6 Tips To Prepare For A Career Fair Or Job Fair


Career fairs provide employees with a valuable chance of marketing themselves to potential employers, who might end up changing the tangents of their entire professional careers.

Instead of spending days unsuccessfully filling out application forms online, attending a job fair gives you a chance to meet employers face-to-face and score opportunities.

However, attending a career fair must be a well-planned-out initiative on your part. There’s no point in talking to a dozen different employers if you have no preparation and stumble through each interview.

What is a career fair?

A career fair is a business event where recruiters and hiring managers from a range of businesses gather to meet multiple job seekers.

These career fairs are common sightings in conference centers, campus premises, and even hotels. Some career fairs even run for several days while others are just one-day events.

Most companies choose to operate a booth at the job fair where they educate applicants about available opportunities, the hiring process, and the job application procedure. They also offer applicants a chance to sit for an interview with a recruitment representative of the organization.

What kind of career fair should you attend?

There are various kinds of career fairs today. Sometimes, the organizers of a job fair invite employers of multiple industries to attend the event. Some career fairs may be industry specific. Some universities also hold career fairs for their graduates and alumni. Certain businesses hold their own career fairs to fill their vacancies.

Depending on your needs, you can choose the type of event you want to attend. If you are a recent graduate without much experience, stick to career fairs for entry-level positions. If you are an experienced worker with years of expertise, you can choose to attend career fairs for high-level positions.

How should you prepare for a career fair?

Preparation is a must if you want tangible results out of your first career fair. Here’s what you need to do first:

1. Pre-register for the event

Job fairs have a tendency to publish their registration procedure online. Whenever you are interested in an event, fill out a registration form and submit the necessary documents to the organizers. Career fairs may have a limited number of seats, so being early to register gives you the best chance.

2. Conduct thorough research before the event

Find out all the important stuff like who is organizing the event, who is attending the fair, and how long the fair will last. Make a list of all the employers attending the career fair and research the companies. You can focus more on the ones you really want to apply for, or on the ones in the same field as you.

3. Make yourself a priority list

The career fair will be a huge event held at a large place. You don’t want to turn up on the day and waste time walking all over the place, unable to decide whom to talk to. Make a priority list of all the employers you want to introduce yourself to.

4. Prepare several resumes

You are going to be attending several interviews during the day, so bring multiple copies of your resume. If you plan to apply for different positions, be sure to print out several versions of your resume, tailored for each job title.

5. Practice your introduction

You really won’t have the time or the presence of mind to prepare a satisfactory answer after the employer says, “Tell me about yourself.” Instead, make yourself a 30 – 60 second elevator pitch. Be sure to include a basic intro about you, your skills, your experience, and your accomplishments.

6. Go through all steps of your usual interview preparation process

Whether at a career fair or a company office, you need to face your interview confidently. So, prepare for all the interviews. Practice answers for possible interview questions and read up on interview etiquette.

By Resume Mansion



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