The Career Development Center will host its Fall Job and Internship Fair Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and students are already gearing up to attend.

Jeremy Toulon, a sophomore majoring in industrial and systems engineering, will be looking at Microsoft and BAE systems for summer 2011 internships.

A senator on the E-Board of the Binghamton University chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, Toulon said the NSBE at BU recently held an event on r√É©sum√É©s and 30-second self-marketing speeches.

‘A lot is stuff we have encountered being in the National Society of Black Engineers,’ he said of the society’s events. ‘We have different conventions throughout the year and get different tips from professionals in the industry in order to prepare.’

Bill McCarthy, the associate director of the CDC, coordinated the fair. He recommended ways in which students can prepare.

McCarthy said students can use the website to search for a list of employers relevant to their majors, but they should not be discouraged if they do not find the results they were looking for.

‘Don’t take that as ‘I shouldn’t go,’ McCarthy said. He encouraged students to approach employers that interest them and ask about any opportunities that may be available.

He suggested that students describe their qualifications, acknowledge that they are aware of the primary majors recruiters are looking for, but that they should feel free to ask questions like, ‘What kind of opportunities can I apply for?’

But he also emphasized that time at the fair will be a precious commodity.

‘Make a short list of who you want to speak to,’ McCarthy said, because it will be ‘physically impossible’ to visit every employer during the four hours of the fair.

In addition to wearing a suit and perfecting personal introductions, McCarthy advised students to bring several extra copies of their r√É©sum√É©s. It is better to bring too many than to run out and miss an opportunity with a recruiter.

The CDC has been hosting preparatory events over the past week, but there is still one event Tuesday for those looking to fit in some last-minute advice.

The event, which will be hosted by a recruiter from Microsoft, is called ‘What do I say to an employer at the Job and Internship Fair?’ It will be held Tuesday in New University Union room 120 from 5 to 6 p.m.

Nate Hotchkiss, a junior majoring in bioengineering, will be attending the fair because he is required to go for his entrepreneurial engineering class.

‘I think it’ll be good to see what it’s all about and give out business cards and r√É©sum√É©s and practice selling myself,’ Hotchkiss said.

He expressed concern, however, that his major might affect his desirability as a potential employee.

‘I don’t think I would get a job there because bioengineering is such an up-and-coming field,’ he said. ‘I’ve heard people aren’t looking for bioengineers but they are for other engineers. It’s difficult to have companies understand the major especially because it’s so new.’

A list of all employers attending the fair is available online at cdc.binghamton.edu.

‘ Alexandra Abel contributed to this report.