What are the most important elements that will lead to success at career fairs?

2011-2012

Goals for Attending the Fair Why should you attend your local career or job fair? There are any number of goals for attending a career fair, depending on where you are in the job-search cycle: Networking: One of the key benefits of attending a career fair is meeting new people -- recruiters, other job-seekers, career professionals -- to add to your network of contacts. Jobs Locally: Most job fairs are designed to gather candidates for positions within the geographic region of the fair, so employers are searching for qualified local job-seekers. Jobs Long-Distance: Even if you are thinking of relocating, it makes sense to meet with recruiters of national firms who can pass your contact information on to recruiters in other parts of the country. Internships: For college students, of course, this goal is the most common for attending a career fair -- to establish contacts to obtain an internship for an upcoming semester or summer. Gain Experience: Even if you are not currently in the job market, there is nothing like gaining valuable experience in mastering the art of working job fairs -- especially if you are typically shy. The more experience, the more confident for when it really matters. Key Elements for Career Fair Success What are the most important elements that will lead to success at career fairs? To Do BEFORE the career fair To Do DURING the career fair TO Do AFTER the career fair Preparing BEFORE the Fair Here's what you need to do to best prepare BEFORE you attend the career fair: Pre-register Identify and research prospective employers Map out fair strategy Have a clear career focus Prepare resume(s) Polish career portfolio Rehearse elevator speech Practice typical interview question responses Develop list of questions to ask recruiters Decide on proper career fair attire Get organized the night before Pre-Register for the Fair Whenever possible, job-seekers should visit the career fair's Website and pre-register for the event. The idea behind pre-registering, of course, is that employers get a chance to prescreen applicants and possibly make note of applicants they want to meet at the fair. And, of course, by pre-registering, you can also get a sneak peak at the organizations that will be attending the fair.

Identify -- and Research -- Prospective Employers One of the greatest strategies for career fair success is to obtain the list of organizations attending the fair -- either from the fair's Website or brochure. Once you have this list, the key is identifying the prospective employers that most interest you. Note: Don't immediately discount employers based on industry or perceptions (or misconceptions). Finally, once you have made a list of the key (5-10) employers you want to meet at the fair, your task is to learn key facts about each of them so that you can showcase your knowledge to the recruiter(s). Examples of information you can obtain (from the organization's Website, news organizations, and Internet searches): Organizational structure and breadth Key products/services Organizational culture and values Hiring practices Mapping Out Fair Strategy One of the other reasons for obtaining the list of organizations that will be attending the career/job fair is so that you can prepare a strategy. This advice may sound a bit extreme, but to enhance your chances for success, you should develop a plan of attack -- actually map your route of organizations you plan to visit, in priority order. Place the prospective employers that have the best fit and with which you have the most interest first on the list -- and work your way downward. One final note: Even though you will visit/interview with your primary prospective employers first, it also makes sense -- if you have time (and if the recruiters are not overly busy) -- to double back and thank the recruiters again as you make your way out of the fair. Have a Clear Career Focus If a recruiter asks you, "why are you here?"... can you answer that clearly and succinctly? Before heading to the fair, in fact, before you conduct any of the other recommended pre-fair activities, sharpen and clarify your career focus. If you have no career focus whatsoever, start with some career assessment and career exploration. If you know what you want to do, but want to be better able to express it, then consider these tactics for doing so: Review job postings and use some of the words (keywords) used to describe your ideal job into your career focus; Focus on your strengths, but consider developing an entire SWOT analysis; Make a list of your skills and abilities; Identify your key accomplishments from past educational and employment situations.

