JOB FAIRS

I have been asked for advice on the usefulness of Job Fairs. You should look for Job Fairs in your area. If there are several, you should select the ones that you believe are most appropriate for you. For example, some of the fairs target specific industries or age groups such as graduating college students. Find those that fit your situation.

The most important advice is that you set yourself apart from the typical job fair attendee. As this CNN article shows, competition can be fierce. Job Fairs are a great place to gather names and contact information for businesspeople for follow up using the Job Finding Formula. Of course, you should leave as many resumes as possible and make every effort to place yourself in the running for jobs that you discover. However, recognize that just like employment ads, available jobs at job fairs attract many applicants, especially in the economy we now live in.

Be prepared for some form of interview at the fair. This may be a short "pre-interview" that can lead to a formal interview later. Job Finding Formula explains how to prepare for interviews and how to present yourself in the most positive way. If you are successful in scheduling one or more follow up interviews, be sure to find out as much as possible about that. Ask who you will be meeting, where and when. Try to learn as much as possible about the position that you will be discussing, especially any specific requirements for that position. After the fair, write a letter to the person who will interview you, thank them for the opportunity, state your understanding of the job, their requirements and that you will be prepared to discuss your qualification to meet those.

Keep in mind that businesspeople at Job Fairs are also overwhelmed with applicants. They see so many resumes in a short time that they often take very little time to even read them. If yours gets a quick scan, you are lucky. That is where the contact information you gather can become a powerful tool. After the fair, make a list of contacts and prioritize them with the most promising ones at the top. Write a letter to each one and enclose your resume. Begin the letter by mentioning that you met at the Job Fair. Then, recognize the person's status as a respected business leader. Next, state that you understand that they do not know of a suitable position for you at this time. Tell them that you would greatly appreciate their advice about how to improve your resume. State that you plan to call them after they have had the opportunity to review your resume to discuss any advice they may have. Be specific on the day you will call. Make sure you follow through with the call and try to set up a meeting.

Job Finding Formula teaches how to format your resume and has sample letters you can use to do this. It also presents techniques for making the phone call and setting up the meeting. If you follow the formula, you will be surprised at how many people will want to help you move your job search forward.

Michael Britner
Job Finding Master