Career fairs are great ways to meet lots of potential employers and to find out more about jobs, application processes, internships and volunteering. Some fairs will also feature expert speakers and workshops. Read on for our tips on how to make the most of your time at career fairs.
Preparing for the careers fair
* Think about why you want to attend. Do you want to pick up information about companies, find out about job or work experience opportunities or network?
* Read about the event to find the list of employers attending. Research what potential employers do and what roles they have to offer
* You can pre-register for some career fairs and submit your CV which may mean employers will pre-screen your CV and arrange an interview for the day
* Decide which employers you definitely want to visit. Each fair will have an exhibitors' list and floor plan so you can plan your route
* Seminars and presentations on applications, interviews and assessment centres fill up quickly so see if you can pre-book
* Update your CV and plan to bring at least 20 copies. Bring different versions of your CV if you are searching for different types of jobs
* Prepare questions about the application process, what skills and qualities are needed to ask recruiters
* Before the fair, scan the news headlines to get a feel for what’s going on in the sectors that interest you so you can drop facts into conversations
* Consider having your CV professionally written by a
CV writing company
At the careers fair
* Get there early to avoid the rush. Fairs tend to be busier at the beginning or near the end so aim to get to employers before they see too many people
* Use your time wisely. Determine where employers are located and in what order to visit them. Focus on three companies that you are interested in
* Visit your favourite employer after you’ve talked with one or two others, to give you a chance to warm up and build your confidence
* