Making the Most of a Career Fair

What is a career fair? A career fair, a.k.a. a job fair, is where you, the job seeker and the employer who has job openings to fill, meet face to face. A career fair is an opportunity to make yourself memorable in a positive way.

Reasons to Attend 1. networking opportunities 2. practice your presentation skills 3. you just may get a job as a result

bring plenty of your resumes come dressed as if you had an interview wear comfortable dress shoes turn off your pagers & any electronic devices research companies you are interested in before the fair show your enthusiasm for the company & the job You Are Your Own Product DO:

You Are Your Own Product Part Two DO: be able to speak to the company’s current opportunities & how your skills apply to the positions you are most interested in be assertive, shake hands, look them in the eye and SMILE use the recruiter’s name ask what the selection process is & time frame for filling the position network for the future establish a dialogue not a monologue a firm handshake is just right... no bone crushers & no cold fish...

How to Quickly Un-sell Yourself force your resume on to a recruiter- don’t ask first, if they would like to review your credentials take it personally if a recruiter doesn’t accept your credentials reply, “Well, I really wanted that position with ABC Company but this job will do.” answer your cell phone while talking with a recruiter cast doubt into the mind of the recruiter by: –avoiding answering a question –rambling –poor eye contact –limp handshake –eating or chewing gum while talking, or better yet, eating onions, garlic or smoking before talking to a recruiter –not being able to give specific examples of what you have done

Don’t Act Like an... if you have to wait in line to speak with a recruiter…career fairs can be crowded... agitated animal angry donkey Is that what you thought I was going to say?

Do Not take the freebies and run ask,”So what do you guys do?” let salary and benefits questions be the first questions out of your mouth just leave your resume on the table without speaking to a recruiter first Research

Recruiters have one thing on their minds when at a career fair... finding candidates that most closely fit their company’s current job openings think of recruiters as matchmakers