If you are planning on heading out to a Job Fair, most likely you are either currently looking for a new job opportunity, or considering a change in your present career path. Job Fairs offer multiple opportunities for exploring options in promoting your personal and professional development.
You will find that Job Fairs provide valuable networking avenues with actual employers, their hiring managers, recruiters, or even other job seekers. Discover leads on new companies coming to your area, or even browse the incentives employers provide for relocating in your current career field. No matter what reason you decide to check out the upcoming Job Fair, there are some things you should consider before you set out on your adventure.
The companies, employers and recruiters that line the isles to market the benefits of working with their organization are serious. They wouldn’t be there if they were not searching for the next potential employee to add as an asset to their staff. By realizing that they are scanning the room for potential candidates, just as you are scanning for new job opportunities you will have already taken a step closer to opening the door to a new phase in your career development.
The best things happen to those who are proactive in setting and reaching goals.
Take the time to consider some of the following tips as you prepare to screen employment opportunities and before you stop in at the next Job Fair.
Research - Obtain a List of potential Employers. By knowing what companies are planning to attend the Job Fair, you will have a pretty good idea of the career fields and employment opportunities available. Highlight some of the companies that you may be interested in. Create a schedule for your visit, and place these companies in an order of precedence which best supports your objectives. Then, research each company and make a few notes that you can review prior to your visit with them. By looking these companies up online, and reading about the services, products, mission, values, corporate goals and career development opportunities they provide; you will sound well informed when you approach a prospective employer to inquire about current vacancies. Job Fairs can be very small with only 25 employers; others can be huge and support a hundred or more. Time will be limited with representatives, but by being prepared you can use that time wisely with key comments and questions.
This tactic will immediately help you stand out above the other job seekers who just stop by for a brochure; not really having a particular goal, or knowing what they are actually there looking for.
Identify Your Personal Career Goals. If you are seeking a particular position, make sure you know everything there is to know about it and be able to portray your knowledge. You can’t impress a potential employer by hoping they will give you a shot at an opening that you know nothing about. Once you identify a particular area of interest, you must also know the job description, the industry and how to portray to the hiring authority that you are the best pick for the job. On the other hand, if you are not sure exactly what your career goals are, make notes and obtain employer information so that you can research opportunities in order to return to the Job Fair another day. It isn’t wise to waste your time, the employer’s time; or hinder the goals of others who have mapped out their objectives.
Plan to Market Yourself - Network. Look at this opportunity as a potential “on-the-spot” interview. Make sure you have your Résumé updated, and numerous copies available.
