Columbia Job Fair - Help with plan Forum

[---why---]

I will be headed to the all-encompassing Columbia job fair tomorrow. I don't really understand how the process works, but going can't hurt. Any advice would get great.

The info is here: http://specialevents.cce.columbia.edu/fall-career-fair

Organizations with Full Time Entry Level Opportunities

Accenture
AllianceBernstein
Analysis Group, Inc.
Argus Information & Advisory Services LLC
AvePoint
Bloomingdale's/Macy's
Boston Teacher Residency
Casey, Quirk & Associates LLC
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Chartis
Citizen Schools
City Year
Civilian Complaint Review Board
Contact Singapore
ContextWeb, Inc.
Cornerstone Research
Council on Foreign Relations
Credit Suisse
Direct Agents Interactive Advertising
Federal Bureau of Investigation
GCA Savvian Advisors
Global eProcure
Graham-Windham Services to Families and Children
Hertz Corporation
Hillstone Restaurant Group
IBM
Internal Revenue Service
Ipreo
Leerink Swann & Company
Lime Brokerage LLC
Macquarie Holdings (USA) Inc.
Manhattan GMAT
McKinsey & Company
MDRC
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Mercer
Microsoft Corporation
MTA NYC Transit
NERA Economic Consulting
New York Stock Exchange
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network-The Nemec Financial Group
Novantas
NYU Langone Medical Center
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Olympus Corporation of the Americas
OpenLink Financial, Inc
PNC Financial Services Group
Professionals for Nonprofits
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Rosetta
Royal Bank of Scotland
Sanford C. Bernstein
Sponsors for Educational Opportunity Summer Internships
Stroud Consulting
Susquehanna International Group
The China Education Initiative (CEI)
The Close Up Foundation
The MATCH School
Uncommon Schools
US Department of Justice
VISA Inc.
WOR Radio HD
Worldwide Trade Partners LLC
ZS Associates

[Leeroy Jenkins]

It's a job fair. You talk to company reps and give them your resume and try to make an impression so they will give you an interview.

[irie]

on the contrary, people at job fairs dont matter. they are usually HR or entry level alumnus sent to spread the company name, logo, and random goodies such ranging from pens to mini flashlights.

there's a very small chance anything you do or dont do at a job fair will increase or decrease your prospects at getting that job. you can print out some resumes and give it to people who collect them, but chances are they will drop them off at the nearest dumpster to their hotel later that night.

go and learn about the companies, take some brochures, but dont stress over it.

incidentally isnt this for bachelors degree candidates?

[---why---]

Well, this year it is for everyone and law students are encouraged to go.

[coherentowst]

Well, this year it is for everyone and law students are encouraged to go.

Yep, nothing like a Columbia law degree to help you get an entry level job at ContextWeb, Inc.

[---why---]

I don't feel entitled to anything. I just want a job. Please keep the moron comments down to a minimum. I'm sure there are plenty of people in my position.

[Helmholtz]

Well, this year it is for everyone and law students are encouraged to go.

Yep, nothing like a Columbia law degree to help you get an entry level job at ContextWeb, Inc.

Nah, the Columbia law grads will be entering as managers. Somebody has to keep all those UMich and UVA grads in line.

Seriously, OP, best of luck. CLS is an incredible school and I'm sure it will offer many great opportunities down the road.

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Well, this year it is for everyone and law students are encouraged to go.

Two years ago MoFo showed up to the job fair

[FrankReynolds]

You absolutely NEED a very defined plan of attack.

Pick 5-10 companies that seem like they would hire more senior people

stuff like: Accenture, Credit Suisse, IRS, McKinsey

Come up with a very good story on how your law degree will provide value to the firm.

Be prepared for the company to refer you to a different recruiter who works with other levels of employment

[XxSpyKEx]

I don't feel entitled to anything. I just want a job.

Why law school? Couldn't you just get a job and call it quits with the JD and be in the same place you would be had you graduated?... IMO, if you actually want to practice law it would make more sense to work at a smaller/mid-size firm or something in-house instead of just any job because if you just go work somewhere for a few years doing some management job (or whatever) it pretty much just shuts all doors to finding any meaningful legal employment in the future. Look on CLS's website they probably have positing for small/mid-size firms and in-house positions that regularly have hired CLS grads in the past (which in the past probably are jobs that were taken by the bottom 20% of CLS).

[strawberrysmoothie]

Agree w/ what someone said above. If you really want to make use of it and aren't there to just browse what the firms/companies are all about:

- go through the entire list, research the companies, and decide what 10-15 you want to target.
- visit their booths, when they look not that busy so they'll talk to you.
- act like you know a LOT about what they do, express why you like them and why you want to work for them, etc.
- drop off your resume. If needed, tailor your resume to the different firms.
- get their business card. Follow up with them later. Mention how available you are for an interview/visit to the offices, etc. Just try to get your foot in the door somehow.

Note that probably for the big consulting/banking type gigs, they'll probably just direct you to their recruiting website since there is probably an online application process. For those folks, face to face contact may be less helpful and they may not file your resume as much as just glance at it when they're talking to you so they can size you up. I'm betting that there are a bunch of other firms in the mix here too, though, that have a less formal application process and having that face-to-face contact can really help. Dropping off a resume for those people can really help, too.

I remember at my undergrad job fair, a lot of it was useless brochure-picking-up, but there were many tables that had sign-up sheets to get on their recruiting mailing list, and there were some decently informative people to talk to. Just make sure you get their card and FOLLOW UP with them. They will forget 90% of the people they talk to, and sending an email later to show interest, thank them, etc. is at least a good way to make contact with a firm. I know in undergrad, I only followed up in the handful that I was interested in, but I ended up getting offers from some of those places in the end.

good luck!

[NewHere]

For those folks, face to face contact may be less helpful and they may not file your resume as much as just glance at it when they're talking to you so they can size you up.

Get their names, though, and drop them in your cover letter if you go through with an application via their website.

[spanktheduck]

I don't feel entitled to anything. I just want a job.

Why law school? Couldn't you just get a job and call it quits with the JD and be in the same place you would be had you graduated?... IMO, if you actually want to practice law it would make more sense to work at a smaller/mid-size firm or something in-house instead of just any job because if you just go work somewhere for a few years doing some management job (or whatever) it pretty much just shuts all doors to finding any meaningful legal employment in the future. Look on CLS's website they probably have positing for small/mid-size firms and in-house positions that regularly have hired CLS grads in the past (which in the past probably are jobs that were taken by the bottom 20% of CLS).

B/c his Columbia JD puts him in a better position than his undergrad does. My JD is coming from a much better school (I also have a better gpa in law school) than my undergrad.