Essential
Steps to Career Fair Success
Career fairs can be a great way to create contacts
in your industry. Don't be discouraged if you don’t get any
job interviews the first time
out. By getting involved and following these simple steps you can
dramatically increase your chances of landing an interview.
Preparation
Choose a fair to attend and research the
companies that will be recruiting (usually the agency hosting the fair
will list the companies and key leadership online). Decide which companies
you’re most interested in visit their web sites to get a sense
of their vision, culture, competitive positioning and available positions.
Prepare a brief of each company and a set of
talking points for each. Be sure to map your work experience and
qualifications to the position you’re interested in.
Plan to attend in the morning. Traffic is
heavier in the afternoon and recruiters will see many people over the
day.
On the Day
Before you approach recruiters, gather
material from the booths you’re planning to visit and review
them. During your conversation, take note of any extra information that isn’t included
in the material you picked up from the booth. If you’re
interested in a position within the company ask the recruiter
for a business card.
When the conversation is over, find somewhere you
can write a short note—most fairs will have a candidate lounge
where you can do this. Write a brief note to the recruiter,
thanking him or her for their time. If you managed to pick up any
extra information, include a reference to this and how your
qualifications suit the company's need. Attach the note to your resume before dropping it off in the recruiter’s resume
box. The note will help a busy recruiter who might receive
dozens or even hundreds of resumes remember you.
Following Up
If you decide that you’re interested in a position
within one of the companies you made contact with, your last
step is following up on the groundwork you laid at the fair.
Visit the company web site again and apply
using the format the company specifies. In your
cover letter,
open by stating that you learned of the position at the career
fair you attended and mention your conversation with the
recruiter. If the recruiter’s email address is listed on their
business card, you can also follow up by emailing them directly
in addition to submitting your formal application.
Also, please review our Tools
to Find a Job section.
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