Preparing Job Fair

Preparing Job Fair

You recently heard somewhere that a job fair is an excellent way to meet lots of potential employers and maximize your job search time. To locate upcoming job fairs:
• Review media, including free job publications. Don’t forget to check radio and TV stations.
• Check your target companies’ Career section Web sites. They’ll often promote job fairs they’re attending.
• Contact college career service offices in your area. They regularly conduct or know of job fairs. Non-students or alumni may be welcome.
• Search the Internet using the key words “job fair” or “career fair” and your city and state.
• Bookmark your favorite job search resources for upcoming job fairs and locations, as well as preparation tips.
To prepare for a job fair, follow these suggestions:
• Register for the job fair in advance. Be sure to get a copy of the hiring company exhibitors.
• Select the companies you’re most interested in and research their Web sites, annual reports and recent media coverage. Talk to your networking contacts.
• Develop your “elevator pitch” that explains what you do, what you bring to the table, and how this aligns with the company’s business.
• Develop a list of questions to ask. The worst question you can ask at a job fair is, “What do you do?” A more appropriate question might be, “I saw in your most recent annual report that you are expanding your marketing operations.
While at the job fair, make sure you: Seek out your targeted companies and introduce yourself with a firm handshake and confident demeanor; Pitch your candidacy for a position; Ask questions and make a connection; Get business cards of people you meet at the booths.

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