Job Fair Week is among us! This an intimidating time of the year when the campus is flooded by company recruiters giving away keepsakes and with students going to class in business professional attire. Students trying to act casual as drops of sweat roll down their faces partially because of the heat since it hardly goes down from 80℉ (on a good day). But also due to the anxiety of thinking whether that recruiter you just met will give you a call back. Today, I want to give you a few hacks on how you can survive job fair week and, more importantly, how to land your dream job.
1. Do Your Research
Students tend to overlook the importance of actually knowing a company. Your desire to work with them has to go beyond “I have heard that they pay really well” or “I really need something in my resume;” you need to know who they are and why the people who decide to work there do what they do. In the modern era of technology, there is no excuse to not knowing details about a company. With our cell phones always at hand, learning what a company does and some details of what makes them who they are will only take five minutes, tops. So, what are the things you are looking for? A good place to start is the mission and vision of the company. One will tell you where they are right now and the other where they want to be, respectively. This is a good tool to know what angle to take with your recruiters and where to stir the conversation using keywords that you find in these statements. Something else that you can do is search their products (you don’t want to be telling a recruiter you love a product from a competitor thinking it’s theirs!) Finally, something that is easily overlooked… where the company is located!
There are countless stories of students telling recruiters that they hate the cold weather, for example, without knowing that the company only has positions open in Ohio during the Winter…
2. Things to Bring to a Job Fair
It is important to bring 10 to 20 copies of your resume printed out. Many recruiters are adapting to accepting resumes by email, but remember that you want to make yourself noticed and remembered the best way possible. Having to send your resume by email might seem as a sign that you are not prepared. Another good idea would be to bring a notebook and pen. Taking down notes and information might seem like a small gesture, but it does show initiative and interest to the recruiter.
3. Dress to Impress
Maybe you’ve heard the quote dress for the job you want. And the truth is that dressing well is just one more simple step you can take to reinforce your professional competence. Normally, for interviews or job fairs business, casual is the way to go. Make sure that you wear comfortable pieces; remember that the most important thing you want to show the recruiter is confidence and a positive attitude. If you don’t feel comfortable, it will show.
Check out the article Deciphering Dress Codes: From Casual to Business Professional for more information and ideas on how to navigate dress codes in this recruitment season.
4. First Impressions Count
Many recruiters will tell you that they can count in one hand the students they remember after a job fair. Those that truly left a lasting impression that makes them want to look at their resume again when they are back in their hotels setting up interviews. One of the most crucial aspects that can decide whether you are remembered or not is that first impression. Things you want to practice:
-
eye contact
-
a firm handshake
-
smile
-
good posture
-
enthusiasm about the company
These simple three actions will show the recruiter that you are confident and truly interested in what they are offering.
5. Prepare an Elevator Pitch
If you found the one person that could make all your dreams come true in an elevator, could you convince them to give you a shot? That’s exactly what you are trying to accomplish with an elevator pitch, just that you are not in an elevator. You are in a crowded room with a long line of other qualified applicants waiting behind you for their turn. Recruiters are humans and they do get tired. Imagine putting yourself in their shoes: you look up from the stack of resumes you’ve already collected knowing that you’ve talked to 20 students and notice that there’s still 50 to go. What would make you want to actually have a conversation with the next person instead of just taking their resume and passing on to the next one? That’s what you need to think about when you prepare your elevator pitch. How can I make them want to know more about me? Some key components to have in your elevator pitch would be:
-
an introduction (your name and something that makes you stand out from the rest)
-
your objective when talking to this recruiter (I am looking for an internship or full time position in…)
-
the qualities of qualifications that make you the perfect fit for the job (skillset or past experiences)
Try to make it as compelling as possible. For example, you could add keywords from the company’s’ mission and vision to your pitch. If the company centers around innovation or creativity, use that to your advantage.
6. Get Ready to Mingle! *Ahem* Network
As you might have heard before, your network is your net-worth. Job fairs are a great place to find like-minded individuals that are looking towards being better professionals and leaders in their fields. Use this opportunity to learn names about people with the same background as you that have landed the positions you want to see yourself in the future. Ask them for advice and mentorship. This will not only help you towards achieving a job in that moment since it shows your interest, but it will also give you pointers in things you can do to accomplish your goals. What associations did they join? Always try to exchange contact information with the recruiters, as this will be crucial for our next hack. Also, don’t forget that this will be an opportunity to network by building relationships and sharing ideas with other students. They might already have some great key notes for the companies that you are interested in. You can exchange ideas and strategies as well as give support in this stressful time.
7. Always Follow Up
Following up is another key item that is often overlooked by applicants. This step shows the recruiter your commitment, as well as keeps you in the top of their head when they are screening those resumes late at night for call backs. I’ll share with you one of the common forms that I personally use after networking with a recruiter. Keep in mind that this can be done either after exchanging contact information in their information booth and also after an interview.
Hi ___:
I wanted to thank you again for giving me some of your time during the recent career fair at ___ to discuss some of the amazing opportunities available at ___. During our conversation, I was especially excited to hear more about ___, which made me even more interested in pursuing a role with your company.
Depending on the level of interest from the recruiter, I might leave it there or close the email with one of the following:
I was wondering if you have any suggestions on how i could improve in order to be a better candidate for your company?
or
Could we set up a time to talk about next steps?
And always close with a signature:
I look forward to hearing from you again. Thanks again for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
It is a good practice to attach your resume again in this email, especially if you are asking for further advice.
In the end, always remember recruiters are there to look for the best fit for their company for their benefit and yours. Learning the most about the company and recruiters beforehand will increase your chances of showing them you have the right set of attributes for the job you desire. Remember that the more you can show them that you are sure that you want to be there for the right reasons the less room for doubt they will have on giving you a call back.
Don’t forget to check out Learning to Tackle Interviews: Job Fair Edition to get ready for when these great hacks give you your call back.