10 Steps to Getting the Most Out of Job Fairs
Many job seekers tend to overlook job fairs. They can be crowded, busy, competitive and confusing events. But they offer you the opportunity to contact many potential employers all within one place, and they can help you land a job.
Here's what you need to do to get the most out of these events:
1. Do advance research. Your goal is to target the most promising employers at upcoming job fairs. To do that, you need to know who those employers are and what they offer. Usually, the promotional materials or advertisements for job fairs will list participating employers and the general types of jobs they have open. Get online and search for information about the companies you are interested in. Knowing more about the companies than the other job seekers who visit their booths will help you make a memorable impression. The more you know, the better.
2. Bring enough résumés. Bring at least 25 copies of your résumé (more if it's a large event).
3. Be prepared to fill out applications. Most companies will not accept a résumé instead of an application. So even if you provide them with a nice résumé, you'll probably be asked to fill out an application form, too. Be sure to bring a pen and a "cheat sheet" with the information you'll need to complete job applications on the spot. This is better than taking the applications home and sending them back later, as many job seekers will do. You'll beat them to the punch!
4. Dress for success. First impressions are important. Just because job fairs tend to be friendly, informal events, don't be too casual. Dress and act professionally, be enthusiastic, and remember to smile.
5. Arrive early. Pick up a booth-location map and plan your route. By arriving early, you may be able to get in and out before it gets too crowded. Visit your targeted companies first, then "shop around" and do some networking.
6. Think "Quality" over "Quantity." It's much better to spend quality time talking with only a few, well-targeted employers who are looking for your specific skills, than to drop off your résumé at every booth you see.
7. Be prepared for interviews. Some companies may want to do short, on-the-spot interviews at the job fair. Be prepared to talk about your best selling points, the assets and skills you will bring to the company. Doing research, as suggested in Step 1, will help you to design your answers to meet the companies' specific needs. As the interview is wrapping up, remember to ask what the next steps are.
8. Keep track of where you submit your résumés. Collect business cards and make a list of the companies you apply for. Jot notes about conversations you have with representatives or topics discussed during interviews. This will help you when following up later.
9. Send thank-you letters. Send thank-you letters within 24-48 hours to each of the companies/representatives you spoke with. Even if there was no real interview, doing this will help you to stand out in their minds among the hundreds of job seekers who visited their booth during the job fair. Tell them how much you appreciated the time they took to talk with you and answer your questions. Mention the name or location of the fair and the positions you discussed, and reiterate your interest in working for their companies.
10. Follow up. Depending on their answers to your "what are the next steps" question (see Step 7), follow up appropriately with the companies for which you applied.
Follow these steps, and that busy, crowded job fair may just land you the job of your dreams!
Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular Job Interview Success System and free information-packed ezine, "Career-Life Times." Find those and other powerful career-building resources and tips at her website: http://www.best-interview-strategies.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
 Bloomberg | Nokia to axe 4000 jobs, move assembly to Asia Reuters To cut assembly jobs in Finland, Hungary, Mexico * Moves smartphone assembly to Asia * Shares 1.2 pct higher By Tarmo Virki, European Technology Correspondent HELSINKI, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Struggling Finnish phone maker Nokia plans to cut 4000 more jobs ... Nokia Plans to Eliminate 4000 Jobs as It Shifts Device Assembly to Asia Nokia to Cut 4000 Jobs, Shift Production to Asia Nokia cuts 4000 jobs in smartphone struggle |
