Job & Career Fairs

Job and career fairs are a great way to assess the hiring opportunities available in your field. They are often held as a way of placing local job hunters with companies that are hiring in your area. They are also held at college campuses to assist graduating students in beginning their search. You will also find industry specific job fairs usually held in convention centers in metropolitan areas.

The companies represented at job fairs are actively seeking talent, usually for more than one position. This gives you an advantage to the impersonal approach to sending your resume in response to a want ad. The staff at each booth is made up of recruiters and human resources representatives who have the ability to fast track you into their company. So consider meeting with them your first interview and you may only have a few moments to make that good impression.

Follow all of the rules of a standard interview in that your appearance, body language, and materials on hand will how you will be initially judged. These fairs are usually slightly informal so dress casual attire is appropriate. Be neat and clean with polished shoes and conservative jewelry. Men should wear dress slacks with collared shirts and ladies skirts or slacks with a blouse. Make sure that you bring a briefcase or portfolio containing many copies of your resume, cover letters, certifications and licenses, curriculum vitae, reference lists, and letters of recommendation. Have them ready to go in packages for each recruiter that you approach. Remember to bring several good pens and a notepad and planner so that you can schedule a later on site interview if asked.

When you approach the booth for each company, remember that you will only have a few moments to make them want to talk to you. This is where you need to practice a one minute introduction speech that will get your foot in the door. Look the recruiter in the eye, give a firm handshake, and have your resume package in your hand. Tell them who you are and why you are interested in their company over all of the others. Some companies will be prepared to do screening interviews on the spot, so be ready if asked. Your mission is to sell yourself to them and stand out from the crowd. If the recruiter is busy speaking with someone else, browse the materials that they have available and try to catch the recruiter's eye so that he or she knows that you are waiting to speak with them. If they can not get away or if the booth is too crowded, you may just want to come back later. You may alternately leave your resume on the table with a note attached saying that you know that they were busy and will contact them later. Follow up with a call the next day.

As with any interview, research the job fair before you go. Find out which companies will be represented and gather some information on those that you will be interested in. Make notes and list questions that you can ask each recruiter. Go over those notes before you approach each booth. Doing this will ensure that you can show real interest in each company, that you are prepared for the task at hand, and that you can engage each recruiter in a real conversation about the company that they work for. You want them to enjoy speaking with you and look forward to meeting with you again.

Finally, do not forget the follow up. Ask each recruiter for a business card and make notes after leaving the booth about the conversation. This way a follow up letter can be personalized and may jog their memory. Call the next day and thank them for their time. Send your letter within the next 48 hours and include a second copy of your resume in case yours got shuffled into the pack.

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