Job Fair Success

A great deal of pursuing employment is impersonal. You search for job listings online. You apply through company application portals. You receive email responses. When we hear about a job fair coming to town, it tends to get our attention and possibly provide a ray of hope. The fact that 50 companies will be represented at a fair sounds like a recipe for success. But is it really a successful strategy? Many job seekers report frustration after attending a job fair. They stood on long lines. Printed out tons of resumes. Collected business cards and nothing came of any of it. Certainly not a job.

The job fair doesn't have to be a frustrating experience for you either. You could just choose to skip the fair, which will be the best course of action  in some situations, but then you will miss out on any potential opportunities that may have been available. With a concrete plan and strategy, you can make the job fair experience a successful one for yourself. In this book, we will examine how to prepare for a job fair, what to do during the fair and how to follow up once the fair has concluded.

PREPARING FOR A JOB FAIR

The first thing to do when you hear that a job fair will be coming to town is to consider whether it is a worthwhile experience for you to participate in. Not all job fairs are created equal. Some fairs are industry specific, some are run as community events and others are run of the mill, regular events.

Let's start with the regular run of the mill fair. These fairs may be held on a regular or semi regular basis. The promoter of the fair makes money by selling as many vendor slots as possible to exhibitors. The vendor is not concerned whether those exhibitors have actual jobs to offer or whether there are only commission and multi-level marketing based opportunities.

Job fairs run as community events often have sponsorship, such as an elected representative or a not for profit organization. The goal of the organizers is to bring in employers that can provide jobs or opportunities to the community. Exhibitors can attend at a reduced rate or even for free in many cases. If screened properly by the organizers, the quality of the exhibitors should be higher than at a regular fair.

The challenge in either type of fair, whether it is a commercial enterprise or a community event is that it is often a mish mash of job opportunities. If you are seeking a job in a specific industry and role, it may be hard to find what you want. Industry specific fairs allow you to meet employers in your specific industry or job type of focus. Examples include technology job fairs and healthcare job fairs.

Industry specific fairs tend to be the best use of a job seeker's time.  In this circumstance, it is clear that many, if not all, of the exhibitors are recruiting for your industry. Fairs that are run as community events may not have the specific industry contacts you are seeking but will have a higher collection of "serious" employers as compared to a run of the mill fair.

Unless it is a small startup company, the role of company representatives at job fairs is that of Recruiter. Recruiters are there to act as gate keepers on behalf of their companies. They screen candidates for appropriateness before making a referral to a hiring manager. At the job fair, the recruiter is not even doing much screening. They are disseminating information about how to apply online or collecting resumes.

Some recruiters conduct brief mini interviews at job fairs. You may be prompted to sit down in front of the table or even stand. This will serve as a mini pre-screening to determine if you should have call an interview at the office. This is just step one so don't expect to receive a job offer from this experience.

Here are some common questions to keep in mind:

 

1. What do you know about our company?

Why this question is being asked:  To learn if you have done your research into the company because you are especially interested in this position, or if you are just applying for any old job.

Strategy: You don’t have to give the company history dating back to 1925, but show an understanding of the core business, how the company operates and if possible, what you know about the specific department you are interviewing for.

Sample answer: I have been following your company closely for the last several years. Your company became an innovator in the industry by adapting the use of cutting edge fulfillment technologies. You are data driven and each employee is empowered to succeed or fail on his or her own. The research department has been lauded for its use of several mathematical principles to deliver results.

 

1. What salary range are you looking for?

Why this question is being asked:  To determine your expectations of salary as compared to what the company would like to pay.

Strategy: Based on your prior research, provide a salary range and not just one number. Make it clear that it is not only about the salary.

Sample answer: Well, it is not only about the salary to me as I am looking to contribute and become a partner in success with your organization. I am seeking a salary within the range of $90,000-115,000 per year, depending on the benefits and incentives of course.

 

1. Are you willing to relocate?

Why this question is being asked:  If you are out of the area, the company wants to know if you are serious about the job and would relocate.

Strategy: Make it clear that your interest is genuine in the position and you have begun the exploratory stages to learn more about the area.

Sample answer: Oh yes, I am very serious about considering this area for my next move. Along with flying in for the interview on Thursday, I’ve taken Friday off in order to get a better sense of the neighborhood, check out schools for my kids and learn more about the community.

 

1. Why was there a gap in employment between [insert dates] and [insert date]?

Why this question is being asked: The interviewer wants to get a sense of your work ethic and is concerned about the gap in employment. He/she wants to know if you were let go and why.

Strategy: Even if the reason leading to an employment gap was not your decision, frame the answer in a positive sense. Explain what mistakes you may have learned from and how it will make you a better worker in the future.

Sample answer: Unfortunately, I was let go due to downsizing. I did enjoy my year and half at the company. It allowed me to learn more about the banking industry and demonstrate my skills. At the beginning, it was a little rough managing my time effectively but I improved vastly and I look forward to bringing my sharpened abilities to the next opportunity.

 

1. Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.

Why this question is being asked: By learning about what you’ve accomplished in the past, the interviewer has a better sense of what you may accomplish in the future.

Strategy: Paint a picture with your words of an accomplishment that would be relevant to the position for which you are applying.

Sample answer: I was called upon to do a job meant for two people. I was able not only to meet the demands of both positions, but to really excel. As the company acquired various new businesses, the CEO was looking for someone who already had experience in account management to lead a new team. I was asked to do so while maintaining my old position as well. I would spend two and a half days at each site per week. Through maximizing resources, especially leaning on technology as a communication tool, I was able to stay on top of both roles and exceed expectations.

 

1. What are your goals?

Why this question is being asked: The interviewer wants to know if your goals align with those of the organization.

Strategy: Focus on an “everybody wins” approach as opposed to only what you want. Be specific as to the items relevant to the industry that you would like to accomplish but avoid naming a specific job title.

Sample answer: I want to continue to contribute to a media organization in a meaningful way. My exact job title is not as important to me as the type of work that I would be doing. I know that if I can contribute positively, the company will benefit and we will all win in the end.

 

1. Tell me about yourself.

Why this question is being asked: The interviewer would like to know about the professional you and understand your qualifications for the job.

Strategy: Focus on the professional you. The interviewer does not want to know about where you took your last vacation or what your favorite pastime is. Provide an introduction to your relevant experience, education, skills and knowledge that will be discussed more in-depth over the course of the interview.

Sample answer: I am a Public Accountant with ten years of experience in the field. I recently received my CPA. For the last 6 years, I’ve worked for Smithson Auditors in a senior capacity. Prior to that, I worked for Jacoby Accounting. Supervisors have described me as a quick learner and a great team player.

 

1. What are your best skills?

Why this question is being asked: Weighing the skills that you bring to the table is an important part of the decision making process for the interviewer.

Strategy: Focus on the skills that would be most appropriate for the job for which you are interviewing. You don’t want to simply name your skills as if you are writing a grocery list. Instead, take this opportunity to explain your proficiency in utilizing each skill on the job.

Sample answer: I am a great communicator. I can present my ideas well in-person, in writing and through social media. I’ve worked hard to sharpen those skills because I feel that the value of a great idea is lost if I can’t present it in a way that others can understand. 

I am a real team player. There is no room for a “me first” attitude in the workplace and we all have to work together in order to meet objectives. Once I’ve completed my work, I’ll walk around my department and ask my co-workers if there is anything I can do to help contribute.

 

1. Describe a situation in which you dealt with a difficult customer.

Why this question is being asked:  As handling difficult customers is a regular occurrence in many jobs, the interviewer wants to understand how you would best manage the situation.

Strategy: Provide some background into the situation before explaining how you handled the customer and what the end result was.  

Sample answer: Our customer had ordered 100 copies of our art book to use as a giveaway for a fundraiser he was having. When he contacted us, the event was two days away and he was very disappointed to receive the black and white version of the book rather than the color. He explained that his budget had already been exhausted and he had promoted the giveaway already. As I saw that the customer had been with us for years, I decided that it would be best for business long term if we overnighted 100 color copies and ate the cost. He was thrilled and it got us some great publicity in the nonprofit world plus a very loyal customer.

 

 

 

Be cautious of fairs that charge a high rate of admittance. Most of the time, the fair promoter (no pun intended) is making the bulk of the money from exhibitors, who are charged for a table and to be included in promotional materials. The exhibitors want as many job seekers as possible to attend and a low cost of admittance, if not a free event, will help to ensure that.

In the case of an industry specific job fair, there will naturally be less overall exhibitors and job seekers. In order to defray costs, the price of admittance might be higher in this circumstance. Here is an example of an increasingly common occurrence as it comes to job fairs and career events:   Madison Square Garden held a job fair. With MSG affiliated teams represented and lots of other local institutions present, it sounds like a cool opportunity to get a foot in the door to a sports organization. What's the catch? You may have to pay $65 to attend.

Is this practice right or wrong? On the one hand, we've been trained to expect most job fairs to be free. As job seekers, we are giving of our time to allow access to employers to find the best candidates.  On the other hand, organizing a large event costs money, time and resources. Would it be worth MSG's time to hold a recruitment event if there was not a fee to the job seeker? I don't know. Their responsibility, after all, is to bring value to shareholders.

I lean on the side of feeling it doesn't sit right to charge job seekers for this level of access. While it may not be a "bad" thing, I feel that it plays on people's desperation. So many people want a job, any job, let alone access to an event that sells the "dream" of working in big time sports (New York Knick jokes aside) and will be willing to pay for access, even if the chances are slim of obtaining such employment. 

No matter which company or organization is running the event, find out which exhibitors/employers will be in attendance. The list is often available on the promotional materials or on the promoters website. Take the name of every company that is not familiar to you and look up company websites. Read what industry the company is in. Learn how the company conducts business. Research the job opportunities that are listed on the website. Determine if this is a company that you would like to speak with.

Now look at your results. Of the exhibitors listed, is there a decent handful that would make it worth your time to attend? If there are no companies that interest you, it may not be worth your while. If you have a decent handful that interest you, it is time to move forward with your preparation.

Make sure you have a list of the companies that you plan to see at the fair. As time can be limited and lines long, planning will allow you to maximize your time to ensure that you will be able to stop by the tables that interest you most.

Conduct research on the companies that have peaked your interest. Most fair attendees expect the company representatives to tell them about the company and the opportunities that are available. By conducting enough research that you can demonstrate a solid understanding of their business and what peaked your interest, you will stand out as a more memorable candidate. If you are able to take your research a step further and find a job listed on the company website or via an Indeed.com search, you will be better able to direct the conversation. Prepare a handful of questions to ask each company. Questions that should be avoided include salary inquiries and how much overtime is required. Focus on questions that relate to the core values of the company, the culture and the qualities of successful employees.

Similarly, your research should lead you to a conclusion of what companies you should avoid. You may be thinking that you do not want to avoid any companies. You are in need of a job after all. You must understand that many companies attend job fairs only to recruit for multi-level marketing (MLM) positions or for commission based opportunities. If this is what you are seeking, great. If you are looking for a salaried position, or at least one with a salary + commission structure, you are going to want to avoid these tables.

Some very legitimate companies regularly recruit for commission based opportunities. This is nearly the backbone of the insurance and financial industries. Companies like this are not recruiting for all of the vacancies available at the fair. The recruiters are in attendance to hire exclusively for commission based positions.

Once you have a strategy as to which exhibitor tables you plan to visit, begin gathering the documents you will need as well as your attire.

You may assume that everybody dresses professionally for a job fair. This is not the case. When job seekers attend only as information gatherers and are not prepared to make the right impression, they dress however they want. Don't be surprised to see jeans, t-shirts and baseball at a job fair. When you take the time to make sure that your best business attire is freshly cleaned and in tip top shape, you will immediately stand out above most candidates.

Print double the number of resumes then you actually plan to distribute. It is better to have more than you will ever need as opposed to less. Resume paper is not as essential as it used to be. The most valuable part of the resume is the information that is contained within. Plan white printer paper is fine for your resume.

If you have a variety of diverse skills that can vary based on the industry, consider bringing more than one type of resume. If some skills lend themselves better to the accounting industry while others work better in a marketing firm, consider having different resumes for each. At the fair, distribute as you feel would be most appealing to each employer.

Bring an over the shoulder bag or a portfolio holder that can fit not only the resumes that you bring but any of the information that you collect. Be sure to carry any extras that you may need as well such as a pen, water bottle and a light snack (avoid anything stinky like a tuna or egg salad sandwich).

Higher profile job fairs have long lines and thus longer wait times to get in. If you are unfamiliar with the location, consider doing a dry run to the neighborhood to familiarize yourself. Leave time so that you arrive before the doors open to maximize the use if your time for the day. If there is any online registration available, try to take care of that well in advance. If printing out a confirmation ticket is required, don't wait until the morning of the fair. We all know that the printer jams or runs out of ink at the least opportune times.

 

AT THE JOB FAIR

You have made it. The day of the job fair has arrived. Your advance preparation was just the start. You have to be sharp and on your game today if you are looking to achieve positive results.

If the line is long when you arrive, be patient. You never know who us watching. The wait time allows you the opportunity to network with other job seekers. Even speaking briefly to people in a similar situation to you should help to calm your nerves. You'll find that other job seekers are much less prepared for this event then you are. If you get a good vibe about someone, suggest that you connect via LinkedIn. You'd be surprised at how much job seekers in similar situations can help each other.

Once you've made it through the door, take a moment to look around. Take a walk around the perimeter to familiarize yourself with the layout of exhibitors. Make a note of where the employers are that interest you most so that you can concentrate on going over to those tables today. Taking a moment before you dive in will allow you to calm your nerves while making a plan.

When you go over to a table, wait patiently on the line. Allow the person in front of you to finish talking before you try to get the attention of the company representative. When it is your turn, extended your hand for a handshake and give eye contact. Provide your name and demonstrate your research by sharing one or two things you've learned about the company.

"Good morning. My name is Dave. I am so happy that Flux Systems is here today. Your innovative strategies for flux production is something that I am following closely".

You are more likely to impress by showing your research off the bat as opposed to asking about job opportunities first.

Share a bit about your background, if the opportunity presents itself. If you had seen job vacancies listed online that matched your skill set, share that information as well:

"I am an experienced Quality Assurance Engineer. I noticed that you are seeking to fill a QA position in Newark. Are you familiar with that opportunity?"

Most likely you'll be told to apply on the website and hand over your resume. If you take no further action, you might as well have stayed home and applied online. This is your opportunity to be proactive and take action:

"Thank you very much. I will definitely apply online. With the high profile of your organization and many interested applicants, I know that it can be hard to stand out. May I email you once I've applied?"

Many times the answer will be a big NO but sometimes the answer will be yes. When it is a yes, you are on the road to greatly increasing your chances of getting the job. If that recruiter forwards your information to the hiring manager or the appropriate recruiter (larger companies have several recruiters on staff), your resume is more likely to be seen and you will be considered for an interview.

Ask for a business card. This will be important for a thank you note later. Before providing your resume, ask if you should make a note at the top to indicate the position that you discussed. If this stack of resumes us reviewed, yours may trigger a reminder of your meeting. Notice that I said "if". Many times resumes are collected and never reviewed.

