Career Articles

Job Fair Survival 101

By Tanya Taylor, CHRP, CRS

From nervousness to excitement, frustration to anticipation, and desperation to hope...

If you’ve ever attended a job fair, you will likely relate to the feelings of anxiety job seekers experience at these career events. If you are actively job hunting, you will also discover that job fairs are an excellent and fast way to build your career network. You will meet myriads of recruiters and employers who offer a wide range of employment opportunities. So, instead of stocking up on antacids to ease stomach tension, review the following keys to successfully surviving a job fair.

Top 10 Job Fair Tips

1. Update or revamp your resume. Utilize the services of a certified professional resume writer. This career investment is worthwhile and crucial in order for you to obtain professional, customized marketing documents that will ensure you stand out as the best from the rest. With a professionally written resume, you are far more likely to quickly win interviews that can lead to job offers. Most certified resume writers can easily be found on career association websites and in the Yellow Pages.
2. Review and prioritize the list of exhibitors. Make a list of who you will target at the job fair. Research the company websites in advance. Check out their career page, mission statements, and company overview to determine which exhibitors may be a good match for your career endeavours. This will allow you to visit those exhibits first and will help you to determine how many copies of your resume you will need to bring with you. It is still important to visit the other exhibits but for these booths you can leave your personal career networking card instead of a resume.
3. Prepare, practice, and memorize your personal infomercial. Create a 15-30 second description that you can use to introduce and sell your qualifications to every potential employer you meet.
4. Bring a job fair kit. At a minimum your job fair kit should contain: resumes (up to 20-30 copies), portfolio or folder, pen, notepad, and networking cards.
5. Prepare a list of two to three questions to ask employers. Write down questions that are company or job related. The employer representatives are often busy at job fairs. With line ups they can usually only spare a few minutes for job seekers. But also be prepared with rehearsed answers in case they show interest and ask you questions about your experience and expertise.
6. Dress for success. Ensure everything about you is fresh, clean, and business like. Wear business attire and dress the way you would if going to an interview: no jeans, t-shirts, or athletic gear. First impressions count.
7. Arrive at the event early. The early bird gets the worm. Speak to employer representatives while they are fresh and energetic which tends to be in the first few hours of a career fair. Arriving early gives you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the event layout so you can relax as you tour the building without feeling rushed. You are also likely to get a decent parking spot and avoid traffic.
8. Ask the employer representative for their business card. This will allow you to follow up after the event by e-mailing a personalized “Thank-You” letter to the recruiter within a week of the job fair. An email is preferred by most employer representatives. Only call if you’ve obtained their permission first. Employers typically prefer to initiate calls with potential candidates as they are very busy during the hiring season and may become annoyed if they receive too many calls from various applicants.
9. Be courteous and respect the employers’ supply of samples and materials. As a professional, always ask before taking what appear to be “give-aways” at exhibits.
10. Smile, shake hands, and be confident. Enjoy the career fair and the opportunity for career interaction. Gather information, practice your networking skills, and walk around with a smile on your face with the confidence that you will soon be among the “employed”.

Tanya Taylor is dually credentialed as a nationally Certified Resume Strategist (CRS) and Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP). She is Owner and Senior Consultant of TNT Human Resources Management, a resume writing service based in the Greater Toronto Area. Her work as a professional resume writer has been featured and published in several career books. Tanya can be contacted directly at info@tntresumewriter.com or at (416) 887-5819.

To learn more about her resume writing services please visit www.tntresumewriter.com. Her profile can also be viewed at the following career association websites www.careerprocanada.ca or www.careermanagementalliance.com.