Getting the MOST from Job Fairs!

Produced by Virginia Cox, Ph.D., West Virginia University

Edited by Julie Levitt
Slide Number: 1

A sense of purpose generates action and

movement in the direction of dreams and
goals. Set your sights on what you want in
your career and then make it happen. Now,
what are you waiting for?
~~Joan C. Borgatti

Slide Number: 2

What is a Job Fair?

A job fair (or career fair) is typically a
one-day event sponsored by schools
and employers. The purpose is to
provide opportunities for employers
to meet with job seekers to explore
job matches.
These fairs are offered in campus or
community facilities.
Online job fairs are also available.

Slide Number: 3

Job Fairs:
Big Benefits for YOU!

Explore opportunities
for internships, co-ops,
and jobs
Practice interview and
job search
communication skills
Distribute resumes to
many prospective
employers

Meet many recruiters

from different
organizations in one,
convenient setting
Receive company
information and
business cards of
contacts

Slide Number: 4

What to Expect
Students/job seekers register

(find main tableyoull be

given a packet of information)

Recruiters are typically

located at numbered tables;

students/job seekers walk
around to talk with recruiters

Recruiters differ in style.

Some are talkative; others are

quiet and businesslike; they
vary in ageyou will most
likely encounter all!

Slide Number: 5

Before the Job Fair

Target yourself to the job.

Identify how your skills,

experiences, qualifications, and
interests match jobs

Prioritize the list of employers

that interest you. A list is

typically available before hand.

Know why you want to work for

an employer so you can explain

it clearly. (Research employers
beforehand.)

Possibly volunteer to help with

the job fair (contact your Career

Services Center) it is a good
networking opportunity.
Slide Number: 6

Preparing for Job Fair

1. Prepare your resume.

resume
2. Prepare your self-commercial (30 to 60
seconds). Include your name, major,
class status, how your skills would
benefit the employer, your experience
and other pertinent information.

Slide Number: 7

Preparing

(Continued)

3. Practice presenting your commercial with

friends and acquaintances.

Walk with confidence

Speak confidently, clearly, and slowly.
Develop a firm (but not gripping) handshake.
Be aware of facial expressions: smile, be
friendly and show interest.

Slide Number: 8

Preparing

(Continued)

4. Take a portfolio, extra

copies of your
resume, and a list of
references
5. Research companies
on the Internet or in
your Career Center

Slide Number: 9

Dress for Success

Men: dark suits/sports coat
and nice slacks, polished
shoes, dark socks,
groomed hair, clean shave,
clean hands, appropriate tie

Women: neutral or dark

suit (knee length skirt),

proper stockings, polished
shoes, well groomed, not
too much perfume, makeup
or overdone hair

Slide Number: 10

Special Tips
Practice excellent oral
hygiene
Remove all face jewelry, (one
pair of earrings per ear), and
keep all jewelry to a
minimumone ring per hand
Cover-up tattoos

Slide Number: 11

When You Arrive

1. Take your time: arrive
early!
2. Check in, then target the
areas on your floor plan
to see who is there and
where they are located.

Slide Number: 12

At the Job Fair

1. Manage time well.
2. Meet first with recruiters who
are not at the top of your target
for employment (practice with
them before approaching your
top targets).
3. Watch time, and save enough
for your top targets.

Slide Number: 13

At the Job Fair

(Continued)

4. Introduce yourself
professionally.
5. Find out what
opportunities exist for
someone with your
credentials and skills.
6. Ask what entry-level
positions exist.
7. Smile! Be polite, and use
good manners.

Slide Number: 14

Focus!
Sell
Sellyourself
yourself through
through an
an
enthusiastic,
enthusiastic, energetic
energetic
presentation.
presentation.

Demonstrate
Demonstrateconfidence
confidence
and
andcompetence
competence
through
throughattire,
attire, posture,
posture,
body
bodylanguage,
language,and
and
preparation.
preparation.

Listen
Listen carefully.
carefully.
Distribute
Distributeyour
yourresume.
resume.
Slide Number: 15

Ask Questions of Recruiters

Well-prepared
Well-prepared questions
questions make
make aa good
good
impression:
impression:

Please
Please tell
tell me
me about
about your
your organization
organization (if
(if you
you
havent
havent researched
researched it).
it).

What
What majors
majors and
and experiences
experiences are
are of
of most
most
interest
interest to
to you?
you?

Can
Can you
you please
please tell
tell me
me about
about career
career

opportunities,
opportunities, including
including internships,
internships, summer
summer
jobs,
jobs, and
and full-time
full-time positions?
positions?
Do
Do you
you provide
provide any
any specialized
specialized training?
training?

Slide Number: 16

Pick Up Cards & Literature

1. Always ask for business
cards of recruiters
representing your target
employers.
2. After talking with them,
write notes you want to
remember on the back of
the cards.
3. Collect all literature from
your target employers to
enhance your knowledge.

Slide Number: 17

Take Notes!
Take
Take aa notepad,
notepad, and
and record
record important
important
follow
follow up,
up, such
such as
as to:
to:

Send
Send additional
additional information
information to
to aa
recruiter
recruiter or
or other
other contact
contact
Calendar
Calendar follow
follow up
up meetings
meetings
Make
Make follow-up
follow-up phone
phone calls
calls
Other
Other

Slide Number: 18

After the Job Fair: Thank-You Notes

1. Send thank-you notes to those
you meet with; use their
business cards for correct
spellings, titles, etc.
2. Your thank you can be by e-mail,
or snail mail and can be hand
written (if clear) or word
processed.
3. Send the thank you within 24-48
hours after the job fair.
4. Refer to the location and date of
the job fair.

Slide Number: 19

How to Follow Up

If a recruiter asks you to follow up, do so,

immediately,
immediately and send all documents you
were asked to provide.

Mention your discussions at the job fair,

your qualifications, and your interest in the
organization.

If you have additional information for the

employer, be sure to mention it in the
follow up communication.

Slide Number: 20

Learn From the Experience

1. Did you have a positive or
negative experience?
2. What can you learn from
negative experiences?
3. Did the preliminary research on
employers help you?
4. Were you asked difficult
questions for which you were
not prepared? If so, write them
down, and prepare more
thoroughly for the next fair.
Slide Number: 21

Learn From the Experience

(Continued)

5.

Were you able to articulate your plans or your

career goals clearly?

6.

Were your documents prepared well?

7.

Were you dressed professionally?

8.

How was your self-presentation (i.e.,

commercial) received?

9.

Have you followed up on all prospects?

10. What would you change for future career and

job fairs?

Slide Number: 22

What Else Can You Do?

1. Attend career and job fairs at other
locations
2. Use keywords to search for online job
fairs, such as:
Nonprofit job and career fairs
Online job fair
Job and career fairs, (name your
career interest)
3. Bookmark web sites that are most
useful for your career targets

Slide Number: 23

In conclusiona thought for you:

I am not afraid of storms, for I am

learning how to sail my own ship.

~ L.M. Alcott

Slide Number: 24