Going to a job fair can be an intimidating thing to do. You may not know what to bring, how to dress or what exactly to say and do. Fear not! I am here to answer some questions you may have to help you nail the job fair and land the job you want.
1. Preparation
Preparation is everything. Not only will you feel like a million bucks when you arrive, but the fact that you are prepared will show the recruiters that you are serious about getting a job. So what should you do to prepare? A good start is to do some research about the company or companies you are applying with. Simply spending some time on the company website can be useful. While you are on their site, get an idea for what positions they are hiring for. This ensures that when the recruiters ask you what position you’re interested in you have an answer for them right away. While you are on the website, also see if you can get a feel for what the company culture is like. Is the website neat, organized, and professional? Or is it full of jokes, fun graphics, and convey a casual tone? All of these things will give you insight into the company culture.
2. Resume Preparation
Next, if you have a resume, make sure it is polished and up to date before you print out copies to give to recruiters. Resumes give the recruiters a snapshot of whom you are so make sure it is organized, looks professional, and preferably fits on one page. You want the person looking it over to be able to scan it quickly while still being able to identify all of the important information they are looking for. The recruiter only has a few seconds to get a sense of who you are and you want to make sure those precious seconds count.
3. Dress Appropriately
You have done some research about the companies you are applying with, you have an idea of what positions you want to apply for, and your resume is looking clean and professional. Now it is time to make sure that you will be looking your best. The position you are applying for and the company the position is with will greatly influence the attire you will wear to the job fair. If you are applying for an administrative position where professional attire is expected, make sure you wear business professional attire to the job fair. If it is a position that will not require professional attire (cook, housekeeping, janitorial, etc.), or the company has a more relaxed culture, a more casual look may be acceptable. Remember, though, you want to make the best first impression you can. It’s better to be a little overdressed than underdressed.
4. Relax
Now, it is time to head to the job fair. You have done your research, your resume is looking professional, and you are looking sharp. This may be when you start to stress the most. Don’t! The hard part is behind you. Just relax and put a smile on. Talk to the companies you’re interested in and be pleasant with the recruiters. Ask them a few questions you may have thought of while researching their company. You may be nervous but just remember that they are people just like you and I.
After you have talked to the companies you are interested in and have handed out all of your resumes it’s time to celebrate! You survived the job fair! Take some time to relax knowing that you put your best foot forward.
Have any questions? Other suggestions for nailing a job fair? We want to hear them! Leave them in the comments section below.
