Recently in Career and Job Fairs/Expos Category

Susie writes:

I’m attending a career fair next week and really want to know the best way to prepare as this is my first one and I want to be successful at it.

The Career Doctor responds:

Career fairs are pretty cool events because both employers and job-seekers are there for a very clear purpose. Employers are trying to gather and screen a large pool of applicants and job-seekers are there to seek new opportunities (either directly or through networking).

There are activities you should be doing before, during, and after the fair.

Before the event, get information on the organizations attending the career fair, choose the ones that most interest you, and conduct research so that you know a little something about all of them. Polish your resume; I even suggest making a specific version for each targeted organization. Work on your interviewing skills by reviewing common interviewing questions and/or conducting mock interviews. Whenever possible, get one nice suit for interviewing — in a conservative style and color. Oh, and if you are prone to sweaty palms, be sure to pack a handkerchief or something else (other than your suit) to wipe your hand. Finally, work on your elevator speech — a 15 to 30 second mini-bio that explains who you are, what makes you unique, and the benefits you will provide. Finally, whenever possible, try and get a good night’s sleep the night before.

At the event, first survey the layout of the fair and then head to your top organizations. As you approach the recruiter, remember to smile, make direct eye contact, and offer a dry and firm (but not crushing) handshake. Your goal in the short time you have is to build rapport with the recruiter — so that you will be positively remembered out of the hundreds of candidates — but remember that you also need to gather more information to judge whether the organization is right for you. Do not overstay your welcome; if you see the recruiter looking over your shoulder at the line behind you, it’s probably time to move on. Make sure you get a business card — or at least key contact information (including the proper spelling of the recruiter’s name). And if you really want to stand out, ask the recruiter if there is anything you can do for him or her, such as getting a beverage from the refreshment area; thoughtfulness is a powerful thing.

After the event, sort through your business cards and other contact information and write thank-you notes or emails. And don’t forget to follow-up with each recruiter about two weeks later to see where things stand. Because you may have a number of contacts, you might want to consider developing a system — such as a job-lead log — so that you have everything right in front of you.

Get more details of all these activities in my Career Fair Checklist, published on Quintessential Careers.

Find lots of career fair articles and tools in this section of Quintessential Careers: Job Expo and Career Fair Resources.

Colby writes:

I was invited to a job fair at the end of the week and am extremely excited but nervous as well. I have never been to a job fair, so I am unsure what to expect. The fair is for entry-level, ticket-sales positions within the 12 Major League Soccer teams around the country.

The biggest problem I want to address is how to distinguish myself from others in such a short, more informal than a 1-on-1 interview, setting in such a short time. I am interested in all 12 teams in various locations, so I am extremely open to any suggestions.

The Career Doctor responds:

Job fairs are great tools for job-seekers to make contacts — and possibly make good enough first impressions to be called in for an onsite interview with one or more prospective employers.

And you are absolutely correct - you need a strategy for success.

The first thing you need to do is know everything possible about the requirements and expectations of ticket-sales employees. What are the key skills these folks need?

Second, you need is information on each of the teams. You need to have information on each one, partly to decide if you really would work for any of them and partly to showcase your knowledge.

Third, you need to do is choose your top teams and plan your job-fair strategy.

Fourth, you need to do is plan your sales pitch. Some experts refer to such a pitch as your elevator speech — the same amount of time you have to sell yourself to someone you meet on an elevator. While the basic pitch may be the same, you will want to tweak it some based on your research of the teams. Your elevator pitch tells the recruiter exactly why you are better than all the rest of the folks at the job fair.

You also need to make strong eye contact, smile, and have a firm handshake. You should try and establish rapport — even if just for that short time.

Finally, be sure and get each recruiter’s business card (contact information) — and then write a strong follow-up thank you note to each one of them.

Read more about job fair strategies in my article, The Ten Keys to Success at Job and Career Fairs.

Catherine writes:

I am unemployed and trying to get temporary work to stay marketable and pay my bills until the right full-time position is offered to me! I plan to attend a career fair for sales/marketing jobs and want your input on how to sell myself as a potential temp, part-timer, freelancer to get my foot in the door for full-time employment. How do I come across as not desperate when my unemployment will be running out in a month or so and I need to start a job right away?

The Career Doctor responds: