How to Make the Most Out of Career Fairs

How to Make the Most Out of Career Fairs
by WorkBloom
A career fair is the ideal place to build a network of contacts. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that other job seekers are your competitors. They can offer you so much more than you may think. Networking with other job seekers may help you get new job leads as well as information about companies, their interview style and other job searching strategies. There also may be employment agencies and professional associations at the career fair and this can prove to be a great networking source as well. When attending a career fair, you should have the following objectives in mind: Submit your application to companies that interest you. Make connections with recruiters, but also employment agencies, members of associations that are present and other job seekers. Explore your career options. Gather company and industry information. At the career fair, focus on the companies that interest you. Concretely, this means that you have to prepare before attending the fair. Research the companies that will be represented, see what positions they have open and plan your day. Dress as if you are already working for the company. You will make the right impression immediately. Be yourself when you interact with the recruiter. Don’t just hand over your resume and leave. You have to sell yourself and, in order to do that, you should have a sales pitch prepared in advance that showcases your skills, experience and abilities in a few sentences. Know what questions to ask and don't forget to smile. Be sure that you ask the recruiter what the corporate culture is. This will allow you to assess whether the company is a good fit for you and will show that you are not desperate for a job. Additional tips: Instead of spending your time handing out resume after resume, spend quality time talking to recruiters. Put your business cards where they can easily be accessed. Have them handy so that you don’t have to dig into your pocket or purse. Bring an accordeon folder with you where you can put the brochures and business cards that you collect during the day. Only bring with you what is needed. You don't want to waste time and energy dragging around a heavy bag or briefcase. Schedule Some "Practice" Interviews You should practice how you will handle interviews at the career fair. A great tip is to select a company to use as a confidence booster. Use what you learned in that practice drill to warm up ahead of your main interviews. In other words, schedule a "practice" interview before the real deal.

by WorkBloom

A career fair is the ideal place to build a network of contacts. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that other job seekers are your competitors. They can offer you so much more than you may think. Networking with other job seekers may help you get new job leads as well as information about companies, their interview style and other job searching strategies. There also may be employment agencies and professional associations at the career fair and this can prove to be a great networking source as well.

When attending a career fair, you should have the following objectives in mind:

Submit your application to companies that interest you.
Make connections with recruiters, but also employment agencies, members of associations that are present and other job seekers.
Explore your career options.
Gather company and industry information.

At the career fair, focus on the companies that interest you. Concretely, this means that you have to prepare before attending the fair. Research the companies that will be represented, see what positions they have open and plan your day.

Dress as if you are already working for the company. You will make the right impression immediately. Be yourself when you interact with the recruiter. Don’t just hand over your resume and leave. You have to sell yourself and, in order to do that, you should have a sales pitch prepared in advance that showcases your skills, experience and abilities in a few sentences. Know what questions to ask and don't forget to smile.

Be sure that you ask the recruiter what the corporate culture is. This will allow you to assess whether the company is a good fit for you and will show that you are not desperate for a job.

Additional tips:

Instead of spending your time handing out resume after resume, spend quality time talking to recruiters.
Put your business cards where they can easily be accessed. Have them handy so that you don’t have to dig into your pocket or purse.
Bring an accordeon folder with you where you can put the brochures and business cards that you collect during the day.
Only bring with you what is needed. You don't want to waste time and energy dragging around a heavy bag or briefcase.

Schedule Some "Practice" Interviews

You should practice how you will handle interviews at the career fair. A great tip is to select a company to use as a confidence booster. Use what you learned in that practice drill to warm up ahead of your main interviews. In other words, schedule a "practice" interview before the real deal.