Tips on How to Best Prepare for a Career or Job Fair

A career or job fair is one of the most effective job hunting tools. Those who are well prepared and well versed with the use of this tool can really extract the maximum of an education career fair. A job fair in your city might just be approaching. Before you make a visit to the fair, you should be equipped with essential tips on how to successfully navigate the fair and use it to benefit your job hunting process. Whether you are a job seeker, a mid career changer or aspire to kick start a fresh career, a job recruiting fair or education fair can benefit you in a number of ways. All you need to do is have a strategy in place to maximize your time at the event and make the most of it.

The first step towards getting ready for the fair is to prepare (or find) a comprehensive list of companies that would be participating in the event. Shortlist the companies you want to target or are interested in. Carry out some research regarding the whereabouts of the company you want to target. Now make yourself ready so you may illustrate how you are going to be an asset to the company. The basic question that you would be asked by companies at the job fair would be : "Why do you want to work for our company?" Be ready with your answer to inform how and why you can be a good fit for the company.

If you thought education career fairs were all about dropping your resume on the recruiter's table and walking off, you seriously need to give it a second thought. Consider yourself as a product and the resume as the advertising copy. Now, the task is to make the product saleable (to employers) through the advertisement (resume) that you need to prepare. If you really know how to prepare a resume that immediately sells you to employers, you can be successful at the career fair you are about to visit. In addition to making a clean, error-free, professional and attention-grabbing resume, you also need to be prepared to talk about your skills and work experience you have mentioned in the resume. Tailor your resume to the requirements of the employer or the recruiter you are targeting.

If you are an employee or an experienced jobseeker, you must be aware that job interviews are not a one-sided affair. Thought interviews at the career fair have got to be on-the-spot and informal, candidates should be ready with a set of intelligent questions to ask recruiters at the event. While you conduct research on the whereabouts of your targeted companies, you can come up with some really good questions associated with a specific company's objectives and goals. Asking questions from the employer is also proof to your being interested in taking up a job in the company. Let the recruiters know that you are keen on working with their company.

What about having a unique selling proposition to sell yourself at the job recruiting fair? Try to come up with a one-minute commercial (a personal introduction) to sell yourself at the fair and leave a lasting impression on the recruiter's mind. Customize this short introduction to suit the job requirements in companies you have targeted. Practice giving this introduction in advance. While having an interview, do ask about the company's hiring or recruiting process. However, avoid asking too many question regarding the job salary, holidays and other employee benefits.

So, finally the day of the fair has arrived! Are you prepared to attend the job fair? Are you dressed professionally? Yes, do not try to take a job or career fair casually. Abide by the etiquettes and do remember to keys to successful interviewing including a firm handshake, a warm smile, enthusiasm, eye contact etc. Be polite and professional to everyone you meet on the day of the fair. Carry a professional looking folder along to keep your resume and employers' business cards to be acquired at the career or education fair. Do not miss any chance to network not only with recruiters at the fair but also with fellow jobseekers and other professionals. And last but not the least, do remember to send a thank-you email to follow up with each recruiter you met at the job fair.