Employment Interviewing (Job Fairs)

Job fairs
So many companies, so little time

Job fairs, like interviews, are face-to-face meetings between jobseekers and employers. They are one of the easiest places to find good job leads. Every employer attending is there to hire one or more workers.

At a fair, jobseekers gather information about a company to help them decide if they want to apply for a job. Recruiters staff booths and answer questions, distribute brochures, accept resumes, and size up jobseekers.

Making a good impression at a job fair may give your resume or application added weight. The following tips can help you make the most of any fair.

Find the fair. Career centers, associations, State and local governments, and private companies organize job fairs. Find the fairs in your area by looking everywhere they might be announced. Ask a career counselor, review the business bulletin board at your school or local library, check the employment section of the newspaper, and search online via an Internet job fair locator.

Ready your resume. Before attending a fair, you should prepare a resume. Bring several copies to the fair. Leave at least one with every company that seems promising.

A resume lists your name, contact information, education, and experience, both paid and unpaid. It emphasizes accomplishments and skills. Most resumes for entry-level jobs are one page.

For more information, see the article "Resumes, applications, and cover letters" in the summer 1999 00Q, available as a reprint or online at http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/employ/resumes/resumes.htm

Dress neatly. A job fair is like a series of mini-interviews, with recruiters forming impressions of the people they meet. You might not need to wear a suit, but clothes that are too casual could be a strike against you. Clothes that are too short, too tight, too worn, or too playful are particularly risky. If you are unsure about what to wear, ask a career counselor or someone from the organization sponsoring the fair.

Go alone. Leave children and other relatives at home. If you plan to attend the fair with a friend, don't appear to be inseparable when visiting booths. A professional image is easier to maintain if you speak to employers alone.

Survey the terrain and plot a strategy. When you arrive, take a quick walk through the fair. Time is limited, and booths are crowded. Plan a route before stopping at booths to see your favorite companies. Save visits with the best prospects until after you've warmed up with a few other employers.

To make the best use of your time, ask for a list of participating companies a few days before the fair, and rank visits before you arrive.

Complete applications flawlessly. When a company distributes application forms, take two. Once will be a rough draft. If you bring an application home to send late, consider adding a note saying you met the recruiter at the fair.

Master the mini-interview. Every time you speak with an employer, no matter how briefly or how boisterous the atmosphere, consider it an interview. Recruiters will expect you to introduce yourself, shake hands confidently, answer questions about your coursework or experience, and have an idea of the type of job you want.

Finding out about the company is equally important. You might ask what the hiring process is like or what jobs are available for people with your education.

Before you leave the booth, be sure to ask for the recruiter's business card.

Take notes. After visiting several booths, it's easy for conversations to run together, leaving any jobseeker muddle-headed. After each visit, take a few notes to read at home.

Stay organized. Fairgoers are deluged with paper-company literature, recruiters' business cards, applications, and their own notes. Bring a briefcase, an expandable folder, or a canvas bag to keep materials organized. Counselors suggest going through these papers while your memory is still fresh.

Apply in absentia. If you cannot attend the job fair, contact the sponsoring organization. The sponsor may be able to give your resumes to participating employers before or after the fair.