Job Fairs – Be Prepared
Posted on 03. Nov, 2009 by Matt Shelly in Job Search Tips
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By Todd Bavol, The Job Search Ninja.
CEO, Integrity Career Transitions
Job fairs are a great way to scout out new opportunities, as well as to make loads of new contacts. Attending a job fair, however, is essentially like attending a series of first interviews, so it is essential to turn up prepared. Here are a few tips to help you ensure that you get the most from the experience and make the very best impression.
1. Dress smartly. You wouldn’t turn up for any other job interview in jeans and loafers and this isn’t the place to do it either. Make sure that you wear formal business attire to create a really professional image.
2. Do your research. Having an understanding of what the companies attending the fair do is every bit as important as it is in a more formal interview, so find out in advance which employers are going to be represented and check them out before you go.
3. Be ready with your elevator pitch. Job fairs these days are usually very well-attended and the interviewers are kept very busy so you are probably going to have to keep it short. Prepare your elevator pitch beforehand so that you can recite your skills and let them know what type of work and what type of company you are looking for quickly and succinctly.
4. Have some questions ready. If you do have time to talk at greater length, you should take the opportunity to let the interviewer know that you have done your research and already understand something about the company and ask some intelligent questions. Anything which helps you to assess how you and your skills might fit in within the organization will be useful.
5. Don’t forget your resume. Be sure to take plenty of copies of your update resume with you to leave with interviewers. Carry them in a smart folder or document wallet to keep them in good condition. Also, make sure that you have some plain paper or a notebook on hand in case you need to job anything down.
6. Read the job description. While some of the companies at the fair may just be on a general talent-spotting mission, others may have specific posts that they are looking to fill. Check out the company’s stand for any information that they might have available before you speak to the interviewer so that you are better prepared and don’t waste his time.
7. Get the interviewer’s contact details. If you speak with a representative from a company in which you are interested and things appear to go well, you are going to want to follow up afterwards, so don’t forget to ask for a business card with all his contact details.
8. Don’t be put off by the competition. You might find yourself having to wait in some pretty long lines to speak to the interviewers and it can be tempting to ask yourself what’s the point when there is so much competition. Don’t let them put you off. Make the most of the fair and meet with as many employers as you can. Just because lots of other people are showing an interest doesn’t necessarily mean that they are suitable candidates.
If you have never been to a job fair before and think that you might be in the job market in the near future, take some time out to visit one as an observer so that you will know what to expect.
For information about career products and services, visit www.integritycareertransitions.com. You can also follow The Job Search Ninja on twitter at, www.twitter.com/jobsearchninja, for great career advice.
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