Career Blog: Understanding how a job fair functions and how to prepare for a job fair

Career Blog: Understanding how a job fair functions and how to prepare for a job fair

Job Fairs or Career Fairs are designed to introduce employers with career seeker in person.  This in-person connection has many career advantages for the career seeker if the career seeker understands how recruiters at job fairs work and if the career seeker prepares effectively to get the most out of these events.

Recruiters attend career fairs because they have immediate hiring needs and they need to fill open positions. Recruiters receive thousands of resumes online directly thru corporate websites.   Can you imagine how long it takes recruiters to view these resumes?  Once the recruiter reviews resumes he/she often sends emails to career seekers or calls career seekers to pre-screen career seekers and determine if they are a good fit for the company and position. Because a recruiter has limited work hours and can only speak to limited amount of people, they often find that attending job fairs offers higher opportunities to pre-screen career seekers.

 In many cases, recruiters attend local career fairs because they know that local career fairs will bring a large group of career seekers living within the demographic target market for the open position and when the recruiter meets in person with the career seeker they can review the resume and ask the career seeker questions that determines if they are a possible match for the open position.   When you think about meeting the recruiters at the career fairs understand that the recruiters are always pre-screening or interviewing you even if they don’t say it is an interview.   In many situations you will receive at the job fair an interview date, job application, phone interview or the next step for applying for a position. 

Most career seekers attend job fairs without preparing for these events and not understanding what recruiters are there to do. Understand that these are “informal pre-screening” events.     Think of these job fairs as the first date with your potential significant other. The first date determines if there is a second date or not. In job fairs, recruiters are looking to fill certain positions and have professional requirements and corporate cultural requirements they need to fill.   You only have a minute or two to make your impression and sell your professional background. This will determine if the recruiter decides to give you an interview or not.  Preparation is the key to success.

Prepare for Job Fairs:

1.       Dress: I attend many of our job fairs and am shocked when I see career seekers showing up looking like they just got out of bed.  I am not saying that career seekers need to wear a suit or look a certain way. Career seekers do need to look neat, clean, and need to give an impression that they are professional and that they value the recruiter’s time.  Take care of your appearance.

 

2.       Behavior: We understand that there are career seekers that have been out of work for a while or sometimes they just have not had a good day. At job fairs I always see a few career seekers that have a negative attitude or seem like they are in a really bad mood. Career Seekers need to remember that positive attitude is visible and recruiters want to see positive people that are energized, positive and looking forward to an opportunity.   During a job fair, forget about everything else and have a positive attitude towards possible new opportunities.  Smile when you meet recruiters and show them that you are positive.

 

3.       Research: If the company hosting the job fair offers a list of employers take the time to review each employer’s website. Go to the career section see what career opportunities are available and tailor your resume to complement these career opportunities.  Understand the industries, the company and get familiar with corporate cultures. Understand who the employer is to understand why you may be a good fit for their corporate culture. Make sure you mention this as you meet the recruiters.

 

4.       Meet with all companies: many career seekers make the mistake of only meeting with some employers at job fairs.   If you are at a job fair meet with all employers. You are already there, you have nothing to loose.  You never know what other employers can offer.   Don’t make assumptions about companies or people.

It seems like at every job fair that I attend there is always a career seeker or a few that do not want to give me their resume.   It is always shocking to me as a recruiter because as a career seeker I would want more recruiters to view my resume.  

Understand what recruiters do with your resume. Recruiters will collect all resumes given to them by career seekers.   A recruiter is part of Human Resource team for a company.  His/Her job is to introduce career seekers to managers at each department of their company.   When a recruiter attends a job fair he/she will take all resumes and make copies and hand them to managers at different departments. For example, if you are an accountant your resume may be given to different managers within the company. It is the Hiring Managers that sometimes decide if they want to interview you.  In other cases, the recruiter will review your resume and call you after the job fair.   Your resume is a powerful tool, be sure to make it effective by following the tips below:

1.       Type your resume (do NOT hand write or make any personal notes on your resume-we get many resumes that have personal hand written notes)

2.       Do NOT use fancy fonts, odd text size, color font, graphs or pictures. 

3.       Print copies of your resume in basic white paper, do NOT use color paper. 

4.       Only use maximum of 2 pages for resumes and staple the pages. Do not use paper clips or other types of special folding.   To cut down on the number of pages, do not include list of references.

5.       Do NOT use folders, binders, presentation files, envelopes, etc. Some people believe that folders or binders will make the resume stand out from other resumes, this is NOT true.  Remember recruiters have to carry these resumes. 

6.       Do NOT use personal information or attach certificates, letters of recommendations, references, transcripts, etc.   

7.       A resume should only include your Name, City, State, Zip, Phone, Email, Education, Professional Experience/Employment History.    Once you get an interview you can provide all other information such as references, transcripts, certificates, etc.

Don’t forget to bring plenty of copies of your resume. Provide a copy to each employer representative.   Also take a minute to talk to the job fair host to see if he/she can assist you in sharing your resume with other employers not at the job fair.

Finally, enjoy the job fair and network. You never know whom you will meet!

Chris Dugan, President of Talent Acquisition