 The Idaho Statesman | Acme's parent company to cut 800 jobs Philadelphia Inquirer By Maria Panaritis Acme Markets' corporate parent, Supervalu Inc., announced Tuesday it would cut 800 jobs across the country by the end of its fiscal year Feb. 25 as part of ongoing cost-reduction efforts. The Minneapolis-based supermarket retail ... Jewel-Osco cutting corporate jobs in Chicago Supervalu to cut 800 jobs nationwide CORRECT: Supervalu To Cut 800 Office Jobs By Feb 25 In Turnaround Effort |
 Boston.com | Available jobs leap to three-year high Pioneer Press The number of available jobs in the United States jumped in December to near a three-year high, supporting other data that show a brighter outlook for hiring. Companies and governments posted 3.38 million jobs in December, the Labor Department said ... Job openings rise to 3.4 million in December Available jobs rise; hiring still flat Number of available jobs reaches 3-year high, report shows |
 Mashable | Apps industry has created 466000 jobs since 2007, study says Los Angeles Times The demand for applications for games, quantum physics and many other things has created 466000 jobs in the US since 2007, according to an analysis released Tuesday by technology trade group TechNet. The estimate counts 311000 jobs at companies making ... 'App Economy' has created 466000 US jobs App Stores Create 500000 U.S. Jobs Apps-related jobs tallied at 466K in US |
 First Coast News | Cloud computing, apps power jobs growth in Silicon Valley Times of India SAN FRANCISCO: Silicon Valley is creating jobs and wealth for highly skilled workers but may be leaving some residents behind as employment closes in on pre-Great Recession levels, according to a report released Tuesday. The 2012 Silicon Valley Index ... Report: Silicon Valley sees growth in jobs, wealth |
 Los Angeles Times | Jobs numbers undermine Romney's raison d'Ãtre Statesman Journal Last month, 243000 jobs were created. That's significantly more than the 155000 new jobs economists had predicted, according to the Associated Press. In the wake of this latest report indicating a healing economy, Mitt Romney, the front-runner in the ... Keep pushing on jobs, Mr. President Obama's re-election campaign finds fuel with new job reports, GOP primaries Good jobs data force GOP pivot |
INSIGHT-The dark side of Germany's jobs miracle Reuters Jobs miracle fuelled by low-wage sector boom * More wage inequality, working poor in Germany * Germany reregulates jobs market as Europe deregulates By Sarah Marsh and Holger Hansen STRALSUND, Germany, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Anja has been scrubbing floors ... Insight: The dark side of Germany's jobs miracle |
 ABC Online | Job losses take centre stage in parliament ABC Online Parliament today heard competing explanations about recent job losses in Australia with pledges to save jobs and the promise of more broadband too, so we get a wrap of the day's action. CHRIS UHLMANN, PRESENTER: The Prime Minister stepped up her attack ... |
 Straits Times | As Massachusetts governor, Romney had an unremarkable record on jobs Washington Post A tepid economy is not producing enough jobs. And a successful businessman promises he can use his private-sector experience to jump-start the economy. This is presidential candidate Mitt Romney now, but it was also Romney nearly a decade ago when he ... Obama approval soars to 50 pc on jobs figures Obama approval soars to 50% on jobs figures The downward mobility of the American middle class |
 USA TODAY | More job openings, but job hunters don't have skills needed USA TODAY By Tim Mullaney, USA TODAY Progress in the job market is real but has yet to grow strong enough to encourage workers whose skills don't fit jobs now being created, a new government report suggests. By Charles Rex Arbogast, AP An auto worker assembles ... Job openings jump to near 3-year high Dodge Dart Adds Thousands of Jobs Near Chicago Chrysler to add 1800 jobs, expand plant in Illinois |
Consultants - If We Cant Laugh At Ourselves?
There are hundreds of varieties of Consultants these days. We can find Consultants to take care of our diets, our physical well being, our mental well being, and pretty much anything you can imagine when it comes to business.
Consulting: A Different World
I won't say I have a vast array of knowledge as a consultant..
Job Hunting: Its Still The First Impression Stupid!
In the 1992 USA Presidential election, political strategist James Carville hung a sign in Bill Clinton's Little Rock campaign office that read, "It's still the economy, stupid." His intent? Simply to keep everybody focused on the most important issue of the day.
