EDITOR'S POST
What are some common job fair hints?
Q. What are some common job fair hints?
A. Job fairs (career fairs) are gatherings where many entry-level candidates meet with recruiters from one or more organization for brief interviews. Most job fairs involve face-to-face contact, but Internet job fairs over the IRC are becoming more common.
Things to bring along:
- Many copies of your resume. Cover letters are not needed, since you are presenting it in person.
- Recent graduates should have their school transcripts. In some fields it's useful to bring along samples of your work; a list of/recommendation letters from your references; evaluations (such as student evaluations); and books to refer to if a technical question arises. Bring many copies of any materials you plan to give away; it's better to waste a few dollars on extra copies than to run out.
- A notepad and several pens to take notes as you talk to the recruiters.
- A briefcase (not a knapsack, not a plastic bag) to carry all of the above, plus the materials and business cards you'll collect from the recruiters.
- Before you stand in any lines, walk around the entire fair, see who's present, and plan which recruiters you want to talk to. Pick up the literature from the companies you're interested in; these often run out early, and make useful reading while you wait in lines. If a recruiter tells you that the displayed materials are only for candidates they already have an interest in, you can respond, I'm planning to stand in line and want to learn more about your company during the wait, or reconsider whether you want to talk to them anymore.
As you stand in line to talk to a recruiter, try to listen carefully to what s/he's telling the candidates in front of you. The same questions will probably be posed to you in a few minutes and you'll have more time to think about the answers. You may also hear another candidate being told that the company is not currently interested in a his skillset, which happens to be similar to yours. It may mean that you shouldn't waste your time standing in this line, or it may really mean that they didn't like only this particular person, but might be interested in you.