Job Fair Tips (2023)

FAQs

How do I prepare myself for a job fair? ›

The best questions to ask at a job fair include "What skills do you look for most in a candidate for X position?" and "What is one of the biggest challenges of the job?" Personalize your list of questions before the job fair so that you can learn more about the topics that interest you the most.

You may have been told that it's difficult to find employment at a job fair, but that's just not true. By attending a job fair, you have a chance to meet with recruiters face-to-face, have them get to know you, and make an impression.

Don't Be Shy

Introduce yourself with a smile, eye contact, and a brief, firm handshake. Often, the recruiter will take the lead and ask you questions, but you should also have your elevator pitch ready—a 30-second soundbite of what you want the company to know about you.

Depending on the size of the recruiting fair, you will need 20-40 copies of your resume. A good rule of thumb is to research the fair on your Career Fair Plus app to estimate how many recruiters you want to visit, then double that number. It's better to have a few too many copies of your resume than not enough.

There are several common questions recruiters ask candidates at a job fair, like: Tell me something about yourself. How did you hear about this position? Why do you want to work here? Why did you decide to apply for this position?

Don't ever say anything negative to the recruiter about your college or previous jobs, companies, or supervisors. Do be sure to ask about the hiring process of each company, but don't ask too many questions about salaries, vacation time, and other benefits.

Although evening career fairs will give people who have jobs the opportunity to attend after the work day, during an economic downturn, career fairs can be day-long events attracting those who are out of work. A day to evening schedule (for instance, noon to 8 p.m.) will allow you to capture both markets.

How do I make my resume stand out at a job fair? ›

Closing Your Conversation

Once you've delivered your message, answered questions, and established your interest in the position it is time to thank the recruiter, get a business card and state that you will follow up.

Don't carry your backpack, large purse or other items

It will keep your resume neat and handy and will give you a place to file business cards you receive. You can stow your coat, backpack or other gear outside the job fair.

Being “good-looking really does pay off,” as “decades of research have shown that attractive individuals are more likely to get ahead in their careers.” There is also a related feature; attractive people know that they possess good looks, and capture the attention of people.

A career fair is a recruiting event in which recruiters and employers meet with potential employees. At the job fair, attendees can talk with recruiters about job openings and career opportunities and possibly even have the opportunity to participate in an on-the-spot interview.

On-the-spot interviews happen at job fairs, so dress the part and be ready with copies of your resume in hand. As you introduce yourself, be mindful of your body language, including your handshake, eye contact, facial expressions, and voice. Employers take notice of job candidates who smile and exhibit enthusiasm.

It's normal to feel nervous or anxious about a career fair. The potential to secure employment is a lot of pressure, and that anxiety can often be a student's downfall. However, knowing the right questions to ask at a job fair, can help students be successful even if nerves get involved!

You should give yourself 60 to 90 minutes to spend at the fair. Remember, you need to allow time for meeting different employers.

Should you wear jeans to a job fair? ›

Shirts should always be tucked in. A sweater or sweater vest may also be an appropriate option. Pants should be neatly pressed. No jeans or denim.

This interview usually lasts five to ten minutes and is conducted at the employer's booth, sometimes seated, rather than standing. Be prepared to give a full introduction of your background and quickly position yourself as someone who is a good fit in relation to that employer's needs.

It offers you a chance to present yourself to potential employers. If you make a good impression, you may end up with an interview right on the spot. Even if they don't interview you immediately, they will take your resume and get back to you at a later time.

A study by hiring platform SmartRecruiters looked at more than 270,000 job postings and found that Tuesday is the most popular day for companies to post jobs and although nearly 58 percent of jobs are posted from Monday through Wednesday, Tuesday is where most of the action happens.

Best days for job searches

According to one study cited by ABC News, Mondays are the best day of the week to apply for a job — candidates who applied on this day were most likely to move forward in the hiring process. Just as notably, the study found that Saturdays are the worst day to apply for jobs.

According to an analysis from SmartRecruiters performed on more than 240,000 companies, the best time to look for a job is near the beginning of the week, especially on Tuesdays, which is when recruiters tend to put out new job postings. In addition, most employees are interviewed and hired on Tuesdays.

What do recruiters want to hear? ›

Recruiters want to hear about “passion” and “enthusiasm,” but they also want to see you're taking a serious approach. For example, they want to know that you research companies before you go into interviews.

One of the most important qualities that a recruiter finds in a candidate is the passion for the work. Recruiters want to hire employees that are passionate about the work they do, the company they work for, and the product or service they are fighting for.

A recruiter call, or phone interview, is a conversation that helps a company understand more about you as a candidate. This conversation typically occurs at the beginning of the hiring process and typically involves questions regarding your experience, skills and qualifications.

This allows you to set yourself apart from all of the online applicants and leave a lasting impression. While job fairs provide a great opportunity to meet hiring managers in person, it's still very important to bring copies of your resume.

Do not staple cover letter and resume together. Use paperclip if necessary. You will not use a cover letter for job fairs, expos, interviews, etc. Remember to sign it.

Bad formatting

Many resumes experience death by bullet point, poor formatting, tiny font, and including out-of-date resume sections, like an “Objective” or “References.” Bad resume formatting is a big deal breaker.

If you really want to attract top talent, get up off the chair, put your cell phone down, and stand in front of the booth. By standing in front of your booth, you are closer to the candidates walking by, able to easily start conversation and offer a handshake. Show candidates that you are truly interested in them.

What day is best for a job fair? ›

Wednesdays are by far the most popular day of the week to host career fairs followed closely by Tuesday and Thursday. Scheduling your job fair in the middle of the week gives you a day or so to send out reminders and answer last minute questions from students.

Jobs Fair is an employment facilitation strategy aimed to fast-track the meeting of jobseekers and employers/overseas recruitment agencies in one venue at a specific date to reduce cost, time and effort particularly on the part of the applicants.