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April 28, 2009
Be More Than a Face in the Crowd
Although job seekers benefit from on-the-spot interviews at job fairs, they also face plenty of competition. Here are some tips to avoid being "kept on file."
Continuing unemployment claims set another record in the last week of March, hitting 5.84 million with seemingly no bottom in sight. Indicative of the tough job market, more than 10,000 job seekers, from college students to unemployed executives, turned up at a job fair in Manchester, N.H., on April 9. The crowd overwhelmed the venue and jammed traffic for miles. Event organizers were forced to stop admission after two hours, the Associated Press reports.
According to Don Legere, who was looking to hire two to four people for his financial services firm Modern Woodmen of America, he was seeing about 25 people per hour. Despite the massive amount of competition, the fair's attendees were fairly positive about their chances.
"I spoke with the people that I've been sending résumés over and over and over to," a 52-year-old woman who was laid off in September said to the Associated Press. "So I got to give it to them by hand." She said she left the fair "a little optimistic."
Job seekers have a tough task ahead of them in terms of standing out from the rest of the job fair crowd. According to recruitment specialists, job seekers may have only 30 seconds to a couple of minutes to make a strong and lasting first impression.
Still, job fairs are a good way to "skip a step," WRAL.com notes. "You're not just sending in a résumé and hoping for a call. You're getting brief, yet critical face-to-face time with someone who could later hire you."
To make the most of that small window of time, experts advise job seekers to research companies beforehand, dress appropriately (men should wear suits, women at least a blouse with a skirt or trousers) and emphasize how they can benefit the company.
To determine how you fit in with a company's needs, narrow down which companies you'd like to apply for and find out what positions they are looking to fill. "Just by doing that and narrowing down the recruiters you approach, you'll probably be more prepared than most of the other job seekers at the fair," Eric Winegardner, vice president at job board Monster Worldwide, told the Associated Press. "Don't bother handing resumes to companies that don't need you ... the whole goal is to get a second interview."
Forbes suggests pre-registering for the job fair to get a list of participating companies before the event. Once you've determined which companies you are targeting, prepare five key talking points that explain what you're looking for and highlight your relevant experience and achievements, Forbes adds.
Upon meeting a recruiter, offer a firm handshake and look him or her in the eye. Patricia Miller, a human resources consultant, cautions jobs seekers to stay away from comments like, "I'm dependable" or "I'm a hard worker." Instead, give examples of what you can do for the company, Miller told the Washington Post.
Forbes and Winegardner both suggest practicing your pitch to recruiters from companies that you're less interested in to build your confidence for pitching to those you most want to impress. Also, ensure that you've got your paperwork in good order.
"The human resources staff will be reviewing your paperwork and they will be looking, initially, for reasons to screen you out," the HR Roundtable blog at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution warns. Recruiters tend to screen out résumés that are too long, have pictures, typos, very long time gaps or too many jobs listed.
At the end of the brief interview, thank the recruiter and always get a business card, Winegardner instructs. Send a hand-written thank-you note with a reference back to your conversation at the fair and include a fresh copy of your résumé. While it's tempting to call, Winegardner suggests e-mailing first and asking to schedule an interview. "Don't be alarmed if recruiters take a week to respond," he adds.
To find job fairs in your area, try targetedjobfairs.com and nationalcareerfairs.com. Both let you search by city and zip code. Monster.com also lists upcoming fairs on its homepage.
Related
How to Craft an Effective Cover Letter
Resources
How to Stand Out At a Job Fair
by Tara Weiss
Forbes, April 15, 2009
How to Succeed at a Job Fair
by Tali Arbel
The Associated Press
Aim to Stand Out as Career Fair Applicant
by Kenneth Bredemeier
The Washington Post, Jan. 16, 2009
How to Stand Out at a Job Fair
by Joy Johnson
HR Roundtable blog (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution), Feb. 19, 2009
Do Homework to Stand Out at a Job Fair
WRAL.com, March 31, 2009
Demand for Work Causes Gridlock at NH Job Fair
by Jim Cole
The Associated Press, April 9, 2009
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1 CommentsI've been getting your emails once a week. Although it may be truthful and numbers correct. You as well as the rest of the media all report Doom and Gloom. I get depressed as hell reading your articles.
You guys are DEPRESSING AMERICA! Contrary to your beliefs, we are so tired of sad and sick reporting. If you really want to be challenged. REPORT POSITIVE things about the economy. As hard as it may be to find. It's such a cop out and weak to constantly report death and despair.
Be the First to report how the economy is turning upwards. I hate Bush as much as the rest of the world, as he is directly responsible for all this. But one thing he and McCain did say that made sense, is the psychology of all this. Same as the last Bush was in and also drove us into a recession, when Clinton came in, all of a sudden the economy flourished. Yet all he did was walk in the door.
It was all from one word. HOPE!!
April 29, 2009 3:33 PM
