3 Ways To Make Career Fairs Worth Your Time

Posted on by DeniseMpls

1) Show up.

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” ~Wayne Gretzky

dontbelateEmployers hire PEOPLE not resumes. If you don’t go to the career fair you are missing a prime chance to talk directly with a hiring manager or other employees at the companies you want to work for. You will also miss the chance to find out about companies and opportunities you were not previously aware of.

Get dressed, be prepared and GO to the job fair.

2) Have a plan. Work your plan.

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” ~Benjamin Franklin

onehandshakeCareer fairs can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t like to talk to people or are nervous about talking about yourself. Before you go to the job fair, decide what you want to accomplish.

  • Do you want find out more about a position you have already applied for?
  • Do you want to ask questions to the representatives of three of your target employers? Or
  • Do you want to practice your elevator speech and get feedback on your resume?

Do not leave the career fair until you have accomplished your goals and know the next steps for your job search.

3) Expand your professional community.

“Anybody who succeeds is helping people. The secret to success is find a need and fill it; find a hurt and heal it; find a problem and solve it.” ~Robert H. Schuller

Job fairs are an excellent place to network with employers, recruiters, career coaches, and other job seekers. Take the time to meet with others in your industry to find out about upcoming events, hiring trends, and exchange job search information.

Remember, you have tips and resources that might not be right for you but could help someone get hired. Share what you know and be open to hear information from others at the career fair.

How to Approach a Recruiter at a Career Expo (Video from Texas BBA)

The Career Fair (Elevator) Pitch (Charlie Wilder)

More Info:

  • Why Should I Bother with Career Fairs” (DeniseMpls)
  • Tips for Getting the Most Out of a Job Fair (About.Careers)
  • Ask Matt: How should I network at a career fair? (Star Tribune)
  • VIDEO: How to Turn a Job Fair into a Job Offer (Brian Bowman)