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| 10 Tips: Make the most of going to a job fair |
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Created : 26 January 2010
Author: Laura T. Coffey, Times Correspondent
Job fairs can be fabulous venues for networking and connecting with employers who have job openings. They also can be grueling, soul-sucking experiences that can leave you feeling bewildered and dissatisfied. That's why it's so important to plan, plan and then plan some more before heading out to a job fair. Consider these tips from employment Web site Quintessential Careers and other sources:
1 Plan ahead. Look online for career fairs in the bay area and elsewhere, including at these sites: www. worknetpinellas.org/worknet_wednesday/, www.floridajobs.org/workforce/os_job_fairs.html and resources.monster.com/ job-fairs/. One example: The WorkNet Pinellas Professional Mixer is Feb. 10 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. Preregister for a job fair and submit your resume if you can.
2 Do your homework. Review the companies that will be recruiting. Visit the Web sites of any interesting employer and look at the "about us" section and recent news releases. Be open to new kinds of employers. For example, the health care industry also has positions in information technology and administrative support.
3 Make printouts of all versions of your resume. By researching companies, you'll get an idea how to tailor your resume for different audiences. Organize the versions in a professional-looking portfolio or briefcase, and bring a nice notebook and pen to take notes about people you meet and leads you discover.
4 Include keywords in your resume. These are relevant job titles, responsibilities, skills and industry-specific terms. Use them liberally. This is important because many recruiters will go back to their office and have the hundreds of resumes they gathered scanned electronically for such words and phrases.
5 Dress like a pro. A conservative, attractive business suit is appropriate for most events. Choose simple, understated styles and colors, and accessories that are inconspicuous.
6 Devise a plan. When you get to the job fair, see if any new and interesting employers decided to participate at the last minute. Then analyze the layout of the room. Make a beeline to the three to five employers that interest you most. Later, you can visit other potential employers, and at the end return to your top picks to thank recruiters again for their time.
7 Rehearse a short, focused "commercial" about yourself. It should be about one minute long and should be a quick, intelligent response to the most common job fair question: What are you looking for? Specify the kind of position you're seeking, play up your experience and stress the benefits you would bring to that employer. Make eye contact, and be friendly and enthusiastic. Be careful not to monopolize anyone's time for too long.
8 Be ready to ask questions. If the conversation goes well, you might be asked if you have questions. Prepare some in advance. If you can, work toward asking: What must I do to arrange a second interview with your company?
9 Be flexible and spontaneous. Maybe you weren't able to research a certain employer. While waiting in line, quickly read literature on the company that you'll find at the booth. If the company isn't advertising positions quite right for you, ask the recruiter for contact information for the company's hiring manager in your field.
10 Follow up. It's hugely important that you contact recruiters after the job fair. You can: 1) call the recruiter that evening and leave a voice-mail message thanking him for speaking with you and requesting a second interview, or 2) write a focused thank-you note and mail it to the address on the recruiter's card the next day. To view a sample thank-you letter, go to www.quintcareers.com/ sample_fair_thanks.html
Laura T. Coffey can be reached at laura@ tentips.org.
Sources: Quintessential Careers; Monster.com; CollegeGrad.com |
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