Job Fair Preparation Tips for Career Seekers to Get Hired

What is a job fair

A job fair is an event usually organized by a third party recruitment consultant at a neutral venue like a school/college auditorium where multiple employers come under one roof to select people according to their requirements. More and more companies are saving time and by participating in job fairs as they can put up a stall and meet multiple candidates on the same day.

For a fresh graduate or an executive with 1-2years of experience, a job fair can be a great event to evaluate career options in different sectors like BPOs, hospitality, banks, retail, and I.T. A job fair can be a great event to evaluate one's career options in different sectors. Many career seekers are confused to evaluate all the options available on a job fair. But a job fair is an opportunity to contact many potential employers all within one place, learn more about the companies, meet and share ideas with fellow career seekers and build professional contacts and may even land a job.

Follow these tips to prepare yourself before come to the job fair

1 What to Bring

Pack 20-30 copies of your resume, which effectively represents your educational background, skills, and abilities. If you expect companies from multiple sectors, you may carry two or three resumes with different career objectives. Carry all your documents in a professional way. Make sure that you have copies of your resumes, mark-sheet, certificates and reference letters in your file.

2 What to Wear

Stick to conservative professional attire and be neatly groomed. Try to avoid jeans and t-shirts and go for business casuals.

3 Do Some Research

From the advertisement or the website sponsoring the job fair, create the list of employers scheduled to attend the event you intend to go. From this list select some companies that you would like to target and visit their websites to get some basic information like - turnover of the company, number of employees, products/services they offer, etc. Jot down relevant information on your notepad and carry this in your file.

4 Arrive Early

If the job fair is scheduled to start at 10.am, be there at 10.15 am. This will help you because the recruiters are fresh and attentive during the start of the day and most of your competitors may not even have arrived. Then focus to visit the stalls of employers you are most interested in working for first.

Follow these tips to prepare yourself while you are at the job fair

1 Here are some tips you can follow while you are at the job fair. The first one first, doesn't hit multiple stalls with a group of friends. Try to interact with the recruiters on your own and make your own positive impression, as this is not a group activity. Be prepared with your 2-3 lines sales script to share basic information about yourself and your career interests.

The following example will help you get started.

Smile, provide a firm handshake and say: "Good morning. My name is (your name) and I am (your education details). I am interested in (the position you are interested in the company). I did my (previous training or experience related to the position). Here is my resume for your review."

2 Step back enough to listen to the employers speaking to other candidates and decide if you need to adjust your pitch.

3 While you are at the job fair you'll probably be asked to fill out an application form after you submit your resume. Be sure to bring a pen and a "cheat sheet" with the information you'll need to complete job applications on the spot. This is less complicated than copying everything from your resume and will save you time.

4 Be prepared for an interview. Some companies may have booked exclusive space to conduct interviews with candidates they like. Here are some questions you can ask to show genuine interest:

What are the kinds of assignments given to new recruits?

What type of training is provided?

What career opportunities are available in your organization?

5 Keep track of where you submit your resumes and make a list of the companies you apply for. Jot down notes about conversations you have with representatives or topics discussed during interviews. This will help you when you get a call from them later.

Salary

Some companies especially BPOs may even give you the final offer on the spot. It helps to do some research and find out the salary range for the positions you are interested in. Companies usually have standard slabs and do not negotiate with freshers.

Follow up

1 Get their business cards

Collect business cards from recruiters you speak to. Make small notes about the company and the job profile offered on the back of the card. You can use this information later to follow up if their offer sounds good.

2 Get Brochures/CD's/Pamphlets

Most companies stock brochures, CD's, job description pamphlets, and other data at their stall. Pick them up for future reference, as you won't have time to deal with these at the fair.

3 Send a thank-you note if possible

Send a thank-you note to every employer you speak to at the job fair if you have their e-mail ids.

See Also
How to prepare for a job interview

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