Job fair season is wrapping up, and I’m feeling generous… with some advice, that is.  Daxko hit 5 college campuses in 4 weeks – meeting students and alumni, talking careers, and promoting opportunities.  Not only are these events fun, but they’re a total win-win for everyone involved!

Now comes the advice portion of my post.  I’ve attended enough job fairs, met enough people, and observed enough of the right and wrong behaviors over the years, that I feel qualified to share the following with you…

Kristie’s quick tips for job fair success:

1. Plan ahead.  Most career centers provide a list of attending organizations prior to the event.  They don’t do that just for kicks.  They do it for you!  Before the job fair, take some time to research the organizations.  Then, rank them so you can visit those of most interest first.  Your time is limited, so you’ll need a game plan going in.
2. Do your homework.  To piggyback on my first tip, you should become familiar with the business of the organizations you’re targeting.  Do not, I repeat, do not walk up to a booth and allow these to be the first words out of your mouth: “So what does your company do?”
3. Create a “commercial.”  Prepare a short commercial or elevator pitch that you can use when you introduce yourself to recruiters.  Briefly share your degree, strengths, and career interests.  Sell yourself!
4. Share your info.  Because you never know what method a recruiter prefers, you should come prepared with (1) paper copies of your resume, (2) business cards (inexpensively printed from a home computer), and (3) a thumb drive so you can transfer your electronic resume directly onto the recruiter’s laptop.  You may also be asked to upload your resume via the company’s website following the job fair.  If that’s the case, do so within 48 hours.
5. Forget the giveaways.  Don’t worry about collecting a bag of logo-ed ink pens or branded stress balls.  Instead, focus on the organizations and their opportunities.  Listen to what the recruiters have to say.  Ask questions.  And I don’t mean questions like, “Can I have one of those cool company highlighters?”    

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