How to: Work a job fair
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No matter the month or week, there’s a good chance a job fair is taking place somewhere in the Triangle.
For job seekers, that’s an encouraging sign. It means employers are looking for workers to fill job openings after a three-year downturn in the economy.
But it doesn’t mean things are back to where they were in the late 1990s, when the local jobless rate was less than 2 percent and many employers were desperate for workers. Joblessness remains above 4 percent, and openings remain scarce in some business sectors, including technology.
So competition for jobs is still pretty stiff, and job seekers can’t take anything for granted.
“People have to be prepared for job fairs,” says Tom Russo, a career counselor at Durham Technical Community College. “If you just show up and say, ‘Hi, I’m here,’ you’re making a terrible mistake.”
With that in mind, Russo spoke with staff writer Amy Martinez and offered this advice for anyone thinking about attending a job fair.
HAVE PLENTY OF RESUMES ON HAND. Carry at least 20 for some of the bigger job fairs. Also, you may be asked to fill out job applications, with all those pesky questions. I mean, who can remember an old high school address? Or the phone number of a supervisor from three years ago? Russo encourages you to look up all the answers beforehand and bring them with you.
DRESS PROFESSIONALLY. And, no, that doesn’t mean a nice, pressed pair of jeans. Russo recommends a suit and tie for men, and a pant or skirt suit for women. Leave the long, dangly earrings at home. Also, no jangly bracelets and “whoopdi-do” hairdos. And if high heels make you look like a clown on stilts, go with more comfortable shoes.
REHEARSE A FAST INTRODUCTION. Basically, you have 60 seconds to make a good first impression. Emphasize your “soft” skills, such as your ability to work well with others or your friendly personality. Summarize your work experience without listing every job title you’ve ever had.
SMILE AND MAKE EYE CONTACT. Call it putting on your game face. Just know that as soon as you enter the room with all those recruiters, you’re being watched. So be friendly. Also, give a firm handshake. And stand with good posture.
APPLY FOR JOBS THAT MATCH YOUR EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS. Otherwise, you’ll just be wasting your time. Throwing a killer birthday party for your 5-year-old, for instance, doesn’t make you an “events coordinator.”
DO YOUR HOMEWORK. You can usually find out the names of employers that will be attending the fair from its organizer. Learn as much as you can about the employers, and see if they’ve recently published any job descriptions. That way, you can tailor your 60-second introduction to their needs.