What You Need To Know About Job Fairs

Every week we scour the JobCenter for the hottest jobs to share with you in the JobMonkey newsletter. One trend that we’ve noticed lately is that there are quite a few listings that advertise career fairs and job fairs.

Job fairs are one of the best ways for job seekers to meet recruiters in person. The entire job fair event is designed so that job seekers network with recruiters. It’s the perfect situation for any job seeker. If you ever have the chance to attend a job fair, take advantage of it.

Learn More About Job Fairs

Job fairs can be company specific, location specific, or industry specific. They may focus on internships, entry-level jobs, or highly skilled professional positions. You’ll usually learn these details in the initial advertisement that you find online, in the newspaper, or on the job board.

If you’ve never been to a job fair, here’s what you need to know about job fairs: Companies set up booths that are staffed with recruiters. Job seekers attend and strike up conversations with recruiters to learn more about available positions and about what the company does. In some cases the job seeker drops off a resume or even speaks directly with a recruiter. It’s all about networking and you may actually meet the people who do the hiring.

It’s up to you to make the most of a job fair. Here are a few tips:

• Be Prepared – Find out what the job fair is all about. Find a map of the job fair that shows what companies are attending and where they are located so you know who you want to talk to and where to go.
• Do Your Research – Learn about different companies before you go.
• Make Conversation – Your job fair success depends on your ability to carry a conversation with a recruiter. Here are a few tips on making job fair conversation.
• Bring Your Resume – Recruiters may ask about your background. It’s always handy to be able to hand them a hard copy of your resume.
• Have Business Cards – Life is all about who you know. Print professional business cards and hand them out. You’ll be amazed at who you’ll meet.
• Treat It Like A Job Interview – When speaking with a representative at a job fair, you may actually be speaking to the person who will ultimately hire you. Be on your best behavior and always be positive – just like you would in a job interview.
• Dress Appropriately – You need to wear appropriate clothing when you attend a job fair. Look the part and play the role.
• Sell Yourself – You’re going to get asked lots of questions. Be able to sell yourself to the recruiters.
• Say Thank You – A simple thank you goes a long way.
• Follow Up – If you make a connection at a job fair, be sure to grab the other person’s contact info so you can follow up with them in 24 to 48 hours. Here are some tips to help your job fair follow up go smoothly.

Job fairs are all about confidence, communication, and a positive attitude. Take advantage of these opportunities and you might just find yourself a job.

10 Career Fair Tips You Don’t Want To Miss

To find a job fair near you, visit the JobMonkey JobCenter. Alternatively check out National Career Fairs or your local paper. Job fairs rock.