Tricks for job fair success workshop pp (2)

Tricks for Career Fair Success HOW CAN I BEST PREPARE? WHAT ARE THE DO’S AND DONT’S? WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER?

HOW CAN I BEST PREPARE FOR THE CAREER FAIR?

Have a good understanding of your employment goals. What kind of job are you looking for? Job fairs can be overwhelming. There are often over 100 employers at these events. If you don’t have a clear idea about the type of work you are looking for, you could get lost in the crowd and miss an opportunity to make some important employer contacts. So, identify your employment goals before attending.

Research, research, research! Research the company you are applying to. You must be knowledgeable of the company and its product if you are to convince the “buyer” of your value and price. Learn about the customers, competitors, parent company, industry standing, products, mission, goals, philosophy, key players, etc.

Where do I go to do my research? Company annual reports, sales catalogs and marketing brochures Visit the company and their competitors, website Talk to people who work for or do business with the company What’s it REALLY like working there? www.Glassdoor.com www.JobVent.com www.jobhuntersbible.com (8 pg’s of resources for company research) www.monster.com (go to the bottom for “research companies”) The Business Review http:// www.bizjournals.com/albany / The Chamber of Commerce and local business associations may also publish directories listing companies within a specific geographical area. These are available in libraries or by writing to the individual associations.

Written Research Materials There are also a large number of publications that contain company information. Some are intended specifically to help job seekers. The Job Bank Series . A series of books aimed primarily at job-seeking professionals, each covers a different large city or metropolitan area. Each book also gives an introductory economic outlook for the covered area, followed by a listing of the area's major companies. Common positions within the company are listed. General tips and advice on job hunting are provided. New York Manufactures Directory . Similar volumes are produced for other states. There are also regional and national directories. Thomas Register . Lists more than 100,000 companies across the country. Contains listings by company name, type of product made and brand name of product produced. Catalogs provided by many of the companies also are included. America's Fastest Growing Employers . Lists more than 700 of the fastest growing companies in the country. Also gives many tips on job hunting.

More Written Materials…. The Hidden Job Market : A Guide to America's 2000 Little-Known Fastest Growing High-Tech Companies. Concentrates on high-tech companies with good growth potential. Dun & Bradstreet Million-Dollar Directory . Provides information on 180,000 of the largest companies in the country. Gives the type of business, number of employees and sales volume for each. It also lists the company's top executives. An abbreviated version of this publication also exists, which gives this information for the top 50,000 companies. Standard Poor's Register of Corporations, Directors and Executives . Information similar to that in Dun and Bradstreet's directory. Also contains a listing of the parent companies of subsidiaries and the interlocking affiliations of directors. The Career Guide - Dun's Employment Opportunities Directory . Aimed specifically at the professional job seeker. Lists more than 5,000 major U.S. companies which plan to recruit in the coming year. Unlike other directories from Standard & Poor and Dun & Bradstreet, this guide lists personnel directors and gives information about firms' career opportunities and benefits packages. Also gives a state-by-state list of headhunters and tips on interviewing and resume writing.

Prepare a sales pitch about yourself At a job fair, you are essentially going on several mini-interviews. To make a terrific first impression, you must be able to introduce yourself and intelligently discuss your skills and qualifications. Before developing your pitch, review to whom are you pitching and what they and you are interested in (connect). Remember to offer a firm handshake, speak clearly, show confidence and enthusiasm.

Sample Pitches Sample pitch #1: Hello, (use recruiter’s name on name tag) ___________, my name is _______. I‘ve been a (or an) _______ for ______ years where I was involved with _____ and _____. This experience makes me very interested in working for ____________. I read on the job fair directory (or on your website) that you are looking for a _________. Sample pitch #2: Having a connection at the company will help break the ice. If you don’t know anyone LinkedIn may be able to help. (With enthusiasm) Mary Smith! My name is Betty Jones. Joe Peters made me promise I would say “hello” to you today. Joe and I have been talking about the changes that are occurring at “ Name Of Company” and he thinks I would be a great addition to the Childcare Team. I have an associate’s degree and five years of experience working with special needs children and their families – Just enough information to start a dialogue about your background, skills and how you know Joe .

Revise your resume Update your resume and make sure it’s targeted towards the type of job(s) you want. If you have more than one target, you should have more than one version of your resume. Bring at least 20 copies of your resume with you - laser printed (not photocopied) on bond paper in a neutral color like: cream, ivory or white. Ask yourself the following questions: Is my resume focused on my job objective? Does my resume contain all the relevant information? Have I identified accomplishments for each experience? Have I included keywords and action verbs? Am I using the proper format for my situation? Is my resume complete, but not too long? Is my resume visually appealing? Does my resume have what it takes to get noticed by employers? Is my resume free of errors?

Prepare a list of potential questions to ask employers When the recruiter asks, "Do you have any questions?” it's important to have a few ready. It shows you're interested in the company and are serious about your career plans. Concentrate on getting information that will help you make a career decision compatible with your expectations. Avoid asking questions that are answered in the company's employment brochures. **DO NOT ASK ABOUT SALARY OR BENEFITS** Do you have a written position description that I can take with me? What skills, work experience or educational background are required for the position? What are you looking for in the ideal candidate? What will the major challenges be for the person who is hired? What types of formal or on-the-job training programs does ___ Co. offer? Why is the position open? What is the next step in the hiring process?