If you are given the opportunity for a mini interview at the fair, focus your answers on what would be appealing for the interviewer to know about you that would be a fit for the position. Be sure to mention your appropriate experience, skills and abilities. Before answering any question, think to yourself how you can answer the question honestly while demonstrating that you are the best fit for the job. The recruiter doesn't want to know your life story but information about how you are a fit for the position. Your prior experience, skills and background will help the recruiter to fill in any question marks when deciding whether to call you in for the next step.

Your opportunity to have the recruiter's attention will be brief so do make the most of it. Pay attention to social cues. If the recruiter is looking past you and at the long line behind you, it is time to thank the person and move on to the next table. You will not win him or her over by continuing to talk someone's ear off. Make the best impression that you can and move on to the next table.

Don't be too hard on yourself if you are having difficulty making a good impression with the recruiter. Those who staff tables at these events are often entry-level professionals and not always thrilled to be there. Some recruiters will play with their phones the whole time, not want to make eye contact or look stone faced. You can only be the best professional you that you can. Keep putting the best you out there and good things are more likely to happen.

After you have made contact with the organizations that you planned to, scope out which other companies are represented. Speak to the recruiters and find out the vacancies that they are trying to fill. You may be surprised that there is an even better opportunity at a company that you hadn't planned to speak with as opposed to those that you had.

Once you've walked the floor of the job fair again and made sure you didn't miss anyone, gather up your things and head out. Consider grabbing a bite to eat before you head home and gathering your thoughts.While you are snacking, look over the materials that you gathered and write down some notes. Was there a specific conversation that stood out to you at the fair? Was a recruiter impressed with a skill or ability that you possess? Was there something a recruiter told you that really made an impression on you? Keep track of this information as you will use it shortly.

 

POST INTERVIEW

You did it. You made through another (or perhaps, your first) job fair. Your preparation allowed you to put your best foot forward and put yourself in the best position to move on to the next steps. Don't relax for too long though as you will need a plan to move things forward from here.

It is likely that each recruiter met with hundreds of candidates the same day that he or she met with you. You did your best to make a good impression and to stand out but you have to do more.

Gather email addresses from recruiter business cards that you received as well as your notes on each employer. Take the time to craft a well thought out thank you note to each employer as well as attach your resume as a Microsoft Word document or a PDF. Even though you provided your resume at the job fair, the recruiter received hundreds of resume and you don't want the person to have to search files for your information. If you were asked to apply online, be sure to do so before you follow up.

The best time to follow up is two business days after the fair. This will allow the recruiter time to settle back in the office but it is still fresh enough that the person may remember you.

Here is a sample thank you note:

"Dear Mr. Smith,

It was a pleasure meeting you on Tuesday at the Metropolitan job fair. It was exciting to learn how my quality assurance skills would fit nicely as you expand in the San Francisco market.

As per your helpful suggestion, I've applied through your website for position #2122 QA MANAGER.

Just in case, I've attached my resume. Please let me know if I can lend any additional clarity.

Regards-"

 

Initial outreach via email works best. Contacting a busy recruiter by phone will be met with resistance. You will have to prove that you are worthy of his or her time and may even be interrupting the person from a busy project. Email is the path of least resistance as the person can read the message and respond when time allows.

If you feel that you can make a great impression on the phone, consider calling after a week if you do not get a response by email. When you call, have your notes in front of you. Be prepared to be succinct as to explain what you are calling about. Have specifics available as to the job you applied for or in absence of a specific position, the type of job that would interest you. Prepare a few engaging sentences as to why you are qualified.

Pay attention to what the recruiter is saying to you on the phone. If he or she is saying that now is not the right time to talk, don't try to keep the person on the phone as long as possible. Try to make the best impression that you can in your brief time on the phone.

You've now done all you could do and put yourself into the best position possible to get a job by attending a job fair. You've prepared properly in advance of the fair. You maximized your time at the job fair and made the best possible impression with recruiters and you've followed up appropriately.