Walking into a job fair may seem like a daunting task. You
may be one of hundreds of candidates vying for a recruiter’s attention, but you
can earn an advantage over the competition by following these top tips for job
fair success.
1. Do Your Homework
Most companies have to pre-register if they plan to have a
booth at a job fair. This information is generally made available to
participants. See which companies are hiring people with your skill set and
then make an effort to visit those recruiters first while you’re still fresh
and have copies of your resume available.
In many cases, the job fair organizers will provide
participants with a floor plan or map of the company locations. Since job fairs
can be overwhelming, bring a highlighter or pen with you to mark the places you
need to visit first. You should also mark off the companies that you speak to,
so that you can remember to follow-up after the event.
2. Arrive Early
Recruiters are at their best at the beginning of the job
fair, too, so plan to arrive when the event begins to attract the most
attention. Be prepared to answer some brief interview questions on the spot or
fill out applications for some employers.
3. Bring Extra Copies Of Your Resume
Even though you have target companies that you’ll want to
visit, bring extra copies of your resume in case you see an employer or
position opening that appeals to you the day of the job fair. You don’t need to
hand out your resume aimlessly, but bring at least a dozen extra copies above
what you need for your target companies.
4. Practice Your Elevator Speech
In this economy, job fairs attract hundreds of candidates.
In order to be noticed – and remembered – by recruiters, you should have a 30
second or less pitch about who you are and what value you would add to the
employer. It takes a while to perfect your pitch, so write it out, revise it
and practice several times before the job fair.
5. Wear Comfortable Shoes
This may seem like a no-brainer, but participating in a job
fair can be grueling both emotionally and physically. You won’t be able to be
your best self for the recruiters if you’re in excruciating pain because of
uncomfortable footwear. Most job seekers dress professionally for job fairs and
you should do that, too, but make comfortable business-appropriate shoes a
priority.
6. Bring A Bottle Of Water And Hand Sanitizer
You’re going to get thirsty from talking to all those
recruiters, so bring a bottle of water to refresh yourself. While many job
fairs provide refreshments to participants, it’s not a given. You’ll feel much
better if you can hydrate yourself during the event. Hand sanitizer is also a
great thing to bring to cut down on passing germs back and forth with all the
handshakes you’ll be doing. Using hand sanitizer is also a good way to prevent sweaty
palms if you’re nervous.
7. Just Say No To Giveaways
It’s perfectly acceptable to take some company literature if
you’re interested in a company, but try to stay away from taking giveaways and
extra items from all of the employers. These items weigh you down and make you
tired.
Remember, you’re there to find a job, not to get a new
stress ball. If you must take items, consider bringing a messenger bag or
briefcase with a shoulder strap to put the items into so your hands are free
for sealing a conversation with a firm handshake.
8. Follow Up Within 48 Hours
Recruiters meet lots of candidates at job fairs. If you want
to set yourself apart from the competition, take business cards and send thank
you e-mails after the event. In your e-mail, you should reference when and
where you met and the position that interests you. You most likely won’t
receive a response from the recruiter, but it might help move your resume to
the top of the pile.
Be sure to check out the video below for a bonus tip!
