Make the most of the ”Meet the companies” session by preparing yourself beforehand. It is an advantage to know which companies you can meet, and which industries will be represented. There might be companies you haven’t heard of before that might be worth googling before you talk to them. Spend some time choosing which companies (3-5) you will aim to talk with and do some research to find out what they do and why they do it. You can also prepare a short pitch, where you very briefly (for 30-60 seconds) present how you could contribute to their company. Which of your skills, techniques or methods would add value to their setup? If you want to know more about how to make a good pitch, check out IDA’s “Practice your pitch” guide via this link: CLICK HERE
The companies will make an effort to present themselves professionally when invited to meet you at IDA. Therefore, pay attention to how you can present yourself in a professional manner. By looking at the relevant company’s website or looking up current employees on LinkedIn, you can get an impression of which dress code could be expected when working there. By trying to match that, you can give them the impression that you would be a good fit with their working culture.
If you meet specific companies about job openings or potential collaboration, bringing a CV or business card could be relevant. In the last session of the PhD Career Day, you get a chance to bounce ideas over a glass of wine with companies - or fellow PhDs and Postdocs. You can follow up by sharing your contact details, and if you can do that by handing over a business card or the like, the recipient is more likely to remember you when they return to their office after the Career Day. This is how you can build or extend your network by making yourself visible during and after a meeting.