Prepare Your Resume(s) In the ideal world of job-seeking, when attending a career fair you would bring the following resumes with you: Targeted by prospective employer -- where you identify the employer in your job objective ("wow, there's our company name!") and use some of the same language the employer uses in its corporate communications (Website, job postings, media releases, etc.). Targeted by career/job focus -- when you have more than one career focus (such as brand management but also public relations), you should develop different versions of your resume for each career. Standard resume -- your basic, nicely formatted resume... so that you are ready for any situation that may arise. Text resumes -- text versions of your standard resumes on the chance that the recruiter prefers a version the organization can easily scan into a database. Polish Your Career Portfolio Bringing your career portfolio to the career fair is a necessity, but it's a professional way to carry around your resumes and stash the business cards you collect from recruiters -- as well as a neat way to give a peak into the depth of your fit for the job you are seeking should the situation arise where you could showcase an element from your portfolio. What is a career portfolio? It is a job-hunting tool that you develop that gives employers a complete picture of who you are -- your experience, your education, your accomplishments, your skill sets -- and what you have the potential to become -- much more than just a resume can provide. A typical portfolio contains several versions of your resume, a list of your accomplishments, samples of your work, certifications, testimonials, honors and awards, and much more. Rehearse Your Elevator Speech You're only going to get a very limited amount of time to make an impression on each recruiter -- much less so than in a traditional job interview -- so the key for you is to develop and rehearse your elevator speech. As the name implies, an elevator speech is a relatively short -- typically 15 to 30 seconds (though sometimes as long as a few minutes) -- commercial that job-seekers use in a variety of situations (career fairs, networking events, job interviews, cold calling) that succinctly tells the person you are giving it to who you are, what makes you unique, and the benefits you can provide. At its most basic level, the Sound Bite's structure is: Hi, my name is. I'm in the field, and I'm looking to. The last blank would be filled in with your current career aspiration, whether it is to stay within your field and move up or move into a different career. A college student or new graduate might add the following to the basic structure. Hi, my name is. I will be graduating/i just graduated from with a degree in. I'm looking to.

You can stick with the Sound Bite's basic structure and see where it takes you. It may not take you far, however, because it lacks two things: a "hook" and a request for action. 1. Who am I? (introduce yourself) -- No change 2. What business am I in? -- What field or industry am I in? 3. What group of people do I service? (be specific -- do you have a niche?) -- What position am I in? In what capacity do I serve? 4. What is my USP (Unique Selling Proposition)? What makes me different from the competition? -- No change 5. What benefits do my customers derive from my services? -- What benefits can employers derive from skills, based on my proven accomplishments? Practice Responses to Typical Interview Questions It's a wise idea to prepare and practice responses to typical job interview questions. You don't want to memorize your responses, but you also don't want to seem as though you have never heard the question before. We actually suggest writing your responses to typical interview questions as a memory aid, but how you do it is up to you -- just do it! Interestingly, the elevator speech you just worked on is a great response to use when the interview asks one of the most common questions of all: "tell me about yourself." Unless it's a very slow day at the career fair, you will not get asked too many questions, but I also know job-seekers who have actually been asked to complete a more detailed screening interview -- at the career fair. So, being overly prepared will not hurt you. Other common interview questions: What do you really want to do in life? Why did you choose this career? What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses? Describe the best job you've ever had. What makes you qualified for this position? What s the most recent book you ve read? What can you tell us about our company? What interests you about our products? What do you know about our competitors? Questions That You Can Ask the Recruiters Just as with any interview situation, you should always prepare a few questions to ask the recruiters you meet at career fairs. You won't always be able to ask them, but asking questions demonstrates your interest, so it is always a good decision to have a few thoughtful questions to ask. (And you never want to be in a decision where you are asked if you have any questions and you decline.) One other point. Don't ask really obvious questions or questions you could easily answer from visiting the organization's Website. So, what are the types of questions you should ask?

Can you describe a typical day for someone in this position? Why did you choose this career? Can you describe the company s management style? What do you think is the greatest opportunity facing the organization in the near future? The biggest threat? Why did you come to work here? What keeps you here? What are the traits and skills of people who are the most successful within the organization? What changes do you anticipate in the organization? Are new employees assigned mentors? Is travel expected for this position. If yes, how often and how long. When can I expect to hear from you again? Choosing Proper Career Fair Attire It's a cliche, but a cliche for a reason. Job-seekers must dress for success for all interviews, including career fairs. And what is the proper career fair attire? For most career fairs -- certainly all professional career fairs -- it consists of a clean-cut, well-fitting, conservative look featuring darker colors (such as navy, black, slate). Sometimes younger job-seekers make the mistake of wearing something that looks more suited for happy hour at a popular club than it does for an interview. And it is always safer to err on the side of dressing too conservatively. For women, this means keeping skirt length to around the knee. Besides the clothing issues, your strategy should be to cover all (or as many as possible) visible tattoos and display minimal piercings. Keep jewelry to a minimum. And polish those shoes. Wear little or no cologne/perfume. Get Organized the Night Before It's a good idea, whenever possible, to gather all the materials you need for the career fair the night before the event. Doing so will make the time before the event less stressful for you. So, gather everything you will need for the career fair: Resumes Portfolio (or at least a folder to hold everything) Pens Notepad Breath mints (not gum) Finally, don't forget to plan your attire -- and then make sure you get a good night's sleep so that you are rested for the event. Success DURING the Fair Here's what you need to do to make the most of the opportunities while at the career fair: Arrive early, get your bearings Review list of attendees for last-minute additions Implement your career fair strategy

