The to-dos for a productive time on the floor
Job fairs provide the rarest opportunity to interact with multiple employers belonging to different industries without getting patronised or discriminated against. For students, freshers and experienced professionals, job fairs are immensely important to amass knowledge, bag potential offers and extract a kaleidoscopic view of different job designations and responsibilities. Here is how you can make the most from these brief windows.
Research on a Couple of Companies
Generally, hundreds of companies flock to job fairs but for time restrictions you cannot possibly interact individually with each representative. To narrow down the options, it is always recommended to research ahead. It helps you determine which companies or industries would be relevant for you.
Preparing a crisp interview bucket list would also be a smart choice considering the plethora of resources a typical job fair will swamp you with!
Get Document Printouts Ready!
You should never be visiting job fairs empty-handed with nothing to vouch for your expertise and experience. Consider carrying multiple copies of documents that would convince employees of your candidatures.
The idea should be to visit the fair as if you are appearing for an interview—with all the testimonials and portfolio ready. To employers, it is pretty impressive when candidates come equipped with materials that would provide a quick glimpse of their work and education.
Besides printed copies of resume, slideshows, website links and videos are workable options too.
Polish your Networking Skills
Ideally, your strategy should be to interact in person and not merely drop by to submit resume following the footsteps of the thousand other prospective candidates. Developing communication skills help you gain a strategic advantage over other applicants.
When you are visiting a fair, do not flinch from sharing a word or two with the employer (or senior representatives) you aspire to work with even if no relevant positions are open. Prepare a list of relevant questions and hone the perfect pitch. Why because you can always follow up later or benefit from future recommendations.
Besides, keep your answers ready in case a recruiter plans to enquire about your experience. You should not be taken off guard or found stuttering. Job fairs are all about networking!
You should have a plan of action sketched ready to proceed once you have collated the necessary information. Avoid slackening down your pace post-fair visits since the chances of receiving a responsive reply would be higher during the initial few days.
