|
Essential
Steps to Career Fair Success
Attending career fairs can be a great way of
creating contacts, even if you don’t get any
job interviews out
of the event. By following these simple steps you can
dramatically increase your chances of getting a positive result.
Preparation
Choose a fair to attend, and find out in advance
about what companies will be recruiting (your best bet is
usually the agency hosting the fair). Decide which companies
you’re most interested in then visit their web sites to check
available positions and find out more about the company.
Prepare a brief speech to introduce yourself to
each recruiter. Include your name, a short snippet about your
work experience, and the position you’re interested in.
Plan to attend in the morning, rather than during
the afternoon rush. Recruiters will see many people over the
day, and their ability to remember names and faces will decrease
during the afternoon.
On the Day
Before you start talking to recruiters, gather
material from the booths you’re planning to visit, and review it
before you start speaking with recruiters. During the
conversation, listen for 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 them for their time. If you managed to pick up any
extra information, include a reference to this. Attach it 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 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 your formal application.
Also, please review our Tools
to Find a Job section.
If you need more help, please
consider using a Career
Counselor.
|