“A lot of employers will tell us the students who stand out to us are the ones who come up [to the table] dressed for success, introduce themselves and don’t ask ‘what does your company do?’ Be prepared. And put your best foot forward.”

Those are the words of Tim Stiles, executive director of Stetson’s Career and Professional Development office.

Stiles is talking about Stetson’s Fall 2018 Internship & Career Expo, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 26, at Hollis Center’s Rinker Fieldhouse, noon to 3 p.m.

Seeking a leg up on getting a job, students? That foot forward certainly could go a long way.

Stiles expects this fall’s Internship & Career Expo to be the largest ever at Stetson, with 75 employers scheduled to exhibit, meet with students and potentially offer internships and full-time jobs. Employers don’t quite range from A to Z, but it’s close — from A (Advanced Medical) to W (WithumSmith Brown) — arriving from Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and surrounding areas. Official participating sponsors are James Moore & Co., Brown & Brown, Gartner, Buckeye International Inc., Bankers Life, Epic Theatres and Duerr & Cullen, CPAs, P.A.

Notably, more than half of the employers are nonprofit and government entities who are looking for students in a wide variety of majors, while first-year students can benefit from attending and exploring options, just like juniors and seniors, according to Liz Connor, assistant director of Career and Professional Development.

“We want all students to attend,” Connor said.

As many as 300 students are expected to attend; no RSVP is required.

To help students prepare for the event, Career and Professional Development has enhanced its HattersJob app (free download). Through the app, students can see the list of employers and brief company profiles. During the event, students can take notes on the app and mark who they’ve visited. Students may download the app at any time (to prepare), plus they will be given the chance to download the app at event check-in.

Additionally, Career and Professional Development will have a “first-impressions” table set up, staffed to provide helpful tips and other information. “If students don’t do anything else ahead of time, we’ll at least make sure they’re prepared and polished when walking up to an employer,” said Stiles.

Note: Dressing to impress is key. Also, free professional headshot photos will be made available to students (along with faculty and staff).

Finally, as with any job interview, students are encouraged to arrive early. To stir buzz, the first 25 students in line, starting at 11 a.m., will receive a $10 gift card for Chick-fil-A.

Call it a prize before going after the real prize.

-Michael Candelaria