Ultimate Guide to Career-Fair Success
5 Sure-Fire Tips to Get You Through a Day at the Fair
by Kimberly Betz, Experience.com
Career fairs have never been hotter, with thousands sometimes showing up to compete for a few hundred jobs. So you've cleaned and pressed your interview suit, you've honed your resume, even perfected your handshake. You're all ready. Or are you?
1. Research the fair.
Do you know where the fair is being held? Have you pre-registered? Do you know where to park? Do you know what companies are showing up, and what jobs will be available?
Some fairs are meet-and-greet events only, where you'll only have a brief chat with representatives from various employers. Others incorporate screening interviews of up to 30 minutes.
2. Research the employers and the types of positions they typically have available.
Know the companies well -- check their websites, and don't hesitate to call their HR departments, if possible, for more details.
Also, think positions, not just type of company. If you're looking for accounting positions, don't limit yourself to public accounting firms. All sorts of organizations, including government agencies and nonprofits, need accountants.
3. Arrive early and get the lay of the land.
Many career fairs provide maps of the fair layout. Use your research to plan. Use the map of employer booths to plot your course. You may try a "practice run" with an employer you're moderately interested in.? This will allow you to work out some jitters before you approach your dream employers.
4. Prepare your "elevator speech."
An elevator speech is so named because it's a brief speech about yourself that you could give in the same duration as a typical elevator ride.
In a career fair setting, your elevator speech is perfect: brief and to the point. For example: "Hi, I'm Sue Smith, and I'm a senior accounting major at Minnesota College. I've done a lot of volunteer work, and I'm interested in combining what I've learned in my major with the social service work I've done outside of class. I was excited to see that the United Way has openings for accountants, and I'd love to talk about those openings with you."
Note that Sue has done her homework, and knows where she'd like to fit within the organization. The employer doesn't have the time or the inclination to be your career counselor, and expects you will have done this work prior to arriving at the fair.
5. Think of the fair as a networking extravaganza and follow up with employers that especially interest you.
Plan ahead to follow up. Drop off your resume with employers that interest you, and get a business card from employers you've spoken with. Set aside a few hours after the fair to work on your follow-up correspondence.
Career fairs are an efficient way to meet many employers in a few hours. Plan ahead, do your research, and follow up, and you can make career fairs work for you.
5 Sure-Fire Tips to Get You Through a Day at the Fair
by Kimberly Betz, Experience.com
Career fairs have never been hotter, with thousands sometimes showing up to compete for a few hundred jobs. So you've cleaned and pressed your interview suit, you've honed your resume, even perfected your handshake. You're all ready. Or are you?
1. Research the fair.
Do you know where the fair is being held? Have you pre-registered? Do you know where to park? Do you know what companies are showing up, and what jobs will be available?
Some fairs are meet-and-greet events only, where you'll only have a brief chat with representatives from various employers. Others incorporate screening interviews of up to 30 minutes.
2. Research the employers and the types of positions they typically have available.
Know the companies well -- check their websites, and don't hesitate to call their HR departments, if possible, for more details.
Also, think positions, not just type of company. If you're looking for accounting positions, don't limit yourself to public accounting firms. All sorts of organizations, including government agencies and nonprofits, need accountants.
3. Arrive early and get the lay of the land.
Many career fairs provide maps of the fair layout. Use your research to plan. Use the map of employer booths to plot your course. You may try a "practice run" with an employer you're moderately interested in.? This will allow you to work out some jitters before you approach your dream employers.
4. Prepare your "elevator speech."
An elevator speech is so named because it's a brief speech about yourself that you could give in the same duration as a typical elevator ride.
In a career fair setting, your elevator speech is perfect: brief and to the point. For example: "Hi, I'm Sue Smith, and I'm a senior accounting major at Minnesota College. I've done a lot of volunteer work, and I'm interested in combining what I've learned in my major with the social service work I've done outside of class. I was excited to see that the United Way has openings for accountants, and I'd love to talk about those openings with you."
Note that Sue has done her homework, and knows where she'd like to fit within the organization. The employer doesn't have the time or the inclination to be your career counselor, and expects you will have done this work prior to arriving at the fair.
5. Think of the fair as a networking extravaganza and follow up with employers that especially interest you.
Plan ahead to follow up. Drop off your resume with employers that interest you, and get a business card from employers you've spoken with. Set aside a few hours after the fair to work on your follow-up correspondence.
Career fairs are an efficient way to meet many employers in a few hours. Plan ahead, do your research, and follow up, and you can make career fairs work for you.
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