Attending a jobs fair can lead to all kinds of possibilities. Whether you are an established professional looking to take steps to enhance your career, unemployed and keen to bounce back into employment, or simply looking to create a more diverse job search strategy, then attending a Jobs Fair is for you.
What is a Jobs Fair?
A Jobs Fair is generally a one-day event within a geographical area where a range of employers, both local and national, exhibit job opportunities venues such as hotels, football stadiums, or conference facilities. They provide job seekers the opportunity to speak with recruiters, network with others, submit applications and attend mini interviews with the aim of boosting their chance of securing a new exciting job role.
Make changes to your job search strategy to land your dream job
Standing out from the crowd at a bustling event, packed with jobseekers all looking to grab the attention of prospective recruiters and employers is no mean feat. This article will look at actions to prime yourself for an event in order to make a great first impression, distinguish yourself from the crowd and maximise your chances of securing your dream job.
Let’s get started!!
Pre-event preparation
Research Exhibitors
Preparation is paramount to making the best use of your time during the event! To narrow your focus to the companies you want to approach, start by securing a list of all the exhibitors and event floor plan (most job fair organisers will publish this in advance) allowing you to create your “hit list” and research your priority employers, job openings and role requirements.
Researching these prioritised companies will enable you to craft a customised CV and tailor your conversations to specifically engage with those recruiters.
Customise your CV
Looking to get your foot in the door of a specific company or sector? The standard of your CV will define whether your application is rejected or progressed through to the first recruitment stage!
Your CV is the first impression an employer gets of you. When it lacks impact the odds of securing an interview are greatly reduced with many applicants making the mistake of applying for jobs with the same generic CV often poorly structured, vague and not sector targeted - leading to obvious disappointment when the application is rejected.
So, how do you target a CV to an industry you have little or no experience?
A good place to start is by studying the job advertisement, description required person specification to allow you to craft your CV - incorporating those all-important keywords relevant to the advertised role.
Tailoring your CV shows you’ve taken time to research into the sector, company, and job role advertised. This will help draw the employer’s attention to your acquired skills – even if they aren’t directly related to the job you’ve applied for. (Showcasing transferable skills is a great alternative way to sell yourself!)
To learn how to customise your CV, read my article ‘Create a CV with Impact’
During the event
Carry a business bag
Carrying a suitable business bag (with shoulder strap) will create a professional image and allow you to easily manoeuvre your way through the room, leaving you free for handshaking and taking notes as well as providing somewhere to store business cards or application forms picked up at the event.
Alongside this, be sure to pack your bag with some refreshments, a bottle of water and a small snack to keep you going during the event. A notebook with a few pens and at least 20 of your customised CVs (placed into plastic wallets to keep them clean and crisp) to hand out to recruiters throughout the event.
If being ethically friendly is important to you, investing in a vegan business bag may interest you and you’ll find the stylish Felda Vegan Saffiano Print Laptop Business Bag; functional, durable and ideal for the office commute and business functions.
Dress for success and to impress
Just like it would be at an interview, this is your chance to make a great first impression. So, dressing professionally is a must!
It’s worth remembering that venues can become warm and crowded and you’re likely to be on your feet for several hours, so wearing smart comfortable shoes alongside a freshly pressed outfit that can be adapted to the environment should be a consideration.
For wardrobe ideas on professional attire for both men and women visit this great website for ideas.
Network
Mix, mingle and converse during the event. Make contacts, collect business cards, and connect on LinkedIn to build your list of professional contacts. This is the best way to open doors to future employment opportunities.
A jobs fair presents you with a unique opportunity to talk to employers directly and this is your time to shine and take advantage of the chance to showcase your skills and qualities to recruiters in person. Approach tables with confidence. Make eye contact. Shake hands firmly and introduce yourself - but be sure to get a copy of your CV into the recruiter’s hand.
To ‘Stand out From the Crowd’ and further impress; deliver your ‘elevator pitch’ to sell yourself - provide a short 20-30 second soundbite drawing attention to your core skills. This will lead to questions from the recruiter, so be prepared to think on your feet and respond accordingly.
If you are ready to craft your elevator pitch “First impressions count – nail that elevator pitch!”by Warwick University provides an detailed insight in how to create and structure your perfect pitch.
Leave a lasting impression
Recruiters are going to meet many job seekers on the day, therefore the manner in which you close your conversation will help create that lasting impression.
When wrapping things up be sure to politely thank the individuals you’ve been conversing with for their time and if you haven’t already handed them a CV, be sure to do so before moving on. Request a business card and take note of their name and contact details to refer to when following up after the event.
You can find details of UK wide jobs fairs by following www.ukcareersfair.com
Post-event
Follow up
It is good practice to re-establish contact with the company representatives that you met during the event. Send a brief professional follow up email reiterating your interest in the roles that you discussed. Do this within 2 days of the event whilst you are still fresh in the recruiter’s mind.
Every meeting provides an opportunity
Events provide a platform for you to make connections, opening doors to new and exciting employment opportunities. Make the most of each meeting by putting yourself out there and getting your ‘game plan’ together first. You never know, the right preparation may just land you your dream job.
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