As we head into the fall, we are also heading into networking season and Job/Career Fair season. This is a great time for job seekers to take a closer look at companies while getting the chance to talk to employees of the company. But how do you make the best of these events? We’ve got you covered! Here are some tips and tricks to remember the next time you attend a job fair!
1.Research Local Employers Attending
Before we get into tips for when you are at the job fair, let’s take a look at what you should do before you even leave your house. First and foremost, one of the most important things you should do is research the companies that will be present at the event. Doing research on the company not only lets you know what to expect but also gives you insight on what items you would want to add onto your resume AND be prepared for the conversations with the company. See a company you want to apply to? Great! Be sure to take notes about the company culture and their information. Having notes to bring and look over before chatting with the employer helps not only remind you about what you want to ask but also allows you to show off by mentioning items about their company that you read. This impresses a lot of employers and shows that you are dedicated to the company and did your research.
2. Tailor Your Resume
Now that you have done your research and have picked out specific companies you want to apply for, it is time for you to dust off your resume and make it shine. Any time you are going to a job fair you want to make sure that your resume is up to date and showcasing all of your skills and updated successes. Additionally, now that you have done your research, you also know what type of skills and requirements that specific company is looking for and can even customize your resume to cater to those skills. When you customize your resume to the specific job and company you want to apply to, it has more of a success rate of getting read and selected. Recruiters on average spend 6-8 seconds looking over a resume; if you target the key points that the company is looking for, it will stand out to them in that brief time.
3. Dress for Success
Alright, you are set with your resume and doing the hard work of dusting it off, revamping it, printing it out, and having it labeled to hand to the correct company. Now what? Well choosing an outfit of course! Many people don’t think about their outfit when going to a job fair, but if you dress up it can make a lasting impression on the recruiter. Our suggestion? Dress as if it is an interview! For all you know, this may turn into an interview on the spot so dress to impress.
4. Nail Your Elevator Pitch
You now have your resume set, your outfit picked… what else is there to do before the event? Your elevator speech of course. An elevator speech is important during events like this where you may have limited time to talk to the recruiter, so you have to make sure that you market yourself in a condensed manner that lands your skills and value to them in a short amount of time. Be precise, get your point across, and show them how you are a perfect fit for the job.
Example: “Hi, I’m Alex, a certified medical assistant with three years of experience in outpatient care. I’m passionate about patient advocacy and excited to learn more about your team at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.”
5.Take Notes and obtain contact info
Now you’re ready to go to the event. Make sure to grab your resumes and your notebook because there is going to be a lot of networking to be done at this event. When at the event, make sure to use your elevator speech, ask questions about the work culture, and take notes! Taking notes during the chat not only shows that you are attentive, this also helps you remember what was discussed after a busy day and any next steps that may have been discussed. Before you leave the table, be sure to grab a business card from the person you were talking to for contact information. Make sure to do this for every table you visit and network as much as you can, even if it isn’t a company you want to work for. Continuing to network with anyone you can helps plant the seed of what you are looking for. For all you know, the person you are talking to may have a lead to another opportunity not present at the job fair!
6. Follow Up!
You finally finished the event, you have your business cards, notes, and feel like you have leads to your next step. That’s all you have to do, right? Wrong. The most important part of attending events like this is showing your interest after the event and following up! Take those business cards of everyone you talked to and send them an email recapping what you talked about and thank them for their time. This shows your interest in the company, keeps the connection strong, and shows professionalism. You can even add those who you spoke to on LinkedIn if it is listed on their card to keep a continuous interaction with them on a different platform.
“Following up after any networking event is super important! Not only does it show your interest, it also stands out to those you spoke with as going the extra mile and being professional.” said Julya Nichols, Marketing and Social Media Specialist of PA CareerLink® Lancaster County.
Congratulations! You are now prepared to make the most out of your next job/career fair. Remember these tips and make a lasting impression on any recruiter.