Episode 38: Career Fair Cheat Codes

On this episode, Nikki interviews Tori Labernik, a 2017 UNI alum, with a communications major and psychology minor. Tori begins by describing her career path from Target as an executive team lead, to admissions recruiting at Cornell College and later Central College. Most recently, she joined Pella the talent acquisition team at Pella Windows and Doors and now focuses on campus recruiting. Tori explains what stands out at career fairs: leadership and involvement, strong communication, curiosity, company research, and unique questions. She advises students to research 5–7 employers, use career services for resumes and mock interviews, dress professionally, bring paper and digital resumes, deliver a clear elevator pitch, follow up via LinkedIn or email, and communicate honestly about interest their interest.