Snag Your Dream Job: A Recruiter’s Top 10 Tips to Work a Job Fair

About the Snag Your Dream Job series: Call me biased, but I think Charles Schwab hires great employees.  The quality of our employees and candidates owes some credit to a robust, well thought out talent acquisition strategy.  We wanted to share our knowledge and perspective on how job candidates can make themselves stand out from the crowd, practical advice that is relevant across any industry, role or rank.

Technology has revolutionized the job search process, but the value of connecting in person with an influencer or decision maker from a potential employer has only become more valuable.  As a talent attraction manager for Schwab, I attend up to five career events every week and know what attracts a recruiter’s attention.  First impressions can make or break your chance to snag a job, so we’ve developed a list of top 10 tips to make a strong impression at job fairs.
Before the event: Prepare!

1. Do your research: Most career fairs provide a list of participating companies, hiring managers, and job recruiters.  For those that interest you, do your homework to learn about their company culture, current openings, business strategy, and financial performance.
2. Dress your best: Wear professional attire to dress up, but what is considered professional varies across geographies.  I live in Arizona and do not expect to see suits at a job fair when it’s 110 degrees outside; however, in my hometown of Chicago a suit is status quo.
3. Bring hard copies: Bring clean copies of your resume and cover letter.  Don’t worry about professional references; most employers will not look at references until they make a hiring decision.

At the event: Maximize!

4. Time it right:  I have seen more than 200 people lined up before the doors open at some job fair events.  This is the worst time to show up.  It is loud and crowded, and recruiters are trying to talk to many job candidates at once.  This means you will have little – if any – 1:1 time with the recruiter.  Show up during the last couple hours of the job fair, when it will be less crowded and professional recruiters have more time to give you focused attention. But don’t show up so late that recruiters are tired and have started to pack up.
5. Perfect your approach: Never say to a recruiter you will do “anything.”  Instead, share your career goals and job skills.  If you know about the company or employer, mention something that attracted your interest. Otherwise, ask about the goals of the organization and what they are looking for.
6. Don’t vent: Whether you applied and didn’t hear back from an exciting company, or are frustrated in general with the job search process, put on rose-colored glasses for the event.  Recruiters expect candidates to be on their best behavior, and if your best behavior includes a negative attitude a recruiter will not put you in front of a hiring manager.
7. Know when it’s not for you:  If one company doesn’t have any job openings that fit your career goals, move on. Don’t try to sell yourself for an opportunity that you aren’t qualified for – that won’t turn out well for anyone. Ask where to learn about future job openings and what type of positions would fit your experience and skill set.
8. Play by their rules: Many companies are regulated in how they administer the hiring process, so recruiters may not be able to accept a paper resume or offer salary information.  Instead, ask about next steps, whether the recruiter is willing to talk to you after the job fair, and how they prefer to be contacted.

After the event: Activate!

9. Apply: Submit applications for the jobs you are interested in and qualified for. If you have the recruiter’s contact information, ask them to connect you with the decision maker (many companies have multiple recruiters, so the one you met may not be connected to the hiring manager filling the job you want).
10. Network: Send LinkedIn connection requests to the recruiters you met at the event.  They may be able to introduce you to recruiters at other companies of interest to you, and many recruiters share job openings on LinkedIn.  The more professional connections you make the greater chance of landing your dream job.

With a little pre-work, a plan of attack and strong follow up, attending a job fair can be an effective way to find your next job or career.  Share your perspective – what’s worked well for you at job fairs, and what advice would you share with job seekers?
 Up next: Check back for the next installment in the Snag Your Dream Job series that will focus on career networking.

About the author: Shannon Grimes is a Phoenix-based talent attraction manager for Schwab, and her work focuses on connecting with job seekers at networking events, information sessions and career fairs.

Article reposted with permission from the author.

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