If you’re on the hunt for a job and have the option of attending a career fair, these events can be excellent places to network and score an ideal job opportunity. To be effective at such an expo, however, it is crucial that you thoroughly prepare yourself in order to make a great first impression, learn more about potential employers as well as to gain valuable experience in the job-hunting process.
Check out the following preparation tips for setting yourself above all other job candidates and you will be sure to have a successful experience:
Do your homework. Before attending a career fair, find out which employers will also be in attendance. Review the website promoting the event for it should have a list of the expected employers along with other relevant information including positions they are looking to fill and desired criteria. It will be beneficial for you to also research the basic background info of the companies with whom you plan to speak—this way, you will not only have a sense of whether or not it would be a good fit, but you will also earn points if you are able to strike up a knowledgeable conversation about the company with one of their representatives. You might not have enough time to visit every employer at the event so do enough homework prior to the fair and make a list of employers that are a top priority to visit.
Bring the essentials. Before going to the career fair, make sure that you have an ample amount of finely tuned resumes (25-40) ready to distribute. Depending on which employers you will be meeting and the positions you are seeking, you may have to tailor different versions towards the specific objectives of different companies and different jobs. Also, don’t forget to pack paper and pens so that you can jot down notes along the way.
Prepare your lines. So that you can make a solid impression that will leave employers begging you to join their company, it is crucial to create a 30 second introduction to use when you visit each booth. In an effort to brand yourself as a prospective and capable candidate you must introduce yourself by stating your name, educational background and the position you are after along with quickly selling your skills, talents and experiences. To ensure that your intro sounds natural and not like you are reading a script off of a teleprompter, be sure to practice what you plan to say and execute your introduction with confidence, enthusiasm, eye contact and a firm handshake.
Dress the part. Before dashing off to wow prospective employers, find out what the dress code is and follow it accordingly. Most job fairs are less casual than a formal interview but it is still important that you dress sharply either in business casual or interview attire. If you show up in a t-shirt and jeans or your best clubbing ensemble, the chances are likely that employers will not take you seriously. For this reason, it is recommended that you play it safe by dressing professionally and in a conservative manner.
Brianna Phillips is a guest post author who shares with us this article on preparing for a job fair. In addition to offering her career advice on the web, Brianna also owns various adult dating sites where she writes about safety issues in the online dating community.
