Job Fair Success
How job seekers approach a job fair can affect the outcome. Having a positive attitude, a smile on your face, and a professional image can help job candidates with their confidence during the job fair. Confidence can be the key for employers remembering you after the job fair. Candidates need to prepare themselves before attending the job fair. Listed below are 5 job fair strategies that will not only increase your chances of success, but will also give you the confidence and security you need before going to the job fair.
1. Do your research
Take time out of your busy schedule to look up the businesses that will be attending the job fair. After you have found out which businesses will be attending, select companies that are looking for majors within your field. Once you have narrowed a list down, do more in-depth research about what the companies are like and how they run their business. You want to sound intelligent and that you understand what they actually do.
2. Dress professionally to create that lasting first impression
You want to look like the professional “Mad Men – Don Draper” when talking to the employers. You do not want to be the guy or gal that employers are talking about because you wore wrinkled pants with a tight shirt that obviously does not fit you. However you want them to notice that you do care about talking with them because you’re in your “Sunday Bests,” nice suit, clean shirt and ties, with shoes that match your belt. Also, make sure that you shower, take out the piercing, and guys—shave!
3. Bring Résumés, lots of them
Bringing a polished well-written résumé to a job fair is very crucial to your confidence and your success after the job fair. You want to showcase your talents and accomplishments while using correct spelling and grammar. For some majors you will need to use different styling formats. For example, journalism students should use AP style throughout their résumé, while most other majors will use APA or MLA.
4. Networking
Job fairs are all about networking. More than 80 percent of jobs are found through networking. By meeting employers, you can increase your personal connections and improve your chances of getting a call back for an interview.
5. Don’t forget to follow up, with a letter
Getting employer’s business cards and information is very critical to the job seeking process because you need to follow up with them after the job fair. Sending a hand-written letter, thanking them for their time is a great way to restate your interest and desire within their company. Also, it sends out a great image for you as you try to build up your own brand within the business world.
Remember that there are no guarantees in life and that you might not get a job by attending a job fair, but you are taking a positive step towards finding a future job through the contacts you made.
Will