Make a good first impression Be courteous, polite Don't leave without contact information Ask about the next steps in hiring process Jot down interview notes after you walk away from recruiter Network with other job-seekers, professionals Always stay positive Arriving at the Fair Whenever possible, arrive as early as possible to the career/job fair. You want to talk to the recruiters while they are still fresh and eager to meet candidates. As the day wears on, everybody gets tired. Once you arrive at the fair venue, sign-in, and grab (or create) your nametag. Do you know where to place the tag? If you said your right lapel, give yourself a gold networking star; nametags get placed on your right -- not your left -- so as you extend your arm for a handshake, the person can easily glance up your arm to your nametag. Works like a charm. Finally, take a deep breath, calm your nerves, and scan the venue -- or a map of the venue -- to find the key organizations you want to talk with first. Check for Additional Organizations One last step before you head out onto the floor and work your career fair magic. You should always check for last-minute additions to the list of recruiting organizations. There always seem to be a few late additions to the list -- perhaps waiting on budget issues or personnel decisions -- but whatever the reason, they are now there and it pays to spend a few minutes checking before you implement your career fair plan. Implement Your Fair Strategy OK. You've arrived early, gotten your bearings, calmed your nerves, and checked for any last-minute additions to the list of recruiters... It's now time to implement your career fair strategy! Go for it! And as you head on to the floor toward your first organization, remember these next few tips. First Impressions are Everything You've probably heard this advice too many times, but it MUST be repeated here: First impressions are critical, especially so at a career fair where you have such a short time with each recruiter. If you blow that first impression, you've lost that opportunity. How do you make a good first impression? The four key ingredients to a good first impression are:

Short introduction using a natural, but forceful voice (especially if you are typically a quiet person; but please, no shouting) Strong eye contact Firm handshake (not limp, damp, or bone-crushing) Gentle smile And if there is a long line to meet the recruiter, remember to relax and not get over-anxious -- or worse, to make noises like your time is more important than anyone else's. Politeness Goes a Long Way During your meet and greet with the recruiters, always remember your manners; politeness goes a long way in building a lasting positive impression. How does politeness manifest itself? Don't overstay your welcome; meet with the recruiter, make your pitch, get the key information you need, but don't linger too long -- especially if there is a long line of people behind you. Maintain a comfortable distance; when talking with the recruiter, you want to be close enough to be able to communicate, but not so close that you invade the recruiter's personal space. Ask if the recruiter needs anything; most fairs have a refreshment station for recruiters, but if they are swamped they often don't have the time to get refreshments, so offering to get them a water or soda can make a big impact. Always, always, always thank the recruiter for his or her time. Never Leave Without Contact Information As you wrap-up your time with each recruiter, always be certain to get key contact information. Most recruiters will either give you their business card or have them on the table, but if you don't see one, ask for a business card. What do you do if the recruiter does not have a business card? Ask for his/her contact information. Be especially careful in getting the title correct, as well as the spelling of his/her name. Some career fair organizers now provide attendees with all the recruiter contact information, but even with that as a back-up, you should still try and get the information from each recruiter (especially for things like the spelling of the person's name). Always Ask About the Next Step There are two final things to ask before thanking the recruiter for his or her time and moving on to the next organization. First, ask about the next steps in the recruitment process. What can be expected to happen next? What is the timetable? Is there anything you can do to aid in the decision-making (such as submitting work samples, transcripts, etc.)? Second, ask about the preferred method of following-up your conversation. Some folks love email, others prefer a phone call. Ask for his or her preference.

