BY ANTHONY STOUGH
Ah yes…career fairs. Who doesn’t dream about walking into a room of hundreds of strangers who are watching and critiquing your every move to see if you would be a great fit for their company? Even if it’s not entirely true, that’s how it feels. Well, I’m here to shed a little knowledge about the dance I like to call “the career fair shuffle” and the steps you can take to learn it beforehand.
what is a career fair?
A career fair is an event where corporations, non-profits, and other organizations join forces in one location to offer networking and career opportunities. Generally, each company has a table where they provide pamphlets, giveaways, and other things to attract the best attendees in the room. Fairs can be very loud and very crowded, with the tables being so close together that often candidates will literally shuffle their way through the fair…hence “the career fair shuffle”.
Military career fairs:
RecruitMilitary hosts career fairs nationwide and partners with companies across a number of industries to connect military veterans and spouses to available roles. Personally, I have attended many of these as a job seeker and corporate representative. One of the best parts of a military-specific career fair is that you are surrounded by military friendly organizations. The representatives generally tend to be veterans, military family members, and advocates. Those individuals can also be recruiters, hiring managers, or even senior leaders of the company. Conversations tend to be more friendly and open with an understanding of the veteran transition. I highly recommend searching for military career fairs in your area.
Do your homework (before the fair):
One thing that will make or break your day is the amount of preparation you do prior to the fair. The biggest things that should be on your to-do list:
Update your resume. Check out our Playing the Transition Game article for a step-by-step guide.
Be prepared for an interview. Remember, when you’re on the job search, every networking opportunity is an interview opportunity. Realistically, not every company that you meet is going to go in-depth with the questions. However, don’t be surprised if you make such a great impression that the representative pulls you aside for an interview!
Research the companies and know what jobs are available. Typically, a career fair will list out the organizations that will be in attendance. This is a great opportunity for you to research the organization’s mission, culture, and most importantly the jobs.
Apply to the jobs beforehand. That’s right, I just added more work for a career fair. If you see a role that you like and you’re qualified, apply to it (future article on the way). Write the job titles and IDs on a note card or in your padfolio to organize yourself. One of the best ways to impress the person on the other side of the table is by showing how prepared you are. You just made their job easier, which opens the door for a great conversation about the roles and organization.
Dress to impress. Dress for the job that you want. Business professional is the go-to attire for a career fair. For those in the military, this means don’t wear your uniform to the event. Being successful in the transition is showcasing how serious you are about the transformation.
Prepare your questions. The interview process is a two-way street, which means that you need to be excited about your new work environment too. Glassdoor has some great example questions to ask someone at a career fair.
Items to bring. Keep in mind that a career fair can last for hours and you’re going to want to make sure you have the following items for a successful event:
Padfolio with a pen and paper.
Printed copies of your resume. The number of copies depends on your career fair strategy, but I recommend having one for every company that you want to speak with plus ten additional (for those unexpected networking opportunities).
Business cards are very helpful especially if you run out of resumes.
Avoid anything bulky like a backpack or briefcase. Small purses are perfectly acceptable.
the career fair shuffle (during the event):
The big day has arrived. You’ve done your homework, submitted your applications, and are prepared for any interview that comes your way. With your padfolio in hand, you’re ready to take on the event. Nerves will be alive and well prior to and during the event, and that’s okay! Give yourself plenty of time, and network away.
Arrive on time. You may think 2 to 4 hours is a long time, but once you start speaking to representatives that time will start to dwindle. Give yourself enough time to network with the organizations that you are there for.
Do a recon. Once you arrive, I highly recommend checking out the event space. This will not only give you an idea of the energy in the room, but it will let you locate the companies that you are interested in.
Use your time wisely. Depending on the size of the event, there may be a ton of organizations represented. Going back to your strategy, speak to the organizations that interest you first. You did your homework, so make sure you give enough time to speak to them. Afterwards, speak to other companies that peak your interest.
Breathe. Career fairs are loud and will get crowded. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or just need a breather, it’s okay to step outside of the room. Compose yourself and get back at it!
Remember, it’s just a conversation. When you’re speaking to the company representative, remember that you are talking to a person and not a robot. Career fairs are physically and emotionally demanding for that person too, especially if they are the only representative there. Conversations may be in-depth with some, and short with others, and that’s okay. Be timely and try not to overstay your welcome. Stick to your strategy.
Ask for their business card. Once you’re just about done with a conversation with a company representative, remember to ask for their business card. If they don’t have a business card, it’s appropriate to ask for their work email or their consent to connect with them on LinkedIn. Having some type of connection with the individual or company will be important for the thank you note.
the after party (post career fair):
Career fair representatives meet a ton of people at these events. At one event I attended, there were over 6,000 people! It’s important to take these next actions to better your opportunity at a career with those organizations:
Send a thank-you note. Here’s to hoping that you networked successfully and received a ton of business cards and LinkedIn connections. Even if it’s not a company that you are interested in, it’s important to still thank the individual that you met at the event. For companies that you are interested in, this is your opportunity to thank that individual and remind them of your interest in those jobs that you applied to (i.e. your homework). Sending a note no later than the next day is preferred and will keep you relevant in that representative’s memory.
Follow instructions. If the representative gave you specific directions to apply to certain roles, make sure you apply in a timely manner. Afterwards, make sure you follow up to update them on the application.
Be patient. Recruiters and representatives will receive quite a few thank you notes from other attendees. Give them the appropriate time to respond back to you. If for any reason they don’t respond back to you within a week, it’s perfectly fine to send a follow up note.
Career fairs can be powerful tools in your professional toolkit. Whether you are there for a career or just there for networking, embrace the experience and take advantage of any networking opportunities that arise.