CAREER FAIR SKILLS
MAKING THE MOST OF THEM

Cindy Gurne,President
AristotleCentral

I know, another job fair. This is the third in a month and you haven't had a job offer. Why go through the agony of getting dressed up, motivated and prepared this time. In other words, "what's in it for you"?

First of all, let me remind you that it takes (at a minimum) five interviews for every job offer. So, think back to how you got those interviews you have had: a friend, responding to an advertised job vacancy, meeting someone who "heard" about a possible opening, other. Each one of your interviews came as the result of hours of purposeful, and sometimes not so purposeful, job search activity: networking, sending out resumes, and yes, attending job fairs.

Job Fairs can be a resource for filling your interview pipeline. Job Fairs are a place where you learn of official vacancies, potential opportunities, identify the right people to follow-up with, and to pick up that extra piece of job search intelligence: where your friend or former co-worker went to work; who just won a big contract; who is bidding on a new contract; what company just decided to move to the area and will be hiring people with Your background.

Now, having given some of the Main reasons for attending Job Fairs, let me list some reasons some people should absolutely NOT attend a job fair until they have prepared:

• NO MOTIVATION

Have an idea of what you want from the Fair, and prepare to actively pursue the goal with clarity and enthusiasm. Do you want to identify the key employers in your chosen field? Do you want to find out how best to get in front of a particular person in an organization? Do you want to know what the informal system is for gaining access to people, places and things that will help the employer take note of you, eg after you send your resume, is there anything you can do to follow-up?

DON'T show-up at a job fair without a plan. Research who is going to be there. Identify the priority organizations you want to meet.

DON'T show-up looking as if this was a spur of the moment decision as you left the gym-unless of course you have the experience and credentials that every employer in the state is looking for. Even then it's somewhat of a risk. What would you think of someone you met for the first time asking about jobs in your organization who was projecting an ultra casual image.

• NO IDEA OF GOALS

All you know is that you have to get a job. Presumably everyone who is attending the Fair is looking for a job, or at least exploring options. Depending on where you are in the career planning and job search process-from exploring options to actively looking for something, anything, to implementing a well thought out career and job search strategy, you need to keep your primary goal in mind.

People who are most successful at maximizing the benefit of a Job Fair know what it is they're looking for. They make every connection count. Have you heard of the "elevator speech?" It's being able to tell someone who you are, what you do, and what you're looking for in the time it takes to travel 2-3 floors.

DON'T verbally stumble when the employer ,or the person standing in line with you, asks you what you're looking for. Who knows, that person might not be able to help you, but they might know someone else who can.

• NOT HAVING THE RIGHT TOOLS

What are important Job Fair tools? Well, they include resumes at a minimum. Also they include paper and pencil for taking down contact information and business cards. Some other important tools are less tangible. They include the skills needed to ask the right questions, communicate the person you really are and stay motivated and upbeat when it seems hopeless-or at the very least, exhausting.

You have only one time to make a good first impression, so go for the gold.

DO be yourself
DO know yourself
DO have self-confidence and know that it takes a lot of "no's" before you get a yes
DO keep reminding yourself why you're there. It's to add prospects and possibilities to your job search pipeline. Remember the more qualified leads you get in your pipeline, the more likely to connect to people who can help you, the more interviews, and the greater the chance of getting a job.
DO remember job fairs enable you to learn about employers, talk to people who work in organizations/industries in which you have an interest, and most of all, enable you to NETWORK.

Best luck and Happy Job Fairing.