How to Be Your Best at a

Why a Job Fair? Many will think that a job fair is not part of an overall job search strategy because so much of a job search these days is online. However, there will be a point in your job search when you will actually “talk” to a live person on the phone and better yet for the interview “talk” with them in person. Probably several people – multiple interviews, panel interviews. And the one thing that seems to be missing from our job search skills sets is how to talk and interact with others. A job fair is where you will refresh your interpersonal skills to enhance and support your job search.

A Job Fair as Part of Your Overall Job Search Your job search will have many layers online and offline; research and applying; meeting and thanking. Job Fairs which are relevant to your industry and career goals are one part of a job search plan. As you research the job fair, you hone your knowledge of the market and specific employers. A job fair will also give you an opportunity to practice your networking. A job fair will give you an opportunity to meet with recruiters in your industry. They may not have a job for you now, but good networking means you will stay in touch. Who knows what they may have in the future?

Goals for a Job Fair What do you want to achieve? While it is great to be single focused, remember there are many opportunities open to you when attending a networking event like a job fair. Some goals may be – •Learn more about currently open jobs. •Meet contacts at companies you have targeted. •Find an immediate job opportunity you do not already know about. •Find out about companies in the community that I might not be familiar with. •Learn from other job seekers the experiences they have had and any tips they can share. •Share my experiences and tips with others.

How To Be Successful at a Job Fair Research and Preparation is key! Many job fairs publicize who is attending beforehand. • Check out the company websites. • Identify the companies you are most interested in. •Also check the other companies attending to uncover new opportunities. When checking out employers: •What questions do you have that you can answer in advance? •What do you need to learn at the event? A prepared applicant who knows what the company offers and asks good questions is every recruiter’s ideal candidate at a job fair.

Presenting Yourself to Employers

Mini-introduction: 30-45 seconds: What type of work you are seeking, your relevant experience and personal attributes ‘Presence’: Think positive, shake hands, and breathe. Attend in business attire or military uniform. Job fairs offer only a few minutes generally to talk to a recruiter, so make the minutes count for you and for them.

Making the Meeting Count

What questions do you want answered? Based on the employer research you have done. Asking ‘good’ questions shows your professionalism, so make them relevant. The Two Critical Questions if you are interested: 1. Ask for contact information: To

send ‘thank you’ notes and follow up.

2. Ask for time-line on when you will hear from them.

So you know what to expect and can follow-up as needed if do not hear anything back.

Following Up with After the Job Fair with Employers Send an immediate thank you email for the meeting you had with them. Maybe include another point about a skill that will be of benefit to the position that you discussed. Even if there was no position discussed, still follow-up and thank them for their time. Very rarely does a recruiter get a thank you note for their time. This is a good way to start your networking with a recruiter in your community. Connect with them on LinkedIn by sending them a customized invitation that mentions that you met at the job fair. Follow-up professionally, don’t stalk. A thank you note and then a follow up a few weeks later.

Networking with Your Peers at the Job Fair One largely overlooked opportunity at a job fair is the opportunity to network with your peers. Too many people feel that this is a competitive environment rather than one that can be supportive for all the professionals seeking a new position. This is a way to learn about other opportunities, what it is like to interview with other companies and other companies’ culture. You have the opportunity to: • Meet others with similar interests. •Learn more about market and who is hiring. •Connect with people at your target employers. But how? •Introduce yourself to other attendees. •Use your mini-introduction. • Ask what they are interested in and share what you are interested in. • If interested, exchange contact info and connect on LinkedIn.

Thank you and good luck!

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