Attending a Job Fair? Some tips...

Yesterday Alyson, who is interning with us in Human Resources, and I attended a job fair at the Community College of Aurora. CCA has a beautiful campus and the weather was nice enough that the event took place outdoors. I've attended a lot of job fairs and usually everyone is packed into a crowded meeting room so talking to candidates outside was definitely more relaxed and informal. As you'll hear from Alyson, this was her first time attending a job fair so I asked her to share some of her impressions and recommendations:

"I have never attended a job fair before as an applicant or as a recruiter but yesterday I got to participate in my first job fair on the recruiting side, and I have to say that this experience really opened my eyes to something completely unknown to me. I was in a sorority my first go around in college, and we had to participate in the recruiting process. Sorority recruiting, to my surprise, is very similar to a job fair. It is all about getting out there, promoting your brand and culture, and getting acquainted with potential applicants.
I never realized what benefits you could gain from attending a job fair but there are many including: getting to speak with company representatives in a less formal setting, you know that these companies are hiring, you can hand a resume straight to a recruiter instead of hoping they see yours in the stack of 40+ resumes they receive every day, and there is a better chance recruiters will remember you."

"If you have not attended a job fair, you should, and if you have, keep going to them! It is a great way to network, and let’s face it, in today’s job market it’s all about networking. So here are a few tips and observations to remember if you plan on attending a job fair:
1. Look the part. You should dress like you are going to an interview, because well, you kind of are. The company is checking you out as much as you are checking out them, and while it may be somewhat of an informal setting, you are still trying to get a job.
2. Pre-register (if possible) for the job fair and ask for a list of companies that will be attending. Once you get the list you should research the companies that may be of interest to you. It will impress the recruiter if you know about the company beforehand.
3. Bring your resume, and make sure that you have plenty of copies. How often do you have the opportunity to talk to 20+ companies in the same place at the same time? Make sure your resume is updated and has correct contact information.
4. Ask questions! This is your chance to find out what you can about the company. If they are not currently hiring for your field or the type of position you are looking for inquire about other opportunities. Do not dismiss the company entirely. This is a chance to get your foot in the door, at the very least, or you could make such a great impression that when they are looking for someone they already have you in mind.
5. Don’t be rude or negative. If a recruiter stops to talk to you there is a reason why. If you have to get signatures from the recruiters for class credit, to enter a prize drawing, or for another reason, do not just ask for the signature and leave. That is rude. At least ask about the company and if it is not of interest then just let them know that while you appreciate their time you are looking for something different and ask for the signature. Do not talk negatively about your college, job, or anything else. (For example: yesterday I overheard someone ask the police department recruiters why are cops bad? The police recruiter’s response was great and he explained if the candidate wanted to make a change they should consider becoming a Police Officer.)
6. Shake hands. And say thank you before you leave a company's booth. It is professional, polite, and speaks of your character."

Alyson's observations and tips are important if you are trying to differentiate yourself from all the

other candidates who attend job fairs. Meeting with companies in a job fair environment  is usually less stressful than when you are invited in for a 'real' interview and its a great way to practice your elevator speech and the way in which your portray yourself during that key first impression. Some other hints that I've picked up over the years:

• Job fairs are no place to be shy. Make the effort to make eye contact with company representatives as you walk by their booth and don't be bashful about saying hello and introducing yourself. Have a sentence or two prepared about yourself - what you are studying, when you'll be graduating/on the job market, and some key skills you think you have that might benefit the company you are speaking to. I only had one candidate do this yesterday and they left a favorable impression. 
• The biggest mistake I see candidates make at job fairs is when they are going by a booth for a company they don't recognize they drop their eyes and simply walk on by. If you want a great ice-breaker with a recruiter there's not much better than "Hi, I'm not that familiar with your company. What do you do?" And you never know, the company you've never heard of may have your dream job. 99% of the folks Alyson and I talked with yesterday knew nothing about Pinnacol but for those who stopped and chatted they were amazed at the variety of career paths our company offers. 
• If you chat with a company representative and its a company you really are interested in, ask them for their business card or contact information. Quite candidly, if you have tried at all to sell yourself this will be a good test of how you've done. If they gladly hand you their business card they are likely really interested in you as well. Really want to set yourself apart? The day after the event call or e-mail the company representative and thank them for taking a moment to speak with you and to reinforce your interest in their company. At the very least most recruiters will respond by digging through the stack of resumes they received and giving yours a second look. This extra step may also be the touch point that actually gets you the coveted interview. 
• Alyson's point of looking the part - dressing like you are serious about exploring job opportunities - is also correct. At yesterday's event the few students who dressed up were the ones setting themselves apart. Granted this was a campus job fair, it was outdoors (it was hot), and many students stopped by between busy class schedules, but those with the forethought to dress up were again those leaving the most favorable impressions. 

I'd like to thank Barbara Lindsay and her staff at the Community College of Aurora for arranging the job fair and for letting us participate. If Alyson and I were fortunate enough to speak with you yesterday thank you for stopping by!