What should you bring? RESUME: Bring more copies than you think you will need; highlighting skills, abilities, accomplishments, education and work history. If you have multiple career objectives, bring more than one targeted resume, error free on resume paper. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: attach to the resume. WRITING PORTFOLIO: 9”X12” leather or vinyl bound portfolio to carry your materials and to use as a hard writing surface. BRIEFCASE: This will help to keep you organized. It will give you a neat place to carry all your resumes and to put any company literature, business cards or employer applications. DRESS: Since a job fair is really a series of mini-interviews, you should dress professionally like you would for any other job interview. Neat and clean, up a level for what is appropriate for the position being applied to. No jeans, t-shirts or sneakers! Remember to be conservative with jewelry, make-up, and perfume/cologne. Don’t overlook a neat hairstyle, clean fingernails, shined shoes and fresh breath.

What do I want to get out of today? Get a Job Face time New Connections Interview Practice Learn about the Labor Market ____________________________ ____________________________

WHAT SHOULD I DO AT THE CAREER FAIR?

Arrive early Arrive early and begin your job search while it is still fresh in the day and you are full of energy. There will be a lot of people and long lines. Register / Check out the floor plan Register and get a business directory . Check out the floor plan and identify the top employers you want to meet. Prioritize the companies by Must See , Would Like To See and Will See If Time . Being organized will make you more efficient and reduce frustration.

Make a good first impression Job Fairs are serious interviews, not “window shopping”. First impressions are important. Approach employers with confidence and maintain good eye contact. Bring a smile, have a strong handshake and a positive attitude. Be positive and upbeat when delivering your introduction. You should be able to determine what the employer’s needs are by doing your homework well and by approaching each table from the side to pick up informational materials before getting in line. Take a few steps back and discretely listen to the questions being asked by the interviewer, and their reaction to the responses. If the job is something you are interested in, and you can show that you are qualified for the position, get in line. Having the materials and questions ahead of time will help you frame your answers. If there is more than one representative, note their personality styles and choose the line behind the one who is the closest fit to your own style (Personality Matching). When your turn comes you will be able to introduce yourself and state confidently what your career interests and qualifications are, thus standing out from the crowd.

Further impress the employers Show employers you have knowledge of their company. Being prepared to discuss products, industry facts, figures and trends will demonstrate that you have made a sincere and solid effort to learn about their organization. This investment of your time will give you the competitive edge. Engage employers in conversation (end statements with questions). Your last question could be “what is the key to successfully moving on to the next step of the hiring process?” It shows confidence and interest, and may provide critical information. Make sure to end with a handshake and a Thank-You ! Network with employers to get a better sense of their current and future needs. If they aren’t currently recruiting in your field, leave a resume, and ask for suggestions of other companies that may need someone with your expertise. Don’t forget to follow up.

Collect business cards Collect business cards and company information from representatives you speak with. Take time after each meeting to write down a couple of notes about your conservation. This will be important information for you after the fair. Take advantage of other services provided Some job fairs offer additional job seeker services including scanning resumes to CD or a website for distribution to employers after the job fair, on-site resume critique, workshops, online application tables, etc.

What NOT to do during the Career Fair Don’t take anyone with you who’s not looking for a job. Don’t take up too much of the employer’s time – consider the length of the line, but several minutes should be about it. Don’t vent about former employers to potential new ones. Don’t interrupt an employer if he or she is surrounded by other job seekers. You want to have a brief, but meaningful conversation on a one-to-one basis.

WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER THE CAREER FAIR?

Follow-Up Follow-up is the last, and critically essential step, in working a job fair successfully. Many people fail to follow-up which will help you stand out even further, moving you closer to the next step. Follow-up can be accomplished by calling the people you spoke with, writing a follow-up letter or e-mail, or both. During the job fair, find out from the employers you spoke with what method of contact they prefer. Stress why you feel you are an outstanding employee and ask for an appointment to further discuss how your skills can be of benefit to the organization.

SAMPLE FOLLOW UP LETTER John W. Smith 1234 New York Avenue Albany, New York 12210 518-555-1212 April 16, 2010 Mr. Mike Sample Channel 101 Communications, Inc. 5555 West High Terrace Albany, New York 12206 Dear Mr. Sample: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me at yesterday’s MLK Career Fair. I certainly appreciate your time in the midst of so many individuals seeking employment. You were extremely thorough in explaining the duties and responsibilities of the Building Maintenance position and provided good examples of what emergency situations might come up on the job. Now that I have a better understanding of what the position entails, I am certain I would be a valuable asset to the Channel 101 Communications team. My solid training at the Albany Vocational Center and experience working for both the Williams Center and Smith Apartment Complex have given me the required skill sets in carpentry, plumbing, electrical repair and masonry you stated were critical to success in the Building Maintenance position. I’ve included a copy of my resume for your review and am looking forward to the opportunity to visit Channel 101’s main office to discuss this position and my qualifications in greater detail. Thank you again for your time and consideration. Sincerely, John Smith

FOLLOW-UP CAREER FAIR LOG It may be helpful to keep a log of who you talked to, what you learned about their company, what the next step in the hiring process is, etc. This will help you stay organized & will help when writing your thank you letters. Company Name: Representatives Name: Contact Information: Jobs of Interest / Requirements: Reactions: Likes and Dislikes: Interesting Information Learned: What did I not have time to say or could have said better?: Next Step: interview, application, etc.

Tricks for job fair success workshop pp (2)

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