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One of the best opportunities for finding jobs is a job fair, but only if you can find
a job fair that is in your industry. As a job candidate, you’ve probably been urged
by your family members and others concerned about your welfare to jump at every career
fair advertised, but make no mistake: this is a waste of your time. If you do find a
job fair that specifically matches your job skills, however, you’ve got a great chance
of landing a job.
Why are job fairs so awesome? Because they offer you an opportunity for an impromptu
interview. The toughest part of a job search for most candidates is just getting someone
to give them the time of day. If you are tired of having your resume continuously ignored,
you may have better luck at a job fair since you’ll have the chance to talk one-on-one
with a recruiter. But how do you prepare for a job fair?
Preparing for a job fair starts with your resume, just like always. If you don’t already
have a clean and professional resume that summarizes your abilities and accomplishments,
get one. You also probably should craft a generic cover letter that will be applicable
to the many jobs you’re going to apply for. Print out a number of copies—at least a
dozen, if not more. You’ll be handing them out at the job fair. Make an extra copy just
for you. You can fall back on your own resume in lieu of notes while you’re talking to
a recruiter (also a good idea during an interview).
Dress professionally to a job fair; one step above the level of formality you’d expect
on the job is best. Practice just like you would for an interview. Even though the conversations
you have during a job fair will be informal and you’re unlikely to get tough questions,
you’re going to still want to go in having some idea what to say (plus, in some situations
the actual hiring manager is present and will give you a formal interview, and you don’t
want to miss out on that).
The best thing you can do during a job fair is express enthusiasm if you find a position
you’re genuinely interested in. The informal nature of the conversation can play to your
advantage in a huge way. You’ll have a chance to talk about your feelings about a given
company, work location, or project in an open-ended way. If you show enough interest and excitement,
there’s a really good chance that the recruiter will promise you an interview and make a special
note to the hiring manager about how impressive you are. You rarely have such an opportunity
to stand out as an individual, even in a formal job interview where most questions are scripted
in advance. Job interviews are dialogues, but within very close constraints.
Do well preparing for a job fair and you may finally get your breakthrough.