How to Make the Most of a Job Fair

Job Fairs are a chance to make important contacts with potential employers and to get information about current and future opportunities.

Before the Fair:

• Get a list of organizations that are coming to the fair (Job Fair Employers List) and do some research on those that will be attending.
• Create your own prioritized list of the ones that you are most interested in speaking with and be sure you are well-aware of the products/services they produce.
• Know yourself and what YOU are hoping to get from the fair…Some tips:
• Decide on your career focus and what kind of experience you are looking for (this can vary, depending on who you are speaking with).
• Back up your skill claims with specific examples of when you used those skills and what you achieved by doing so.
• Know what value you can bring to their organization: What can you do for them?
• Be able to state why you are interested in working for their organization (if you don't know, they won't either!)
• Prepare a 2-3 line summary of your qualifications so that you make the most of the brief time you have with employers. Be able to tell an employer who you are, your major, your career interests, relevant work experience, what your strong professional and personal skills are, and what you hope to offer their organization. Customize it to the needs of the organization you are most interested in.
• Be sure to mention if you are interested in internship, summer, part-time, or full-time opportunities.
• Prepare 1-2 questions to ask each employer. They should reflect your research and interest.
• Write an effective resume and make sure it creates a favorable impression. It should be printed on fine bonded paper and bring an ample supply; one for each organization you are interested in speaking with and a few more, just in case you meet another organization you want to leave your resume with.
• Dress in business professional; a conservative, well-tailored, pressed and clean suit. If you want to be a part of the professional world, you must dress like it, rather than wearing your daily college attire.
• You should carry with you a briefcase or portfolio, rather than a bag or backpack, which can be cumbersome and awkward. Remember also to bring a professional-looking pen.

Day of the Fair:

• Arrive early; on occasion, organizations leave before the end of the fair and you want to be sure you speak with your choice employers early in the day.
• Consult the job fair program, if one is available, for final employer information and to strategize your approach for whom you want to talk to.
• Make eye contact with the employer when introducing yourself. Maintain it throughout your conversation.
• A firm handshake is important.
• Remember the representative's name; make sure you know how to pronounce and spell it correctly.
• Smile and show your enthusiasm! Like all of us, employers like to be in the presence of someone who is confident and upbeat.
• Although you will be nervous, remember not to fidget, play with your hair, rock from side to side, look around the room or chew gum. Watch for "um", "like" and "ya know".
• Get the information you need, be sure you make a positive impression, but don't monopolize the employer's time.
• Some employers may not currently be hiring, but are at the career fair to extend information and provide outreach to students. These organizations are excellent sources for future opportunities or for obtaining general information about your field.
• Near the end of your conversation, ask how their hiring process works and get a sense of when and if you should expect to hear from them.
• Ask for a business card or write down the name of the employer representative. This will help when you want to follow up later.
• After you've spoken with the employers you're most interested in, take some time to explore others you might not have considered…you may be pleasantly surprised by looking at other options!

After the Fair:

• Mail a thank you letter to the employers you believe are your best prospects (the ones you enjoyed talking to, the ones who have the best or most immediate opportunities…).
• Follow up with those employers who asked you to or who gave you specific instructions on tasks that would advance your candidacy.

Resources:

Books available in the CDC include:

• 101 Dynamic Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions
• 24 Hours to the Perfect Interview
• Interviewing Skills for Job Candidates with Learning or Other Hidden Disabilities
• Interviewing Skills for Job Seekers with Physical Disabilities
• The 250 Job Interview Questions You’ll Most Likely Be Asked
• Knock ‘em Dead. Great Answers to Over 200 Tough Interview Questions

• Job Fair 411

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5ldhwrrG4g
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAb7MZj7dBs
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPRVSF_gaN0