How to Successfully Navigate a Career Fair

Career Fairs are large events often put on by universities which are intended to help employers find employees. Several companies will come and set up a booth where their representatives will stand. People looking to be hired, the potential employees, then have the responsibility to network with these representatives in hopes of impressing them enough to get a job offer.

Here are some useful tips and helpful hints on how to successfully navigate a career fair.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Dress professionally. If you show up in jeans and a t-shirt, no one is going to take you seriously. Career fair attire is business formal. Men should be in suits. Women should be in suits or matching business separates.

2. Come with resumes. Don't come with business cards; they are small and will be lost. You are trying to be a good employee here, not an employer looking for a side-job. Come with resumes printed out; at least one for each booth you are interested in. Most career fairs are put on by organizations which will have the participating companies listed on a website. Though you may not give all the resumes away, you want to be prepared.

3. Research the companies. Career Fair representatives will stand at their booth for over 8 hours for at least 1-2 days. That means they are seeing the instantly forgettable faces of literally hundreds of potential employees. They are all going to say the same things about their work ethic and experience. If you show that you truly have a vested interest in the company and you are excited about their work, they are going to be more willing to hold a conversation with you. Come with specifics about the company's projects and clients. How do you as an employee fit their needs?

4. Be aggressive, but don't shove anyone over. At career fairs, there will be many people all trying to swarm a booth at the same time. It's a competitive environment, and if you never push your way through, you'll never get your resume in. Be aggressive in showing your desire, but don't be mean and make anyone fall to the floor either.

5. Smile a lot. The representatives really don't care about you. They are tired and sick of hearing the same old 60-second sells. This can be very discouraging, and it can show on your face. Keep a positive spirit about you with a smile and a firm handshake.

6. Don't lie about your resume. In an attempt to impress the representatives, you may be inclined to embellish your qualifications verbally. After all, are they really going to remember you? Don't do this. They will often take notes on your resume if you say something worthwhile, and that can come back to bite you later in an interview.

7. Most career fair attendees don't leave with a job offer or even an interview. Most of the representatives will tell you to simply apply online. Don't let this discourage you. At the very least, you must view it as an opportunity to practice your professionalism, 60-second sell and get information about companies you may want to work for in the future.

[l-dawg]

on 9/22/2009 Great advice!