See results from last year’s Career Forum and learn how participants prepared for the event. Get tips from their experience to prepare for the upcoming Career Forum.
* Information below is based on last year’s San Francisco Career Forum Participant Survey results.
Prior to the Career Forum
What was your purpose for participating in the Career Forum ?
Although most of the companies are looking to hire full-time employees, more and more companies are also seeking interns. If you are a year or two away from beginning your job search, you can still attend to see what opportunities are available for you. Some companies hold seminars and information sessions during the event which are great resources to learn more about companies and their products/services. You also have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with company representatives, allowing you to hear the current market trends in the industry.
When did you start preparing for the Career Forum?
Many candidates start preparing more than a month before the Career Forum. With companies conducting multiple rounds of interviews during the Career Forum, prior preparation is the key to being successful. That includes creating resumes, applying to companies online, and practicing for interviews.
How many companies did you apply to online prior to the Career Forum?
Because some companies set up appointments prior to the Career Forum and others only meet with candidates who have previously applied online, applying to companies online is a must. Instead of waiting until the event, utilize the application as your first contact with the company to let them know of your interest.
How many appointments were you able to set up prior to the Career Forum?
Did you go ahead and visit the booth even if you did not receive a response from the company after applying online?
If you don’t hear back from a company it does NOT mean you are disqualified for the position. Companies use the online application in different ways and it can be likely that some will not respond to any of the applicants. As you can see, more than half the participants still visited the company's booth even if they did not have an appointment. Many of the companies do set aside time to interview candidates who visit their booths on the day of the event, so do not hesitate! You should actively visit companies of your interest.
Day of the Event
How many companies did you visit in total?
Did any company conduct second round or more interviews with you?
Companies hold multiple rounds of interviews during the event. About half of past participants had second-round or more interviews with companies. Having several rounds of interviews with one company can take up time and limit how much you have to meet with other companies. The average number of companies a candidate can meet during the event is about 6. In order to make the most of the time you have at the Career Forum, make sure to list the companies you wish to visit and prioritize them to keep yourself on track.
Did you receive any offer of employment?
The company representatives who attend the Career Forum are not just HR staff, but department managers, directors, and even company presidents. Because decision makers are at the event, the interview process moves relatively quickly with the possibility of receiving on-site offers from companies by the end of the event.
Voices from past participants
I liked the company presentations at the booth which are really helpful to know the aim of each companies and what kind of people looking for.
During the panel discussion, I enjoyed how the panelist shared their personal experiences. It was helpful in planning out my own career path.
For someone who was just starting their job search, it was a very helpful event. I'm glad I attended.
With less participants, I was able to attend in a more relaxed manner. Compared to my experience at Boston, this was numerous times better.
The scholarship and financial incentives were very helpful. The opportunities not available when job searching in Japan such as talking to major corporations over lunch and the Career Forum itself is a great platform for job seekers and companies to meet.
The panel discussions were more interested that I expected. The financial incentives were helpful and I enjoyed attending the two-day event.
