Thursday, October 25, 2007
Job Fairs
1.) Job Fair Participation Tips
If you are looking for a new job, a career fair or job fair (the terms are usually used interchangeably) is a good option to include in your job search plan. Career fairs can range from “real life” multi-employer events to online job fairs.
Attending a job fair allows you to meet with employers at a convenient location, usually a large hotel or conference center. Attending a job fair will give you the chance to meet with representatives from a variety of companies - like “one stop shopping” at the mall. The company representatives will provide information about general career opportunities as well as specific details on current openings.
Find a Job Fair
There are some companies that have job fairs scheduled throughout the year. Career Conferences of America, for example, run targeted fairs for a variety of constituents including global MBA/Master’s candidates, women, minorities and college students.
While other organizations, such as LI Works, have an event once or twice a year. Still others, including Women for Hire, focus on a particular audience.
Job fairs can be overwhelming with many people waiting to see the same employer, on-the-spot interviewing, noise and sometimes confusion. However, they can be a valuable tool and a good way to meet company representatives face-to-face. Before you go, review some tips on participating which will help make your Career Fair experience a positive one. Then take a look at some upcoming fairs in your city or state, or try out a virtual fair.
Job Fair Tips
Wear comfortable shoes. Because lines are frequently long and you should expect to wait, don’t wear uncomfortable high heels or brand new shoes that haven’t been broken in. Consider pair of conservative, interview appropriate shoes that you know are comfortable.
Dress Professionally. Job fairs are like interviews, so make sure your attire is . Wear professional clothes, style your hair conservatively, and ladies should wear minimal makeup.
Bring Resumes - Bring a supply of resumes to hand out to the companies. Take a portfolio or a briefcase to hold resumes and corporate literature.
Prepare a “one minute commercial.” Think about your strong points, your goals, the company and where you want to go within the company. Be prepared to talk about these aspects with your employer.
Be prepared to discuss your career goals. Be ready to talk about where you want to work, what you would like to do, and your relevant skills.
Arrive early. Plan on extra time for checking in, parking, and getting orientated with the layout of the career fair.
Network. While you are waiting in line, talk to others. You may hear about opportunities of which you were unaware.
Be assertive and show initiative. Shake hands and introduce yourself to recruiters when you reach the table. Act interested in the company and their job opportunities.
Be enthusiastic. Employer surveys identify one of the most important personal attributes candidates can bring to a new position as enthusiasm. This means that employers want to see you smile! So, do smile and project interest in the company.
Remain calm. There will be many applicants approaching employers at the same you are, but don’t be overwhelmed by the experience. Keep a positive attitude and concentrate on the benefits of the experience.
Explore options. A wide variety of companies will normally participate. This is an excellent opportunity to browse and indulge your curiosity.
Find a Job Fair
Job Fairs at locations around the United States.
Career Fairs Global (CFG):
http://www.cfg-inc.com/
Career Conferences of America
http://www.careerconferences.com/
PSI DIVERSITY RECRUITING
http://www.psijobfair.com/
CareerBuilder:
http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/CareerFairs/
JobWeb:
http://www.jobweb.com/employ/fairs/public_fairs.asp
Women for Hire
http://www.womenforhire.com/
Targeted Job Fairs (Dice)
http://www.targetedjobfairs.com/tjf/
Monster
http://www.nationalcareerfairs.com/
Hire Vets First
http://www.hirevetsfirst.gov/
Finally, heed this advice from Women for Hire’s Tory Johnson “Keep in mind that all is not lost if you don’t land a job. Career fairs also offer great practice in perfecting networking and interviewing skills. Talk to as many people as you can; never underestimate the value of face time with recruiters from leading companies. And, just as importantly, listen to them, too. Pay attention to the questions you’re being asked and to the kind of information they’re offering. It’s impossible to leave without something of value. “ Here are more tips from Tory on how to successfully participate in a job fair.
2.) 10 ways to wow job-fair recruiters
As candidates inundate employers at these events, how can you stand out? Fortune’s Anne Fisher explains.
By Anne Fisher, FORTUNE senior writer, October 10 2007: 9:14 AM EDT
(Fortune)—Dear Annie: I’ll be getting my MBA in the spring, and I’d like to meet some prospective employers at a job fair that will be held on campus in a couple of weeks. The only problem is, because of my work schedule, I can only go to the fair for an hour or so. (It’s a five-hour event with at least 50 companies expected to show up.) Is it even worth bothering, with so little time? If so, how can I get the most out of it? -Tick Tock
Dear Tick Tock: Yes, it’s worth going, but you’ll have to put in a bit of extra thought beforehand. First, get a list of the companies who are slated to send recruiters, and pick a few - say, between three and six - who interest you the most. Then rank them in order of your preference. Obviously, this requires that you think hard about why you’d like to work for these particular companies, which will come in handy if a recruiter happens to ask.
