How to “Work” a Job Fair
Mr. Endicott
Personal Career Planning Class
Job Fairs are ….
A golden opportunity to expand your network and set up
interviews.
An opportunity to develop valuable new contacts
Good source of job leads
Great way to meet many employers on one day
Held both on and off-campus as well as electronically
Excellent opportunity to test-drive your
resume
Created for you – take of advantage of
them
Get Ready…
Obtain a list from the Career Services website of the
organizations attending the Fair.
Plan exactly what professional attire you will wear.
Gather essential items to take to the fair: portfolio with notepad
and pen, and more than enough copies of your resume and
a list of references
Leave coats in Career Center-not too many freebies!
Develop your 30-60 second infomercial
“Hi my name is--- and I am majoring in Psychology. I have done
quite a lot of research about your company on the website and
would like to know more about the training program. Also I
would like to know what you think are the positive attributes
about working for XXX and why you chose to work for them.”
Set…
Arrive early at the fair and stay as late as possible.
Check in
Orient yourself
Review the information including the job fair book
Organize and prioritize a list of organizations
Check your appearance
Turn off your cell phone before going into the fair
Visit some of lesser interest to practice
Go!!
Try not to travel in groups.
Respect other people’s privacy.
Read brochures while waiting.
Eye contact > firm handshake > introduce
yourself
Practice active listening.
Give them a resume.
Be interested and interesting.
Ask for a business card-give them a business card.
Make any notes of things you want to remember.
You are being assessed-Employers DO observe
your behavior
Body Language
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Do not fidget, play with your hair.
Do not rock from side to side.
Do not look around when talking or being spoken to.
Do not chew gum.
Communication
– Listen carefully
– Avoid "um", "like", "you
know”, “sweet”
– Show confidence in your voice
Job Fair Guidelines
Take copies of resume, business cards, portfolio
Set a goal to meet at least 10 people
Plan your remarks-be professional-ALWAYS dress
business professional-ask relevant questions
Visit less attractive firms prior to your “main”
employers
Add the names of the contacts
to your Network List
Questions to ask recruiters
What full-time career opportunities are available
in your organization?
What is the employment outlook in the field right
now?
What opportunities do you have for ___ majors?
What type of training is available? What types of
assignments are given to new graduates?
What do you look for in candidates?
Wrap it up
Leave a lasting Impression
Return to the booths of the companies you liked
most.
Thank them one last time for giving you their
time.
Express that you are looking forward to speaking
with them again, soon.
Don't overdo it, but be polite and assertive.
Follow up
Write thank you letters or email 24-48 hrs. after fair
Check with Career Services to see what employers
are recruiting on campus and sign-up.
Make telephone calls/email 10 days to two weeks if you
have not heard from them
Express your continued interest until you have an
answer
Practice your interviewing skills while waiting to hear