Navigating Employer EventsFor Mature Recruiting
Robyn Ettinger
Employer Services, MBA Career Management
Navigating Employer Events: Agenda
1 The Big Picture
Events Overview 2Acing the Event3
The Big Picture
Why Should I Attend Events?
The Big Picture For You
Meet people and start building your network 1
Get info on company and gain insights into culture
2Make an impression 3
Get Started 4
The Big Picture For Employers
Expose
Cultivate
Evaluate
Sell
EIS, Networking Expo, Lunch & Learns, Treks, Panels
Coffee Chats, Case/Interview Prep
Single-firm events, Days on the Job, Private Dinners, Stock
Pitch, Interviews
Private Dinners, Sell Events
Why Do Employers Host Events?
Events Overview:
- Employer Information Sessions (EIS)- Networking Expos - Coffee Chats - Other
EIS 101
Highest attended EIS last year?
# EISs scheduled so far for first-
years?
Hotel most frequently used?
EIS 101
- 45-min slots: 30 min pres & Q&A- Q&A breakouts & small reception- Some open to 2Ys
- Business line & HR representatives- C-suite executives, Presidents & Managing
Directors- Wharton alumni
- Hosted on-campus, off-campus or virtual - Will take place in one of these time blocks:
12:15, 4:30, 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30
What is the format?
Who comes from the company?
Where & when are they typically held?
Why Should I Attend an EIS?
You Want Employer Wants
• Gain industry knowledge
• Deeper understanding of firm’s culture
• Meet business leaders, alum, recruiters
• Source content & contacts for cover letter
• Learn about opportunities & application details
• Gain insight into hiring process
• Create awareness/build brand
• Define company culture
• Meet students face to face
• Explain career paths
• Introduce various offices or functions
• Differentiate firm from competitors
• Drum up applications
• Update your RSVP• Stop by early (if on
campus) • Introduce yourself,
excuse yourself, and follow up
• Write to contact in CareerPath if off campus
• Have a friend share notes
UNABLE TO ATTEND DUE TO A CONFLICT
• Record the right person’s name and position
• Get contact info from CareerPath
• Write a direct email to thank them for presenting and ask for 15 minutes of follow up time
DIDN’T GET TO TALK PERSONALLY
• Record highlights on business card
• Thank them via email & mention specifics
• Use as example in cover letter
HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION
EIS Situations – What Would You Do?
EIS Breakdown By Industry
Consulting 9%
Consumer Products8%
Retail 3%
Diversified Manufacturing 3%
Energy 8%
Diversified Financial Services 3%
Investment Banking18%
Investment Management 12%
Private Equity 6%
Healthcare 10%
Media 1%
Real Estate 3%
Social Impact 5%
Technology 10%Etc. 1%
How to Find Who is Coming & Sign-Up?
CareerPath Search Results
Networking Expo 101
When & Where?
- Monday, Nov. 7th at 6pm - Rittenhouse Hotel
What is the format?
- High-top tables, cocktail party-like
- 35-40 companies Who typically comes from the
company?
- 1 – 5 people per company- Mix of HR, business line
and alumni
Who is Coming This Year?
Coffee Chat 101
Is there really
coffee?
True or False: a
coffee chat is evaluative
How many Starbucks are
there on campus?
Coffee Chat 101
What is the format?
Who comes from the
company?
Where are they typically
held?
Individual or (very) small-group networking opportunity
Business line reps, Wharton alumni
On- and off-campus locations
What is the dress code?
Business casual to business professional. It all depends!
Why Should I Attend a Coffee Chat?
You Want Employer Wants
• Develop an advocate within the company
• Gain first-person experience of the company’s inner workings/culture
• Clarity on person’s role
• Learn about mobility within the organization
• An opportunity to showcase “why”
• Source content for cover letter
• Cultivate and evaluate candidates
• Sell the opportunity to work at the company
• To build relationships and be available to candidates
How to Find Who is Coming & Sign-Up?
Other Event Formats
Days on the Job/
InformationalsStudent Treks
Small Group Dinners & Cocktails
Topical Events / Lunch & Learns
EISs & Coffee Chats
Day on Job/ Treks
EISs & Coffee Chats
EISs & Coffee Chats
Day on Job/ Treks
No Core Classes Break / Int’l Treks
Day on Job/ Treks
Day on Job/ Treks
Acing the Event
Acing the Event –Make it Work for You
• EISs are listed on SPIKE and CareerPath (check regularly for adds/drops/room changes)
• Be strategic about the events you attend
• Keep a calendar, spreadsheet, etc.
Stay Organized
• Leave yourself enough time to prep• Trends/headlines• Products & services• Read job descriptions if avail.• WetFeet, Vault, Hoover’s,
Capital IQ & Lippincott Library
• Talk to WG17 interns (if any)• Create 3-5 questions per company
• Do it and reference memorable parts of conversation
• EISs are listed on SPIKE and CareerPath (check regularly for adds/drops/room changes)
• Be strategic about the events you attend
• Keep a calendar, spreadsheet, etc.
• What do you want them to remember you for?
• What do you want to walk out with?
• Focus on quality of interaction, not quantity
Stay OrganizedPrepare
Attend with a goalFollow-up
Acing the Event –Make it Work for You
Strong Questions to Ask from an Employer POV
What are you currently working on?
Why did you choose the company?
What function has P&L ownership within the company?
Where does senior management come from? Are they promoted from within or outside hires? What functions do they come from?
What skill sets can a person develop as they progress at the firm?
What student profile are you looking for?
How much impact can a new employee/intern have on the business?
How active is the Wharton alumni network at the firm? C-level Wharton alums?
What is the culture of the firm? Can you give specific examples? What are the critical success factors for the company? Do those match well with my own skill set?
After the Event – Following-Up
• Ask for a business card
• Take notes during the event
• Write a thank you to those with whom you had a meaningful interaction
• Personalize your thank you notes
• Apply for the position
Impactful Follow-Up from an Employer POV
Generic vs. specific
How should they remember you? What is
the connection?
Have an “ask or propose a
next step
Preparing for Recruiting Events –Tips for International Students
Know the company’s work authorization policy
• Information is listed in CareerPath (EIS and job description) and SPIKE
What if I don’t have U.S. work authorization?
• Attend events to learn more about the company• Inquire about international opportunities outside of the U.S.
headquarters & global mobility in future roles• Set your CareerPath communications preferences to receive
emails from MBACM about recruiting in the U.S. for non U.S. authorized students
• Find a contact for opportunities outside of the U.S. • Ask when/if the company makes exceptions to their policy• Have Plan A & Plan B recruiting strategies prepared
EIS by Work Authorization Requirement
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Company requires U.S.work visa/authorization/citizenship
Company will sponsorwork authorization
Other (specialqualifications/requirements)
Recruiting Event Dos
12354
786
9
Dress like you “get” the industry
Turn off anything that makes noise!!!
Be aware of your body language
Introduce yourself when asking questions, wear your nametag
Engage in conversation with junior staff
Introduce other classmates into the conversation
Target the right questions to the right
people
Take notes
RSVP, arrive on time, & check-in via app
Recruiting Event Don’ts
Be a no-show
Leave in the middle of the presentation (or slam the door!)
Use your phone…. or take pictures of slides
Be too aggressive or monopolize recruiters’ time
Speak negatively about past work experience
Be memorable for the wrong reasons
Bottom Line Advice
Events are foundational to a company’s recruiting strategy
Evaluate the company as much as you are being evaluated
Expose
Cultivate
Evaluate
Sell
Questions?