Does Retirement Fit Into Your Busy Schedule?
Why do you work?Stop and think about it. Other than the income you derive from the various tasks and responsibilities you perform on the job, are there any other reasons you get up every morning before the birds do, drive your car in rush-hour traffic, get into the office and go to several meetings throughout the day that have yet to change life as we know it, and sit at your desk going through all the things you need to go through that are a part of what's been called, work?You've been doing this for a long time.
Thank-You Notes: An Integral Part of Your Career Design
There is one little practice that is vital to generating the interest of potential employers. It is critical, but very few job seekers actually do it.
Business Careers: Keys to Moving on from Retrenchment
You may be astonished to realize that retrenchment may occur more than once during the life of the modern day worker. In fact, career advisors report that we could expect to be made redundant up to three times during our working life.
Focus On White-Collar Crime: Accounting Fraud and Computer Crimes Creates Need; Qualified Investing
An epidemic of white-collar financial crime has resulted in the development of specialized education programs focused on economic crime investigation and fraud management. These college-level degree programs attract students who are interested in law enforcement and are attracted by the very unique nature of these types of crimes and the special investigative techniques required to solve them.
Ten Things To Do If You Really, Really Hate Your Job
1. Begin focusing on what you want instead of how much you want to escape.
Getting Past Fear
Have you gotten tons of career advice, solicited and unsolicited? You nod when you hear it and think, "Yeah, I know this stuff." So, what else is new?But what have you done with the advice? Fess up.
Ive Got the Big Bad B Word on My Job!
That "B" word---B O R E D O M.How did I get this wearing word in my work?I got it because I don't have enough to do in my job! Yes, I have completed my assigned tasks, but I have time left over, which leads to boredom.
Job Interviews: Plan Your Appearance to Make a Great First Impression
Your personal appearance is a critical component of that all-important first impression when you walk into the room for your interview.So plan ahead!Some people don't think about what they're going to wear until the morning of the interview.
After Your Interview - What Must You Do Next?
Other than actually landing the interview itself and living through it, waiting after the interview and wondering whether you will get a phone call or a rejection letter can be one of the most difficult aspects of searching for a job. What you do after the interview should actually start while you are still 'working' the interview.
When The Going Gets Tough -- The Tough Keep Going
If you've been in a job search for more than a few weeks you may be experiencing the feelings of defeat and despair, not to mention the urge to give up. It's been a tough year, and then some, for those who have lost jobs for whatever reason.
Interview Thank-You Letters
The number one etiquette tip for interviews is writing a thank-you letter. This is not a tool commonly used by job seekers right now.
Looking for Work in All the Wrong Places
The Question: After identifying a potential employer, I get contact information, do my research and send out my resume and cover letter, requesting an interview for a management or human resource position. I am listed with recruiters and staffing agencies and call them every week.
Learn a Language for Career Advancement
To learn a language for career advancement is one of the best ways to get ahead in the job market. In the 21st century you will need every advantage you can get to keep yourself competitive in the marketplace, and adding foreign language skills is a great way to gain an advantage.
Three Steps to Writing Your Own Resume
While most professionals hire a professional resume writer, some draft their own resume. People who write a lot for business usually have more success in putting together a sharp, focused presentation; still, anyone can learn the basic steps to prepare his or her own resume.
10 Keys to Getting Paid What You're Worth!
Asking for money is so taboo in our culture that most of us shake in our shoes when we think about negotiating salary. It conjures up our insecurities about not being good enough, not knowing enough, or not being considered valuable enough.
Tales From the Corporate Frontlines: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
This article relates to the Job Security competency, commonly evaluated in employee satisfaction surveys. After a large scale cut in personnel, this particular group of employees needed some extra support.
The Surefire Way To Getting A Pay Raise
If you are working for someone else, it is important to remember this fact: No one gives you a raise, you must earn it. You've got to prove you are worth the additional money you are asking for.
