You absolutely can get a job from a job fair -- as long as you avoid common errors such as forgetting to bring a resume, not knowing anything about the company or stating "I'll take anything" when asked about areas of interest. Don't make the mistake of thinking that a job fair is necessarily less legitimate than a regular job interview. Employers can -- and occasionally do -- make offers on the spot, but only to candidates who give the process the appropriate amount of effort and preparation.
Planning and Research
Before attending the job fair, obtain the list of companies that will be in attendance. Research each company and the types of positions available to determine if you will be interested in speaking to a representative. Once you have narrowed the list to companies that you are interested in, perform more in-depth research on each company. If possible, obtain a floor plan for the event and determine the order you will visit employers. If there are large or popular employers on the list, schedule them early to beat the crowd. Prepare relevant questions and talking points for each employer.
What to Bring
Bring a generic resume with enough copies for everyone you plan to see plus several more in case you make unexpected stops at other tables. A notepad and pen is important, in case you need to take down contact information or complete an application. Bring copies of documentation such as references and work samples. Although you won't distribute this to every employer, you can be prepared in case the opportunity arises or the employer requests it. Bring index cards or cheat sheets with key facts from the company website to refer to before approaching the organization's table at the job fair. This is important because you will be speaking to multiple employers back-to-back. Employers indicated that confusing the company with a competitor is one of the biggest job fair mistakes in a 2000 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Education.
What to Wear
Always dress in a professional dark business suit suitable for a formal interview. A NACE survey revealed that 32 percent of employers expected students to dress in formal business suits for a job fair and 56 percent found business casual to be acceptable. Of employers who actually conducted formal interviews at student job fairs, 50 percent expected formal business suits. Candidates are unlikely to lose a job by dressing in a business suit but not dressing appropriately could definitely cause an applicant to miss out on an opportunity. If name tags are provided, print your name neatly in large block letters and include your area of expertise. Carry a professional-looking portfolio to organize your documents.
During the Fair
Don't treat the job fair like a gift grab and snatch all the free items. Not only was this identified as a pet peeve of employers in the NACE survey, but it will be difficult to look polished and professional while struggling to carry all the freebies. Demonstrate your interest in the process and don't treat employers like they are making a sales pitch. In fact the applicant is the one who should be marketing his skills to the employer. Achieve this with a polished "elevator speech" -- a short speech delivering relevant information in about the same amount of time as an elevator ride -- to inform the recruiter about your skills and how they would benefit the company. Take business cards from each recruiter and note key points of discussion on each card immediately after the meeting to jog your memory for follow-up at a later date.
After the Fair
Promptly contact the company with a thank you letter, incorporating details from the conversation you had at the job fair and reaffirming your interest in a second interview. The NACE study found that employers expect follow-up and may not extend an interview to an applicant who doesn't take this extra step.
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