Here are the keys to successfully navigating a career or job fair.
Follow these simple rules and you should achieve
success in this important strategic tool of job-hunting.
Do have a specific strategy for maximizing your time at the event.
And don't bother spending time with recruiters from companies that
do not interest you.
Do pre-register for the event, and do attempt to get the
list of attending companies before the career fair.
Don't eliminate companies because they are recruiting for
positions outside your field; take the time to network with the recruiter and
get the name of a hiring manager for your particular career field.
Do attempt to research basic information about each
company you hope to interview with at the job fair. A common career
fair question from recruiters is, “Why do you want to work for our company?”
Don't just drop your resume on the recruiter's table and walk off.
Do prepare a one-minute “commercial” that focuses on the unique
benefits you can offer the employer - your unique selling proposition. And do
be prepared for common interview questions.
Do be prepared to talk about your work experiences, skills, and
abilities. And for college students, do be prepared for a question about your
GPA by some recruiters. (And do use the GPA -- overall, college,
major -- that makes you look the strongest.)
Don't be afraid or intimidated by the recruiter; he or she
is there to do a job -- to meet and screen potential candidates.
Do have a few questions prepared for each recruiter,
but don't ask questions that any good job-seeker should
already know, such as “What does your company do?” Do check
out these Questions
to Ask at Career and Job Fairs.
Do say the recruiter's name several times during your
conversation, even if you have to keep glancing at the recruiter's nametag.
And do get a business card (or at least contact information) from each recruiter.
Don't forget to eliminate such bad habits as playing with your
hair, chewing gum, fidgeting, rocking from side-to-side, acting distracted,
rubbing your nose, etc.
Do remember all the keys to successful interviewing, including
a firm handshake, a warm smile, eye contact, and a strong voice.
Don't use filler words such as "um", "like", "you know."
Do bring enough copies of your resume to the career fair.
And do bring different versions of your resume if you are searching
for different types of jobs.
Do take advantage of the time you have to build rapport with each
recruiter, but don't monopolize their time.
Don't ever just walk up to a booth and interrupt a current
conversation; wait your turn and be polite.
Do dress professionally -- conservative is always the safe choice.
(Do read our article, When
Job-Hunting: Dress for Success.)
And do wear comfortable shoes.
Don't waste the opportunity to network, not only with the recruiters,
but with fellow job-seekers and other professionals in attendance at the career fair.
Don't ever say anything negative to the recruiter about your
college or previous jobs, companies, or supervisors.
Do be sure to ask about the hiring process of each company,
but don't ask too many questions about salaries, vacation time, and
other benefits.
Do take the initiative and ask about the next step in the
process. And do be prepared to follow-up all job leads.
Do be sure to follow-up with each recruiter. Some experts
say to call and leave a message on their voicemail right after the job fair,
but at a minimum you should send each recruiter a thank you letter. (Do
read this sample
career fair thank you letter.)
Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search
terms by going to our Job-Seeker's Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms.
Dr. Randall S. Hansen is founder of Quintessential Careers,
one of the oldest and most comprehensive career development sites on the Web, as well CEO of
EmpoweringSites.com. He is also founder of
MyCollegeSuccessStory.com and
EnhanceMyVocabulary.com. He is publisher of
Quintessential Careers Press,
including the Quintessential Careers electronic newsletter,
QuintZine. Dr. Hansen is also a
published author, with several books, chapters in books, and hundreds of articles. He's often
quoted in the media and conducts empowering workshops around the country. Finally, Dr. Hansen is
also an educator, having taught at the college level for more than 15 years. Visit his
personal Website or
reach him by email at randall(at)quintcareers.com.
