Tempesta & Associates, Inc. - Getting the Most Out of Job Fairs

Getting the Most Out of Job Fairs

written by: Kathy Bornheimer

Job and Career fairs are becoming more popular as employers continue to feel the need to be creative in their quest for good workers. Job fairs may be held by single employers or they may be sponsored by a school or organization, featuring many employers. The job seekers can use these events as opportunities to obtain good information about a company or various companies. View going to a job fair as you would a shopping trip. A single-employer event is like going to a specialty store, "Your selections are limited but you are still able to browse".

Multiple employer job fairs are like going to a mall, "The selections are much more broad and they are all under one roof". Both types of fairs have their merits, the one you choose depends on your wants.

Single-employer job fairs

Evaluate the company's representatives at the fair. These people are examples of the type of employees who work there. You will be most successful with people who match your skills and personality.
Review the material the company has set out, such as company brochures, newsletters or any other information provided.
Ask questions about the company, its products and /or services and the types of positions currently available. Get the employee representative talking so that you get past the surface of what is presented.
Be in your interview mode. Be prepared to provide a resume if one is requested of you.
Take one or two application forms to fill out (you might want to take a spare, in case you make a mistake). If allowed fill out the form at home where you have access to all the information you might need, including addresses and telephone numbers of past employers and references.
Mail or drop off the application with an attached resume soon after the job fair. In your cover letter, indicate your participation in the fair and which position or positions you are applying for.
Typically, job fair representatives take up to four weeks for processing. Follow up with a telephone call to make sure that your application and resume were received.

Multiple-employer job fairs

Remember you are at the mall now. Check the list of participating companies and the map, if one is provided. Cruse the area. Pass up companies that don't fit your needs. Now go back to the remaining ones and check them out. Observe how creative they are in attracting people to their area, both in set up and staff performance.

Collect literature and business cards.
Go to a quit area to read the literature and review the business cards to narrow down your selection.
Choose the employers to return to based on your criteria, giving special attention to the ones with attentive representatives.
Discuss the organization, its products and/or services and the types of positions currently available.
Provide a resume if requested.
Be prepared to interview, but be concise, saving in-depth details for the on-site interview.
After you return home, choose your favorite companies from your list of keepers. Use the business cards to send resumes and letters to the appropriate people, if you did not provide a resume at the fair. Indicate your participation at the job fair.

Follow-up in both the single-employer and multiple-employer job fairs is just as important as attending. Send thank-you notes to all company representatives who spent time with you. At job fairs you are one of many and may get lost in the crowd, even if you made a stellar impression on the company. Contacting companies will refresh the memories of those who met you at the fair.

If you are currently employed, check the list of participants thoroughly before attending, so as to avoid the embarrassment of encountering your own employer.

Your purpose in attending job fairs is to explore and investigate employment opportunities- in other words, to do comparison shopping. Job fairs offer exposure to multiple organizations. You are there to exclude as well as include those companies you may want to work with.

Dress for success, gather information, take your information home and follow through with your selected companies. Doing so will make your trip to the job fair profitable.

Tempesta & Associates, Inc.
6525 North Green Bay Road
Milwaukee, WI 53209

414-967-9250