How to prepare for the job fair - Budgeeter News
"We hear so many people who get frustrated with the online job search process. So many people say, 'Oh if I could just talk to somebody, I know I'd get a chance.' This is the time to actually do that," said Betsy Hill, a Duluth Workforce Development employment technician. But before heading to the fair, local career service specialists recommend doing a few things to prepare.
"One of the biggest pieces of advice I give is to ask questions," Hill said. "I've been on the other side of the job fair table as a recruiter and it is mindbogglingly boring because you watch people walk past, avoiding eye contact, taking a pen and walking away."
In her job fair preparation classes, Hill teaches job seekers to imagine the fair from a recruiter's viewpoint. Asking a well-researched and authentic question can make an individual stand out among the crowd and provide additional information.
How do you ask know what to ask? Do your research. Before the fair, look at the list of employers on the website and research a little bit about each company. Hill says the question she got asked the most at the fair was, "What does the company do?"
"This is a typical question that doesn't really give you any new information you can't find on the company website. So before the fair, go to the company website. Read the 'about us' section, check out the news sections. Get a sense of the culture of the company and decide if it would be a good fit," Hill said.
Hill recommends keeping a list of employers you want to visit along with a list of questions developed while doing research. Strategize to visit those booths first at the fair. This can also reduce the risk of being overwhelmed when you arrive at the fair.
"I know it can be overwhelming. I like to stand by the entrance and catch those people who walk in, look around and immediately walk back out. I stop them and say, 'Hey, it'll be OK. Just take it one booth at a time," Hill said.
Lake Superior College career services director Eric Brandt encourages his students to prepare an elevator pitch or a brief 20-to-30-second confident explanation of who they are, their strengths and the kind of work they're looking for.
"Be concise but prepared. Make sure you practice it enough times that you feel comfortable and confident," Brandt said.
Brandt also has advice for people going into the fair unsure of what kind of job they're looking for.
"This is a way to get a feel for what's out there and what jobs are hot right now. A job fair is an opportunity to find what you might like to do, maybe not tomorrow, but in the future," Brandt said.
But if you are looking for a job right away, make sure you dress for success and maybe nix the pajama pants.
"Any negativity that we hear is usually that people did not look ready. Every year, we kind of joke that we hope this will be the first pajama pants free job fair. We're keeping hope alive. It hasn't happened yet," Hill said.
If you can't afford professional clothes, the Damiano Clothes that Work program is the place to go. The store hours are Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in room 207 of the Damiano Center, 206 W. First St.
"It doesn't have to be a suit, but appropriate, clean clothes make a huge difference," Hill said.
Hill also recommends thinking ahead and setting up childcare for the hour of your visit.
"Because if you show up to the job fair with your kids in the stroller, you're communicating that you're not ready for work because you're probably not going to be able to bring your kids with you to your job," Hill said.
7th annual Northland Job Fair
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesday, April 5
DECC Pioneer Hall
Open to all job seekers, parking free
For info go to the job fair website or call (218) 302-8406.
The Duluth Workforce Development Center has one more job fair preparation workshop at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 4 at 402 W. First St. Register here.
Put the internet to work for you.
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