Employer Parties

  • Do your research on the firm or company before attending
  • Read the newspaper and visit the employers website prior to attending so you can demonstrate knowledge of what is going on
  • Prepare a 30 second speech to introduce yourself to employers
  • Bring business cards
  • Turn your cell phone off
  • Plan to arrive a few minutes early. Give yourself time to go to the washroom first to clean up any mess caused on the way
  • Approach people standing alone or gradually ease into a larger group (avoid breaking into groups of two as these are usually more personal or intense discussions)
  • Don’t take giveaways until after the presentation, or, in the absence of one, after having chatted with employer
  • When introducing yourself to employers, use your prepared self-introduction
  • Make good eye contact, smile, and extend your right hand
  • Try to match the firmness of the other person’s handshake
  • Avoid the “fish” handshake and/or clammy hands.
  • Make eye contact
  • A firm handshake signals confidence and recruiters love confidence. Practice confident open body language
  • When introducing others, use the most important person’s name first
  • If you forget someone’s name, be honest, and ask them to repeat it
  • Be positive
  • Avoid bad small talk topics (eg. politics, religion, controversial issues, family questions – unless the other person begins to talk about his/her family, etc.) Stick to good topics: weather, positive world news, food, hobbies, etc.)
  • Allow 18 – 24 inches of comfort space around you when conversing with others
  • Be yourself and ask intelligent questions
  • Hold drinks in left hand; keep your right hand free to shake hands with those you greet.
  • Eat something before you go. Don’t over-eat. Be aware of what your stomach can handle. Eat the foods you are comfortable with and remember it is not to be used as your meal!
  • Avoid alcohol, or limit to one drink. You need to be in top form!
  • Eat only non-messy, easy-to-eat foods