How to Successfully Work a Career Fair

• Preparation And Planning Ahead
  1. Focus: Employers are attracted to candidates who have clearly defined career goals and objectives. Take some time to reflect on your skills, education, work experience, personality, and aspirations to determine the kind of job you’re looking for. There’s nothing worse than telling an employer “I’ll take anything” or answering “I don’t know” when asked about your interests. If you need help finding focus, take advantage of the career guidance offered in the Career Services office by scheduling an appointment, (631) 244-3391. Also, consider the following to help get you started:
     • Strengths and Weaknesses: Think about educational experiences and jobs you have had. Make an itemized list of your accomplishments, strengths and weaknesses with reference to actual experiences you have had. This will prepare you for “behavioral interviewing”: being able to respond to questions about your skills and strengths with references to real experiences that you’ve had. Your behavior/performance in past situations will serve as the most positive reference to potential employers about your potential for behavior in future work-related situations.
     • Know what you are looking for:
       • Co-op/Internship or other educationally related work experience
       • Part-time job
       • Full-time job
       • Possible careers and career paths you are interested in
       • Geographic locations you’re willing to travel or relocate to
       • Educational/ training requirements that you will need to meet or are striving to achieve
       • Approximate Salary or Wage range that you are able to consider (NOTE: Always allow the recruiter to be the first to bring up salary until an offer for employment is made. There are only rare exceptions to this rule. You should always have contemplated your high-end salary objectives and bare minimums before the topic of compensation comes up.)
     * You will likely have other items to add to your own personal list. Prospective employers and recruiters will value a candidate who knows what he/she is looking for.
  2. Dress Professionally: First impressions count! A well-groomed and professional appearance means you’re taking the job seriously, even before you’re hired. You don’t want to be remembered as the gum-chewing guy in shorts, flip-flops, and a muscle tee who just dropped in on his way to the gym.
  3. Bring Many Copies of Your Resume: Be prepared to paper the hall with your resume. Leave a resume with every recruiter you speak with and consider leaving resumes even with those companies who may not have a job opening that’s right for you at this time. Like your appearance, your resume should be clean, polished and professional, with your contact information up-to-date and clearly visible. And don’t forget to bring pen and paper so that you can make notes as you meet with potential employers.
  4. Research Companies: Do your homework. Before attending a Career Fair, get to know the companies recruiting by visiting their Web sites and looking through trade magazines, so that you can familiarize yourself with their product lines and corporate goals. This information will help you ask informed questions about the companies and their positions available, and will show recruiters that you’re enthusiastic.
  5. Location: Know where the event is being held and how to get there, what resources you will have for taking notes, nourishment, parking, etc.
• The Actual Event
  1. Arrive early: You may find it easier to navigate the event and other lurking opportunities, and may even be able to avoid some inevitable lines.
  2. Talk to Every Company: Even if a company doesn't list the position you are qualified for, talk to the recruiter and leave a resume. They may not be advertising every position. Be sure to ask for a business card so that you can contact them after Career Fair.
  3. Conduct Yourself as You Would for an Interview: Make eye contact, introduce yourself, ask questions, have a firm handshake, smile, stand up straight, don't chew gum,dress professionally, and be confident. Whew! And remember – a Career Fair is your “first date,” and probably not a good time to talk salary – that is, unless the recruiter brings it up first.
  4. Take notes: Take a moment after meeting with each recruiter to record notes about your exchange: perhaps what you’ve learned about their opportunities and the company, who you spoke with, where to contact them via phone, fax, mail and web/e-mail, and most importantly, your impressions about the company, opportunity and individual and your own performance. By the end of the event you will have met with more new people than you might be able to accurately recall. Record keeping is important for successful follow-up.
  5. Finally, Remember the 3 Ps: Politeness. Polish. Positive attitude. Nothing exudes confidence more than a warm, friendly person who can speak positively and enthusiastically about themselves, the company they’re interviewing with and the industry they’re looking to enter. Don’t just tell recruiters what an asset you are, show them!
• Follow-up
  Make a positive, lasting impression. After a Career Fair, follow up with recruiters you spoke with to confirm your enthusiasm and interest in a company. You can do this by either making a personal phone call or writing a thank you letter. If possible, highlight any special aspects of the exchange that you shared with them. Do this AS SOON AS POSSIBLE while the chance that you will be personally recalled is greatest!