Ten Tips for Job Fairs (I)

Job fairs are excellent places to learn, network and land a job. But the big job fairs can be overly-crowded, competitive, confusing events. Some have hundreds of employers and thousands of job seekers participating, making it impossible for you to "shop" all booths. You could easily miss your ideal job opportunity while trying to squeeze through the crowd. It's also hard to leave lasting impressions when hundreds of job seekers were at the booths before you, with hundreds more after. But there are ways to make the most of your time on the job fair floor and beat your competitors.

1. If the Web sites of job fair producers offer the option, search for jobs in advance, to target the most promising, participating employers. Read the employers' profiles if available, to help you answer the classic question, "Why do you want to work for us?" Even if job fair producers don't offer these options, most at least list the participating employers and the general types of jobs they have open, so you may research them on your own. That might be a good idea anyway, and the "About Us" and career sections of employers' Web sites are typically good places to start. You can find an employer's site by typing the full company name in your browser, where you'd normally type a URL. Alternately, try company-research resources, some of which include business articles, financial reports and such for the companies they track. Natch, in-depth research might not be practical if dozens of companies are offering your job at the fair. But the more you know about each, the better.
2. Plan to take at least 25 crisp resumes to a job fair, 40 or so if it's a huge event. (The job fair might have copy facilities for free or a small fee, which is nice if you run out. But don't count on it ahead of time.) The scannable format is probably best for job fairs, as it accommodates most of the ways employers file and distribute paper resumes and their electronic counterparts. If your job requires formatting skills, you might also bring some fancier resumes to offer employers a choice. Bring a pen, pencil and notepad too, and organize it all in a nice brief case or portfolio.
3. Before a job fair, prepare to interview on the spot, summary style in a few minutes or less. In other words, be prepared to quickly sell your skills, talents and experiences. It's better to politely sidestep up-front salary discussions if you can. But have a salary figure in mind, just in case your interview advances to the salary stage. Job fairs tend to be more casual than formal interviews, so you can relax and be more friendly. But also "read the mood" of the employer's representative with whom you're speaking at the moment, and adjust your style accordingly. Even though it's more casual, attire, body language, manners and other interview professionalisms still count. Dress sharp, act professional and display enthusiasm.
4. Also prepare to fill out a job application on the spot. Unless you're otherwise directed, it's best to turn it in right away. Taking it home first allows your better-prepared competitors to beat you to it.

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