Career Change
Stand Out At The Job Fair
By Lydia Ramsey
Jul 3, 2008

The job fair, once limited to the college campus, is quickly becoming a favorite tool of America’s recruiters. The thought of milling about with numerous would-be employers and hundreds of competitors can be overwhelming. If you go with a well thought out plan, a good attitude and your best etiquette skills, you are most likely to leave with some solid connections and a number of promising interviews, leading to the desired job offer.

Remember that the interviewers are looking for employees. They want to appeal to you as much as you want to appeal to them. All those other jobseekers are not just your competition; they are a possible networking contacts. View them as such.

Do your homework before you go. Get a list of the companies who will be represented, learn who they are and what they do. Then prioritize the ones you want to meet. Find out the location of their booths and plan your strategy. Visit the booths that most interest you first when your energy level is up and you are at your best. Showing up and meandering around like a sightseer is a complete waste of time.

Prepare your own very brief “infomercial” to introduce your self. You should be able to state in under minute your experience and education in a way that sounds natural and unrehearsed.

Take plenty of copies of your resume and have them handy. Recruiters are not impressed with jobseekers who have to shuffle through all their materials before producing a resume. They would prefer to hire people who are organized and prepared.

Most recruiters will have the usual “freebies” or promotional items to give away. Never help yourself. Your chances of getting an interview will go right down the tube if you give the impression that you’d rather have a Frisbee than a job.

Start every conversation with your best etiquette---a firm handshake, eye contact, a smile and that informational introduction. Follow up immediately with any information requested, such as references and transcripts. And, of course, send that thank you note to the recruiters who spent their time with you.

Don’t be shy, but be prepared. These employers are looking for qualified people and they have jobs to offer or they wouldn’t be there.

© Lydia Ramsey. All rights reserved.