representatives. This was my first year to take advantage of this amazing opportunity that is offered to all AMC students. Â Dressed to impress, I entered the Great Hall with a stomach full of butterflies. I didn’t know what to expect, or what companies I was hoping to talk to. It can be overwhelming walking into the hustle and bustle of a job fair and immediately begin networking yourself. But I must admit, this was such good practice for me. I am a good conversationalist…once a conversation has begun. Sometimes I get nervous to be the one initiating the conversation, especially with professionals. However, this experience definitely pushed me outside of my comfort zone in the best ways possible. I walked up to the table, introduced myself – and it only got easier and better from there!
I brought a few copies of my resume, ready to pass them out! All in all, I gave all of my resumes to different companies and had some great conversations with potential employers. They were all very curious about my past interning experiences, which I was happy to tell them about. In return, I asked a lot of questions about their companies and positions within their companies. Asking questions is important. It doesn’t make you look “dumb,” actually the exact opposite. It shows that you’re interested and want to learn more!
I walked away with 5 business cards, and potential internships for Spring 2015! The first thing I did when I got home was to type a follow-up email to the company contacts I was interested in pursuing. Within the email, I thanked them for their time and how I enjoyed chatting with them. I reiterated how I was interested in a possible internship and attached another copy of resume, just to be safe! The next morning, I had 2 emails from the top 2 companies I wanted to intern for! In both, they mentioned how it was so nice to receive a follow up email promptly. ALWAYS, send a follow up. The best follow up is a Thank You note, however email was the appropriate option for this situation.
I am so happy and grateful that I went to the Career Expo. It’s a great networking event for students who may not have much experience in the industry already, or who are looking to gain more experience. This is something that is so special and unique to FIT. If you didn’t take advantage of this event this year, be sure to keep your eyes out for next years flyer! You don’t want to miss this!!
xx,
Brendan