Many career experts recommend these events as an efficient way to find your next career. Job fair organizers and participating companies don’t necessarily follow a universal template when planning and hosting these events, so the details can vary from one fair to the next. It may seem daunting—the crowds are big and there’s competition for short attention spans, but it’s worth your effort. Career fair preparation helps you handle the expected and unexpected as you “work the room” to turn up tangible job leads. These tips will help before, during, and after the event to maximize your opportunities.
How to Prepare for the Hiring Event?
- Dress for success: Play it safe and dress business casual. If you are low-budget kind of person, check out your local Goodwill, and stores like Ross, Marshalls, and Plato’s Closet. They tend to have business casual clothing for men and women for only a couple of bucks.
- Practice your pitch: At job fairs, you usually have only about 3-5 minutes to make an impression on your recruiter. It helps to put together a little spiel the night before and practice.
- Research companies attending the fair: Use this time the day before to pick out the companies you want to talk too.
- UPDATE and Bring your resume: Bring copies of your UPDATED resume to hand out to recruiters. Check out our article on resume writing.
What to expect during the event?
- Arrive Early: some of these job fairs can be extremely large and size and could possibly have long lines. Check the job fair website ahead of time to see if you can pre-register. It will save you time and allow you to spend more time talking with recruiters
- Attend the workshops: Usually these little workshops are free and are on a first come, first serve basis. The workshops range from resume writing, industry news, mock interviews and a range of other topics.
- Network, Network, Network: Don’t just talk with employers, network with other job seekers.
- Ask questions: Even though your time might be limited at each table, make sure you have 2-3 important questions to ask.
- Be Proactive: Even if a company doesn’t have any openings in your area, still talk to them. If not now, maybe later the would have something, there is nothing wrong with leaving your resume for future consideration.
- Stay Ready: Not every company will have on the spot interviews, but it is always nice to be prepared. Also, not every company will hire on the spot, it is all up to their discretion.
- Add notes to business cards: Whether the fair is large or small, it is important to take notes on everyone you met. One tip is to write down notes on the back of the business cards as you meet them. It makes it easier to go back later send thank you notes or emails.
What to do after the hiring event?
- Plan a follow-up: Send a quick follow-up thank note or email to the companies you met at the job fair.
UPCOMING EVENTS NEAR YOU
APRIL 11, 2019
Goodwill Job Connection in West Tulsa
Address:
Goodwill Industries of Tulsa
2800 Southwest Boulevard
Tulsa, OK 74107
Details: This event will be held in the South Annex of the Goodwill Industries of Tulsa building. Come in anytime between 10:00AM and 1:30PM to talk to one of our many recruiters. 365Worx is a local staffing agency hiring for a variety of jobs. Please bring two forms of Id and dress business casual. We are Felon-Friendly and will consider all situations on a case-by-case basis.