Getting the MOST from Job Fairs!
Mr. Endicott
Slide Number: 1
Job Fairs:
Big Benefits for YOU!
 Explore opportunities
for internships, co-ops,
and jobs
 Practice interview and
job search
communication skills
 Distribute resumes to
many prospective
employers
 Meet many recruiters
from different
organizations in one,
convenient setting
 Receive company
information and
business cards of
contacts
Slide Number: 2
Before the Job Fair
 Target yourself to the jobs.
Identify how your skills,
experiences, qualifications, and
interests match jobs
 Prioritize the list of employers
that interest you. A list is
typically available before hand.
 Know why you want to work for
an employer so you can explain
it clearly. (Research employers
beforehand.)
 Possibly volunteer to help with
the job fair (contact your Career
Services Center) it is a good
networking opportunity.
Slide Number: 3
Preparing for Job Fair
1. Prepare your resume.
2. Prepare your self-commercial (30 to 60
seconds)
3. Rehearse
4. Portfolio
5. Research
Slide Number: 4
Job Fair Dress Tips:
 Your appearance expresses motivation and
professionalism; it creates respect for
yourself
 Dress up rather than down; dress on the
conservative side
 Pay attention to detail- from head to toe!
 Always pick and lay out your outfit the night
before
 Do your research- see what companies
will be at the fair beforehand and if
they have a dress code/dress
standards
Slide Number: 5
Business Professional-Men
 A clean, pressed two-piece matching suit is
essential
 Safe suit colors options are: black, dark
grey, dark brown, or navy
 Shirt should be long-sleeve in colors like:
white, yellow, blue, green or black
depending on suit color
 Tie should be silk material and complement
the color of the suit and shirt. The
pattern should be simple like stripes
or a solid color
 Shoes should be either dark brown
or black leather dress shoes with
dark socks
Slide Number: 6
Business Professional-Women
 Wear a two-piece suit in dark colors: 2
options:
 Pants and a jacket or a knee-length skirt
and a jacket
 Wear both options with a conservative
blouse and dark tights if it’s fall or winter
 A moderate closed-toe heel in black, grey,
or brown
 Accessories can dress up any suit
(i.e. a necklace, colorful scarf, belt,
watch, etc.)
Slide Number: 7
Appropriate Grooming Tips
 Keep hair clean and trimmed
 Men should be clean shaven and/or keep
facial hair neatly trimmed
 Keep fingernails neat and trimmed
 Keep teeth brushed and breath fresh
 Use perfumes/colognes sparingly
 Women should wear light and natural
looking make-up
 Shower daily and use deodorant
 Don’t smell like smoke!
Slide Number: 8
At the Job Fair
1. Check in, then target the areas
on your floor plan to see who is
there and where they are
located.
2. Manage time well.
3. Meet first with recruiters who
are not at the top of your target
for employment (practice with
them before approaching your
top targets).
4. Watch time, and save enough
for your top targets.
Slide Number: 9
At the Job Fair
(Continued)
5. Introduce yourself
professionally.
6. Find out what
opportunities exist for
someone with your
credentials and skills.
7. Ask what entry-level
positions exist.
8. Ask about the company.
9. Smile! Be polite, BE THE
“INFOMERCIAL”
Slide Number: 10
Pick Up Cards & Literature
1. Always ask for business
cards of recruiters
representing your target
employers.
2. After talking with them,
write notes you want to
remember on the back of
the cards.
3. Collect all literature from
your target employers to
enhance your knowledge.
Slide Number: 11
Take Notes!
Take a notepad and record important
follow-up, such as to:
• Send additional information to a
recruiter or other contact
• Calendar follow-up meetings
• Make follow-up phone calls
• Other
Slide Number: 12
After the Job Fair
1. Respond to recruiter request
immediately
2. Send thank-you notes to those
you meet with; use their
business cards for correct
spellings, titles, etc.
3. Your thank you can be by email, or snail mail and can be
hand written (if clear) or word
processed.
4. Send the thank you within 2448 hours after the job fair.
5. Refer to the location and date
of the job fair.
Slide Number: 13
Learn From the Experience
1. Did you have a positive or
negative experience?
2. What can you learn from
negative experiences?
3. Did the preliminary research on
employers help you?
4. Were you asked difficult
questions for which you were
not prepared? If so, write them
down, and prepare more
thoroughly for the next fair.
Slide Number: 14
What Else Can You Do?
1. Attend career and job fairs at other
locations
2. Use keywords to search for online job
fairs, such as:
– Nonprofit job and career fairs
– Online job fair
– Job and career fairs, (name your
career interest)
3. Bookmark web sites that are most
useful for your career targets
Slide Number: 15