How To Get The Most Out Of A Job Fair

T & E Placement Services

This information was prepared by gathering feedback from recruiters.  Some of this is just common sense, but some of it may surprise you. Read on to find out what recruiters are looking for and how to work the event to your best advantage.

Be prepared

Decide which companies you want to talk with -- at most of the larger events, it is not possible to hit them all effectively in one day. Research the companies. That way, when you’re talking to the recruiters, you already know something about the company, which sets you apart from the people who just come in and browse booths.  You’ll come off as organized, smart and purposeful.

Cell Phones

If you have your cell phone with you at the job fair, please turn the volume down, or off.  Do not use the cell phone in the presence of the recruiters.  Very distracting and unprofessional.  Let others know that you are involved in job search and unavailable during the job fair hours.   

Introducing...

Have a 30-second speech prepared. Here’s an example:

"Hi, my name is John Doe. I have been a Unix administrator for the last two years. I very much enjoy this work, and I’m looking to continue in Unix administration. I am highly organized, C++ certified, and have excellent rapport with both vendors and co-workers. Could you tell me what your company may have available in Unix administration?"  

If you really want to blow them away, apply the research you did before the show to your 30-second speech. For example:

"Hi, I'm Jane Doe. I have been doing Unix administration for the last two years. I am looking to continue this at a company like yours that specializes in wireless telecom. I very much enjoy this work, and I think it would be exciting to be part of the wireless future, especially after reading about your recent partnership with AT&T. I am highly organized, C++ certified and work very well with others, including both vendors and co-workers. Could you tell me what your company may have available in Unix or network administration?" 

Special tip: Don’t wait until the event to say your 30-second intro speech out loud. Practice in the mirror, and try it out on friends or family. The more you practice, the less likely you are to flub it during the real deal.

What to wear

Don't feel you have to dress up too much, but don't come in jeans, either. Neat business-casual is the way to go. You can wear a suit if you want, but a nice shirt and pressed slacks or a skirt will do the trick just fine. Wear comfortable shoes. Convention centers are big places and you will be walking and standing the whole time. If you wear nylons, bring an extra pair in your purse to change just in case you get a run.  

I highly suggest that you don't wear perfume or cologne.  (Please be aware that some attendees may have chemical sensitivity to fragrances or scented products.)  Besides, smelling like a flower will not get you the job. Smelling like body odor won't either. I’m sure you’re an avid user of deodorant, but you would be surprised at how many people forget to put it on.  Yikes!  Guys, shave!  Scruffy, bad,  smooth, good!  Ladies -- go easy on the make-up! Tammy Faye Bakker never did well at a job fair.

Come early

Recruiters tend to remember the earlier candidates first, the ones they talk to before they become exhausted as the hours wear on.  When interviewing with them, please remember to get their business cards with their name on it.  If no name, ask for the correct spelling of their name and their title, as sometimes recruiters do not have them prepared.  Sorry, but sometimes it’s a reality.

Shaking hands

Unless a recruiter offers a hand to you, don’t bother. Most may not want to touch so many strangers. Surprised? Just think how tired your hand would be if you had to shake hands with every single person that came up to you for two days straight! If a recruiter extends his or her hand, shake it firmly but not roughly.

Wait patiently

At each booth; be prepared to wait patiently in line for the recruiter. Stand back just enough to not crowd the job seeker ahead of you, but make it obvious you are waiting. Such etiquette will be appreciated by all, and likely observed by the recruiter. 

Checking the board

Each booth will have a poster listing available jobs. If they have not listed the job you’re seeking but you really dig the company, it’s still OK to give that firm a resume. Say your 30-second speech, then add that you don’t see any jobs on their poster that you’re looking for, but that you really are very interested in the firm and would like to be on file. Your assertiveness can pay off. What may not be a job today can easily become an open requisition tomorrow and then -- voila! -- You get a phone call.

Bring enough resumes

Bring no less than 30 resumes. You may not give them all out, but it’s better to have too many than to have to stand in line at photocopiers to make cheaper-looking copies on ordinary copy paper. Use nice white paper and do not use less than an 11-point font. Many companies scan resumes into a computer system, and small fonts, fancy lines, color, pictures and borders tend to mess up the scan, which then means you don’t get the job. Keep your resume neat and simple.  

Goodies and giveaways

There are a lot of giveaways and goodies at career events. If the recruiter offers you something, take it, but don’t ask for it until after you have given your resume. If you walk around with a big bag of toys and other giveaways, you look like a “goodie vulture,” who comes every month to stock up on stocking stuffers but isn't serious about finding a job. 

Do not ask for more than one goodie for your two or three kids that you have at home.  It's okay to get a little gift in exchange for your resume; that’s why they brought the stuff in the first place. But remember that giveaways should not be your focus if you are serious about getting a great job. If you get something, be sure to say thank you. Manners are remembered!  

Children

If possible, please do not bring your children to the job fair.  This is a sign of not being prepared and is often very distracting to the recruiters. 

Thank-you letters

Recruiters will talk to hundreds of people and wade through hundreds of resumes after the event to decide who to bring in for interviews with managers. If you have a conversation that goes well, write a thank-you letter to the recruiter after the show, just as you would for an interview. Attach your resume to the e-mail.

Here’s an example:

Dear Mr. Jones,

It was very nice talking to you at the Seattle Expo Career Event on Wednesday, March 17th, about Unix Administration opportunities at Company 123. As we discussed, I am very much looking forward to applying my technical and interpersonal skills and two years direct experience at a technology company. Although you have my resume from the event, I am attaching it to this e-mail for your reference. I look forward to hearing from you soon to arrange an interview.

Kindest Regards,
John Doe
marketing@mybrassring.com

Wait at least two weeks -- at most four -- before contacting the recruiter again if you have not heard from him or her. Following up, good, nagging, bad. Persistence, good, stalking, bad. You get the idea!

Go with a Smile

Yes, go with a smile and a positive attitude.  Do not discuss negative situations that occurred during previous interviews or employment.  This is the place to show display your best. 

This is an excellent avenue to meet with some of the major recruiters – some of the same recruiters that you may need to interview with at a later time.  Meeting the recruiters in this type of environment is great because you’re not in the hot seat.  You get to associate a face with a name.  And, if you do it right, you can remind the recruiter that they met you at the job fair. 

Good luck to everyone!

Eltrina Simuel, Director
T & E Placement Services