Are you looking for a new job or considering a career change? You may want to consider attending a career fair. Career fairs are FREE for job seekers and typically have a large number of employers from a variety of industries in attendance. Most employer booths have a company representative or recruiter who is able to discuss their company opportunities and accept resumes. So they are a great place to gather information on who is hiring, the types of jobs available, and the type of qualifications needed.
When attending a career fair, it’s important to be prepared. Not only are you making that first impression with a potential employer, you could also be provided with the opportunity to interview for a job! You do not want to run the risk of a few missteps and miss out on your dream job. Therefore, keep the following tips in mind so that you put your best foot forward.
Bring resumes Perhaps the most important tip to remember is to bring copies of your resume with you; the more the better. Although you may not be interested in applying for every opportunity available, you should enter into a career fair thinking that you would. Find out the number of employers who will be in attendance and bring that number of resume copies. Even if you do not hand out all of your resume copies, you can always save them and use them at a later time.
Dress for success Always dress for success! As a recruiter, I attended a number of career fairs for experienced professionals and across college campuses. I was amazed at the number of attendees that did not wear appropriate business attire. They made an impression, but it was not a favorable one! Opting for a simple pants suit, dress slacks with a shirt, or a dress will work wonders.
Prepare to be interviewed As previously mentioned, many career fair employer participants conduct interviews on the spot. Therefore, a great practice is to prepare for a career fair as you would prepare for an interview. Do some research on the companies in attendance and have a few great questions in your back pocket. Think of some likely questions that will be asked about your background, experience, and interest in the role and have responses prepared. If you haven’t had an interview in some time, this would be a great time to review and refresh your memory.
Go alone If possible, attend career fairs alone. Most career fairs are scheduled during the daytime and often during the week. If you are a parent, you should make other arrangements for your child, as you do not want to be remembered as the applicant who brought their child along. If you have a friend is who also job hunting, you can attend together, but be sure to go your separate ways. Employers are less likely to give you an interview if they see you are accompanied by a guest and a partner may unintentionally effect which employers you stop and see.
REMEMBER career fairs are not only used to educate you on local employment opportunities, but they are also designed to help you find and get a job. By keeping the above mentioned tips in mind, you should be able to make the most out of your attendance.
