Tips for a Successful Job Fair

Job Fairs and Career Fairs offer an opportunity for companies to meet and screen a large volume of potential job candidates. Whether you're a college student new to the job-hunting process or a seasoned professional, the following tips will improve your odds of not being screened out and lead to a more productive event where you maximize your chances of obtaining a job.

Before the Job Fair:

• Try to find a list of participating companies. Many organizations will list companies on their websites or promotional flyers.
• Research companies that you’re interested in. This is a perfect opportunity to gain an understanding of what they do, where their offices are located and how you might fit within their organization. You might also be able to find a job description of positions they’re looking to fill
• Create a list of employers you want to visit. List them in order of importance to you. The event may be too busy to see them all, so you what to make sure you get to the ones you are most interested in.
• Create a 30 second commercial that promotes you. Practice it out loud before the event. You will have limited time to make an impression, so when it’s your opportunity make it count.
• Develop a strong resume. If you know that a company is hiring for specific positions, create a resume addressing their individual needs. Make sure you bring plenty of copies with you that are clean and crisp on resume paper. If you need assistance with your resume, your local WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA office offers assistance at no charge.
• Make childcare arrangement prior to the event. Do not bring kids to job fairs.
• Dress Professionally. You will have one opportunity to make a good impression and dressing unprofessionally is a sure way to ruin your chances.

During the Job Fair:

• Take a quick walk around the event. This will give you an opportunity clam your nerves and browse all the companies in attendance.
• Make immediate eye contact when introducing yourself
• Take note of the representative’s name after they introduce themselves, and when you’re done speaking with them use their name when thanking them for their time.
• Listen to what the representative are saying, don’t get distracted.
• Pick up a business card from each representative that you talk with. You can use it to reference for a follow-up letter.
• Refer to your list of important companies, but don’t sell yourself short. Companies that might not be on your initial list may turn out to be a perfect fit for you.
• Do not smoke, chew gum, dip, drink or eat when at a job fair. You need to consider this a working environment.
• Be confident in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself how can you expect a company to?
• If you come to the job fair with other job seekers (your friends,) don’t hang out with them during the event. Separate when you arrive so you will not be distracted, and agree to a meeting place to reconnect after the event. You need to be focused on selling yourself. (This includes spouses)
• Smile and be polite. Remember representative might be at the event for 6 hours so they might be tried. Seeing a smiling face just might be your ticket.
• Be prepared to be interviewed, but don’t expect one. Many companies will use job fairs to select prospective candidates and then bring you in for an interview.
• Be prepared to ask a question about the company you’re interested in. This is a common “test” to see if you have prepared for the event and a great opportunity to gain insight in the prospective company.
• Don’t be afraid to network with other job seekers. They might know of other companies you haven’t thought of that are looking for someone like you.

After the event:

• Write down notes about the representatives that you spoke with, and the information they shared.
• Mail a thank you card to the representative. Thank them for their time and include any work related information that you took not of at the job fair that would show you have a genuine interest in the job.

It is important to keep in mind that job/career fairs should be just one small part of your entire job search process; however, they can be a successful part. Following the above strategies will not guarantee your success, but by following them you will put yourself above many of the other job-seekers who are attending the fair.