Posted By: Heather Eagar In: Job Seeker - Interview It can be intimidating walking into a career fair…all of those employers waiting for YOU to come and meet them. However, if you’re armed with the knowledge and confidence that you need, this could be the beginning of a new – or – better career.
Do Your Research
Treat the career fair as a bunch of mini interviews. Find out beforehand what companies are going to be there and which ones you’re interested in talking to. For those organizations, do your research just like you would for a ‘real’ interview. Your enthusiasm will be apparent to the employer, and that is a good thing.
It takes a lot to stand out in a career fair. By showing your knowledge about the company and/or industry, you prove that you might just have that extra something they’re looking for in an employee.
Dress the Part
The first impression you make on an employer is extremely important. Don’t make it a negative one. Dress as you would dress for an interview. Yes, that may mean uncomfortable high heals or hot suits and ties, but you want to be sure you don’t dress too casually. Employers may think you’re not taking the career fair seriously and that you’re just wasting their time.
Act Like You’re ‘On’
It can be difficult to remember while you’re walking around at a career fair that employers could be watching you. Especially those you have already spoken to. So be careful what you do while deciding your next step, so to speak.
Try not to do anything that might be construed as negative. Watch your facial expressions - grimaces, rolling your eyes, exasperation - all things you want to avoid. If you just spoke with an employer and then as you were walking away, sighed and rolled your eyes, you might want to cross that company off your potential list.
Whatever you do, be sure you have several copies of your resume and cover letter. Better still, for the companies that you know you’re going to speak with, write a specific one for them, just like when you apply to job postings. You might not be able to be as specific as you would in that situation, but bringing some non-generic job search documents along with you can serve as a great start to a conversation with a company.
In addition to your resume package, you may want to have a few copies of your references. Even though it’s not common for an employer ask for references at a career fair, you never know what they may throw at you.
Remember, a career fair should be treated as a real way to network and obtain job leads. No matter what kind of career fair it is, that one event could be a key to making connections that can help you get a job now or in the future.
Comments
Posted by: Tom Baker
I HAVE FOUND THAT THE PEOPLE AT THE JOB FAIR BOOTHS ARE HOPING TO TALK TO PEOPLE THAT ARE POSITIVE, AND WHO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR COMPANY SO THEY CAN "SHOWCASE" THE HIGHLIGHTS AND BENEFITS. After all, they are looking for a good fit for them as well as they can. They also realize that most people will be coming to look, hoping for an opening they can fill. Most job-seekers don't even know what they want, let alone how to ask for it. You are interviewing the person at the booth more than they are interviewing you.
Posted by: Niki
Thank you for taking the time to share this vital information. I haven't had to attend many job fairs fortunately, but they can make one uneasy. So many companies checking you out and having to fill out all those applications go with the territory. You have given some excellent advice on how to navigate through the Job Fair Terrain.
Posted by: Beverly R. Bolin
Excellent article - very helpful.
Posted by: M M
#1 Tom is so correct! One's attitude toward a Job Fair should be that you interact with those in a company. I will repeat his last sentence as it's SO important: You are interviewing the person at the booth more than they are interviewing you. I had interviewed for a job out-of-state in Nebraska in October. There were several who interviewed me. Sadly, there were two who really didn't care about me, or whose questions were too vague for me to interact. Although I didn't get the job (and I was very qualified), it was probably for the better since that company has just gotten absorbed by another owned by the same parent company.In conclusion, if you and those who interview you have good vibes overall and you don't do stupid things, there's a very good chance something will come out of it. I'm still looking now but I won't give up hope, and neither should any of you! Best of luck!!
Posted by: Amy
I went to a career fair recently. I found that it wasn't what I expected. I was told by friends to be armed with resumes. Well, not only did no one take a resume (they weren't collecting them from anyone), but I was told to apply online. Why bring all the resumes? The people there were just there to talk about the company (if you were actually able to hold a conversation w/ the person). My biggest frustration was finding out the jobs that were available thru the respresented companies were very limited in the field I was looking for. I feel the career fair announcement for my specific field was misleading.
Posted by: Staff Editor
Amy - Sorry to hear your career fair experience was not a success. A lot of organizations prefer to hire candidates from career fairs, because it is more personal when a candidate is able to talk to the employer face to face and present them with a copy of their resume, rather than receiving their resume electronically. They may have asked that you submit your resume online so they can track their hiring processes electronically to be sure that they are in compliance with EOE rules. At the next career fair you attend you may have the chance to distribute your resume to employers so be sure to bring a bunch and remember not all career fairs are alike, so we hope you do not write them off completely. - Staff Editor
Posted by: SHAKITA
LIKE AMY I HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE.I WOULD GO TO EVERY JOB FAIR IN PHILADELPHIA HAVING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. IN THE END THEY ALSO TOLD ME TO GO ONLINE AND TO THIS DAY I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A CALL OR EMAIL. I HAVEN'T BEEN TO A JOB FAIR IN A YEAR BUT IM AM WILLING TO TRY AGAIN AND ATTEND PHILLYJOBS.COM CAREER FAIR!WISH ME LUCK!
