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Career Moves - Job Fairs
By Jim Pawlak
Job fairs. Are they worth attending? Absolutely. Anytime you have an opportunity to meet with prospective employers is time well spent - as long as you make a good first impression. The recruiters may not have a great deal of time to speak with individual applicants, but they do make notes on resumes. Recruiters consider every applicant contact an interview; job seekers need to remember that. When they get back to their cubicles, they separate the "haves" from the "have nots".
Before I get into how to become one of the "haves" there are seven job fair fundamentals:
1. Make sure you proofread your resume. By proofreading, I don't mean using spell check - at a job fair, I proofed a resume of a recent college grad; he left off the name of the university he attended.
2. Not all job fairs have copy facilities; make sure you have sufficient copies of your resume.
3. Keep your resume in a folder or portfolio, not a briefcase; carrying and opening/closing a briefcase is a chore in the closed space of a job fair.
4. If you have business cards, make sure you have a sufficient quantity, too.
5. Have a pen with you. Often employers will ask applicants to complete applications at the job fair. If so, go someplace quiet where you can think about what you're putting down.
6. Unless the job fair advertises that it has a childcare facility, do not bring children. If you do, it sends a message that you may have trouble arranging childcare. That's the wrong first-impression message to send.
7. Don't hide what you wear under outerwear; if there's no place to check your coat, take it back to the car. Why not carry it with you? You already have to carry your resumes and you'll be picking up material, too. The more you have to carry, the more awkward it is to shake hands, get out your resume, etc.
Now, here's how to become one of the "haves". First, dress to impress. Proper attire shows you take work seriously. If you're applying for a white collar job, you should wear a suit. For all other jobs, guys should wear a dress shirt/pants/shoes and a tie; ladies should wear dress pants/blouse with a blazer/jacket and pumps.
Job fairs always advertise a list of employers. Go to their company Web sites and look for two things: 1. Does the employer only accept online applications? If so, there's no need to see that employer at the job fair. If there are open positions in your field, simply apply. 2. If the employer doesn't specify and there are open positions in your field, you have a prime target. Browse the Web site for information about the firm. Write a cover letter; put it with your resume in a file folder with the company's name and your name on it. If you have a business card, staple it to your cover letter - that way the recruiter won't misplace it.
When you greet the recruiter, start the conversation with: "On your Web site, I noticed that there are open positions for ... for which I am qualified. Here's my cover letter and resume (hand them the folder). I also noticed that your company is (insert a topic that you found on the Web site)" and watch their eyes light up.
For all other employers, you'll need a rehearsed 45-second introduction. Start with a firm handshake, speak slowly, maintain eye contact and smile while talking. The content is essentially a verbal cover letter. It should indicate what type of position you're looking for, and highlight your skills and a few of your accomplishments. After your "verbal cover letter", give your resume to the recruiter.
Ask for recruiters' business cards; immediately after the job fair, send a written thank you note - just like you would after an interview.
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