Attending a job fair in the near future? Revision Resume has 5 tips to help you boost your success at the event.
1) Find out Details About the Job Fair Event
Try to learn as much as you can before heading to the job fair. Once you know the location, verify if it will be held indoors or outside. This will help you determine how to dress.
It can also be beneficial to know which companies will be attending. Take the time to research each company. Learn what job openings they have, as well as information about their company culture.
Think through what is important to you in your job search. Are you looking for a company that values diversity in the workplace? Are you looking for growth opportunities? Research online to see if you can locate information about your priorities for each company that will be in attendance.
2) Decide What to Wear to the Job Fair
Now that you know where the event will be held, you can determine and appropriate outfit. You want to dress professionally, but also be comfortable for the conditions.
Revision Resume recently attended a job fair that was held outside on an 80 degree day in direct sun. Attendees with a full suit on were sweating profusely. Some commented they hadn't realized it would be an outdoor event and expected air conditioning.
Would you be confident approaching an employer while covered in sweat? Make sure your performance isn't compromised (or that you are forced to leave early) because you're uncomfortable! Dress in layers (that are professional), so you can feel at ease, no matter the situation.
3) Prepare an Elevator Pitch
Prepare a short statement that introduces yourself to the potential employers. You won't have a significant amount of time, so keep it to about 30 seconds to 1 minute in length.
Try to highlight your key skills and qualifications in an engaging way. Practice your elevator pitch so you feel confident, and consider asking friends or family to give you feedback.
When delivering the pitch, maintain eye contact with the employer. If they interrupt to ask questions, let them. You don't need to barrel through the entire statement. Keep in mind that their questions are trying to find out more about you, so there should be some give and take. A job fair is a place for conversations, so be ready to engage in a discussion.
4) Print Paper Copies of your Resume
Although almost everything is done electronically these days, it is wise to bring paper copies of your resume to the job fair, and plenty of them. You may meet more than 1 person from each company so be able to hand one to each person you interact with.
Before printing your resume, consider evaluating the following:
Verify your resume is error-free. You don't want to hand over a document with obvious mistakes.
Consider making a new version of your resume just for the job fair. Remember that it won't have to go through an ATS, so you could include elements such as columns to make it more visually appealing. Don't go too wild though -- you want it to appear professional and easy to read. Too many design elements may be distracting.
Carry the paper copies of the resume in a nice folder or folio. This is part of your professional appearance, so pay attention to this detail.
5) Talk to Everyone at the Job Fair
When you research the event, you may find a few companies that are hiring for a position you would be interested in. Obviously, you will want to make sure to stop at those employers first.
However, we advise you to talk to additional businesses, as time permits. Once you have finished with your high-priority targets, consider interacting with those that might not seem as appealing. Why?
They may have a job opening that is new and not yet posted publicly. You may be surprised to find you are actually a good fit for a role at the company.
It is always beneficial to network. If they don't have something open that makes sense for your career today, they may in the future. Or, they may know another company that is looking for a job seeker with your skill set.
Many job seekers find they want to change fields in the future. Interacting with various businesses at a job fair may open your eyes to what else is out there that might be of interest.
Final Thoughts
Do you have a resume that you are proud to hand out to employers at the job fair? Are you confident it is error-free and highlights your unique skills and qualifications?
Revision Resume would be happy to help you achieve this if you aren't certain. We offer resume critiques and resume creations. Both options help job seekers feel confident when they provide a hiring manager a copy of their resume. Email us today at info@revisionresume.com to learn more!
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