Next, have an event strategy, advises Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA Career Center at Northeastern University.
“Don’t start at the first table by the door and work your way around the room. You may spend too much time waiting in line and miss the recruiters you most need to see,” says Sarikas. “Instead, prioritize which companies you care about most and concentrate on meeting those at the top of your list.”
When you arrive, “quickly scope out the room to see if one of your top-priority companies has no line or a very short one and, if so, go there first,” Sarikas suggests. “But do be willing to wait a little for those most important to you if you have to.”
For anyone planning to attend a job fair, including your classmates who may have the luxury of spending a whole day there, Salikas offers these additional tips:
Get ready to sell yourself. Have a one-minute “elevator pitch” prepared so you can introduce yourself to employers and quickly give them the headlines of who you are, what you’re looking for in a career, and what makes you unique.
Put your best foot forward. First impressions count. “Wear your best business attire. A professional-looking, conservative business suit is appropriate,” says Sarikas. “Avoid heavy fragrances and flashy or too-casual clothing.”
Don’t be afraid to be yourself. “Every MBA could use the same set of clichéd phrases to describe him- or herself: motivated, hard-working, goal-oriented, and so on,” Sarikas observes. “You want to let recruiters know what is unique about you.”
Educate yourself about the employers you’ll be meeting. What do they do? Who are their customers? What recent press coverage can you find that touches on issues they face or trends in their industries? What types of positions are they seeking to fill, and how do you fit in?
A visit to each corporate web site, and a Google search on each company, can yield loads of useful information.
“Differentiate yourself from others by being knowledgeable,” Sarikas says.
Remember who your ‘customer’ is. “You are selling yourself to the employer, so don’t focus exclusively on you,” Sarikas says. “Talk about what you can do for them. How do your skills and experience help them address a business need? Insofar as you are able to, know what’s important to them, and tell about a prior experience or accomplishment that relates to that.”
Bring an ample supply of resumes and business cards. “Make sure your resume is perfect - no typos or other bloopers,” says Sarikas.
Follow up within 24 hours. “This is critical. Bear in mind that these recruiters will have met many students that day, so you need to help them remember you,” notes Sarikas. “Send a handwritten note so you don’t get lost in the recruiter’s e-mail inbox. Make your note polite and professional, thanking them for their time and briefly mentioning what interested you most in the conversation you had.”
No doubt about it, this will be a lot to pack into an hour - but if you prepare thoroughly beforehand, it could be a highly profitable hour indeed.
3.) Job-Hunt.org
Job and Career Fairs
Companies and organizations which hold job fairs, both real and virtual. Don’t forget to also check with your local state employment office where you should find other local employment resources including job fairs.
Search Jobs - From CareerJournal.com and The Wall Street Journal
Executive Diversity Career Fair - From The Wall Street Journal and CareerJournal.com
Find Jobs by Location - From newspapers, job sites, associations, and company career pages
To keep from wasting your time and effort, when you find a fair that interests you, call the venue (hotel or whatever) to see if the fair is happening as the online schedule indicates. And, be cautious about submitting your resume to one of the organizers, particularly when no privacy policy is posted.
• CareerBuilder/Career Fairs - across the U.S.
• Diversity Career Group - job fairs for sales, retail, and management jobs in California
• Expo Experts - job fairs for aerospace/aviation/defense, advanced technology, engineer, healthcare, and professions, across the USA
• HireQuest.com - career fairs for sales, marketing, retail, and management positions in on the west coast, Chicago, New Orleans, and Denver.
• JobWeb - this searchable calendar of job fairs is just one part of a great site, focused on new college graduates.
• PeoplenotPaper - job fairs focused on sales & management careers, workplace diversity, and careers in finance & techology, across the USA.
• PSIJobFair - diversity, professional, and technical job fairs in the U.S.
• TAOnline Military Job Fairs & Career Events - for transitioning military member or veterans.
• Targeted Job Fairs - job fairs from the Dice organization for technology, engineering, and security-cleared professionals in the USA.
• Women for Hire - job fairs across the country to help women, both college seniors and experienced professionals, connect with new employers.