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Job Fairs:Getting the Most out of Job Fairs
from: John GrothGetting the Most out of Job Fairs through planning and preparation will open doors to career and job opportunities.
Job fairs offer you an opportunity to talk to the people in the know. Employers are just waiting to answer your questions. It's easy to get caught up in the crowds and the confusion. You move from booth to booth picking up a lot of fancy brochures, but with a lack of a clear impression on which employer has the right opportunity for your career. Here's how to improve your job hunting results when you attend a job fair.
Making the most of a job fair means planning your strategy before you enter the building. If possible, through the internet or job fair advertisments, find out which employers will be exhibiting at the job fair. Choose those organizations that you may have an interest in. Check out their web sites or do some research at the library.
Look over the floor plan of the job fair. Mark out those employers that you have an interest in and plan the most efficent way to visit each one. This way you'll be able to spend more time with those that interest you rather than wandering throughout the entire job fair. With time left over browse the other employers, you never know when you may come upon something that interests you.
Write out a list of questions to ask the employer's represenatitves. Try to put together a list of questions specific to each employer. If the information is already on the web site, don't waste your time trying to stump the employer's represenative. Look for information on the organization's work place culture, future plans and career progressions. If the particular employer has no openings that fit your skills and career plan ask for referrals. The employer's represenatives are in the recruiting business and may be aware of other openings that fit your skill levels and job requirements. Get the name of the represenative and their phone number and email address.
Take notes of each conversation. You'll be talking to so many people that your notes will help you later if you elect to follow-up with a specific employer. If possible, don't just drop off a resume. Get a copy of the job announcement, and with the information learned at the job fair, draft a specific cover letter, with appropriate changes in your resume, and then mail the application packet to the employer. This way your cover letter and resume will closely fit the announced needs of the employer. Your chances of getting a favorable decision to advance to the next step just went up.
Many job fairs have informational workshops. Check the schedule on all the workshops and make sure to attend all that are of interest. Be prepared to ask general job hunting questions at these workshops. They are generally a good source of job hunting strategies, especially if seem stuck in a job hunting rut.
At the end of the job fair, you'll have a briefcase full of information, and hopefully a number of employers that have job openings that fit your skill set. If anyone helped give you a possible job referrel send them a thank you note. Begin immediately writing appropritate cover letters and redrafted your resume to submit for possible job openings.
With this organized approach, you'll find job fairs more productive, and more likely get you one step closer to that ideal job.
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