MICA Internship and Career Fair: A Self Interview

A short interview with my self about the MICA Internship and Career Fair and how what I learned could benefit you.

The MICA Internship and Career Fair connected talented MICA students and alumni in all disciplines with some of the most innovative businesses and organizations in the Baltimore-Washington area. Companies came to the fair to discuss careers in art and design with students, as well as conduct interviews and portfolio reviews. The students and alumni all came out with very aesthetically pleasing resumes and extensive portfolios prepared. I think some of what I learned at the career fair might be helpful for other people to know so I’ve decided to interview myself in a mildly schizophrenic way.

MICA Internship and Career Fair

How did you hear about the Internship + Career Fair?

Chances are if your school is going to have and Internship and Career Fair or something similar, you will know about it. I heard about MICA’s through frequent emails as well as posters and fliers, not to mention word of mouth from my friends and even my parents. Needless to say I knew it was coming and I had time to prepare for it. Once a friend turned me on to the career fair blog I found it quite helpful for preparing for the event. It has some pretty great articles about Etiquette for Job and Internship Seekers, The Art of the Interview- wrap up and tips, and FAQ: What do I bring to the fair that you should check out yourselves.

Photos from the Fair (images are by Jim Burger)

What was your overall experience of the program?

It was very helpful that there were a wide variety of types of employers there. They had marketing agencies, full design studios, gaming companies as well as publishing houses. I don’t think it was particularly focused on one major at MICA or one discipline but there was a high incidence of employers looking for graphic and web designers there ( I’m not complaining about that). The employers were all receptive to being bombarded with resumes and portfolios and the fair gave everyone who attended many opportunities to talk with employers they might have not had otherwise. By the end of the event both employers and students were exhausted so it took a little more effort to deliver my pitch at it’s most effective.

My resumes and business cards made for the fair

How many organizations did you speak with?

I think I spoke with about 14 companies in the span of 3 hours or so. It was exhausting but I got 14 resumes out to employers and have since heard back from a very good percentage of them. I had 20 resumes ready with my personal mark attached and also handed out business cards individually. I was also provided with a little map of the place and where each company would set up. I used it to target and prioritize the employers I wanted to talk to most and crossed them off the map once I had said my piece and left my resume. By the end of it I was able to deliver my pitch effectively with no problems. A career fair like this is probably the best testing grounds for your pitch. You’ll immediately know if it is effective or not and how to tailor it.

Photos from the Fair (images are by Jim Burger)

What type of opportunities were you seeking?

By attending the Internship and Career Fair I was hoping to gain an internship, part time job or more steady freelance work for the summer. Companies seemed to be interested in all three and it is a little early yet to tell exactly what the results of the career fair will be for me. Making 14 new contacts and having 14 major design and advertising companies visit your website is a big step towards getting noticed and making connections in the design community.

Would you attend this program if offered again in the future?

I would absolutely attend it again. There would be no point in not attending it and missing out on all those potential opportunities. All the students there were appreciative of the opportunity and used it to their full advantage. If your school is talking about an internship and career fair I would strongly suggest attending it with a strong showing. The slightest connection there could lead to you dream job or internship this summer.

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