Importance of Note Taking Listen attentively in each recruitment interview. Listening skills are an often overlooked part of good communications skills -- and listening intently is often harder to do when you are focused on making a good first impression and pitching yourself to the recruiter. Listening is one thing; remembering everything is another. So, be prepared to take down some notes on each interview. There are two approaches to note-taking, and you should choose the one you are most comfortable with. First, you can take notes during the interview. As you meet the recruiter and remove your resume from your portfolio, simply keep your portfolio open to a pad of paper where you can jot down key bits of information from the interview. (Just don't spend the whole time taking notes; use a short-hand if you have to and don't feel compelled to write down every piece of information.) Second, you can wait until the moment you end the interview. Walk away from the table to a spot away from the foot traffic and take a few minutes to recall and write down all the key information from the interview. This method works best if you have great short-term memory recall. Network, Network, Network Regardless of your specific goals for attending the career fair, always remember that one of the biggest benefits of attending is adding additional contacts to your career network. Of course, the recruiters are the main people you are networking with (often with the intent of getting to the next step in obtaining a company visit), but don't forget all the other participants at the fair. Network with other attendees. Some of the attendees are your competition of course, but many are seeking other positions and the sharing of information and resources can be quite beneficial -- not only at the fair, but beyond. So take the time to chat with other fair-goers. And don't forget to network with the fair organizers who may have inside information on upcoming recruitment events, organizations that are recruiting but could not attend, and so forth. Always Keep Positive Attitude Attending a career fair can be a draining experience -- always having to be "on" for the recruiters, repeating your elevator speech over and over again. So, as needed, take breaks. Sit somewhere off to the side and kind of get recentered and refocused on your goals and your plan. If you need to, get a snack or go to the bathroom and sprinkle cold water in your face -- whatever it takes to regain the positive energy you need to face the remaining recruiters. Taking breaks will add to your time commitment to the fair, but if you're job-seeking, most of your time should be centered on job-search activities. What to do AFTER the Fair Once you have implemented your plan and finished up at the fair, you still have work to do, but take a much-deserved break before starting these activities.

Here's what you need to do to make the most of your opportunities from the career fair: Write thank-you notes to all the recruiters you met Write notes to anyone else you met that you want to keep in your network Organize all your contact information, notes, and literature from the fair Devise a follow-up plan Write Thank-You Notes to Recruiters Shortly after attending the career fair, take the time to write thoughtful thank-you notes to each recruiter you met, ideally highlighting something from your interview that will help the recruiter remember you. If you remember to ask the recruiter's preferred method of contact, send the thank-you via that method. If uncertain, send one by email for the immediacy, but send one by postal mail too for the lasting impression that kind of document can still make (enclosing another copy of the resume along with the letter). Acknowledge New Network Contacts While you are in the writing mode, you should also take the time to write a quick note to any new network contact you made at the career fair. One of the keys to keeping your network of contacts strong -- and involved in your career -- is by keeping in regular contact with them. As with the recruiters, remember to thank them for their time and acknowledge any help they have already provided to you. Organize All Contact Information Not everyone has great organization skills, and if you are organizationally-challenged, now is the time to develop a system to keep all your career fair information and contact details handy. If you want to keep all the literature you picked up at the fair, consider some sort of filing system or accordion folder. For all the other information, perhaps a spreadsheet is the simplest manner for keeping everything organized. You can even scan business cards into your computer as a way of keeping electronic copies of key information. Follow-Up, Follow-Up, Follow-Up It's critical in all job-search situations to have a follow-up plan -- and then to implement that plan. If a recruiter says check back in a week to see where the organization is in the hiring process, you MUST do so. Key Facts to Remember About Career Fairs Here are some key facts to remember about career fairs. Job-Seekers:

Don't leave the fair without a few job leads Your goal should be to get to the next step with as many prospective employers as possible, either testing or an interview Follow-up is essential; be professional, but do the follow-up Networkers: Don't leave the fair without a fistful of business cards and the sense that you established solid rapport with a number of people Making contacts and building relationships is your mission There's less pressure on you, so you should be able to get more accomplished at the fair in achieving your goals Internship-Seekers: Don't leave the fair without some solid leads on potential internships Always ask about internships, even if the fair literature says they are just hiring full-time At this stage, going to as many career fairs as possible to learn how to work is essential to current and future success Career Fair Do's and Don'ts Here are some critical career fair do's and don'ts. Do keep an open mind about career opportunities with firms you had not originally thought about speaking with. Don't be afraid to walk right up to a recruiter and introduce yourself. Have confidence, but don't interrupt a conversation the recruiter is having with another job-seeker. Do car-pool or attend the fair with your friends, but once at the fair, do go it alone so that you can maximize your impact and implement your plan. Don't ever say anything negative about yourself, your former employers, or your school. Do ask questions about the organization, but don't ask about salary or benefits. http://www.quintcareers.com/career_fair_tutorial/goals.html