Job fairs can be an overwhelming experience if you aren’t prepared – so many people milling about, nervous energy in abundance, and lots of pressure to impress. Before you turn on your heel and run for the hills, take a deep breath and approach the experience one step at a time.
1) Arrive early. Recruiters are human and get tired at the end of a hectic day of meeting lots of people. Increase your chances of making a quality connection by catching them early in the day.
2) Give yourself a warm-up pitch. Ideally, prior to the day of the job fair, you will have obtained a list of registered employers and researched your top companies of interest. If your nerves are getting the best of you, try first approaching an employer (or two or three!) for whom you are relatively certain you do not wish to work. This will allow you to get into the groove of talking to people and get warmed up for the main event.
3) Approach company representatives with a smile and a firm handshake. Follow that initial positive impression by exhibiting good eye contact and a positive, confident manner.
4) Present your resume and be ready to discuss your qualifications and accomplishments. Don’t forget to ask relevant questions.
5) Ask how to apply for openings if they don’t offer this information. Do not be discouraged if they refer you to their website to apply online- this is commonplace. Many companies have a process of flagging applications of candidates of interest who were identified at a job fair. The first step is to apply!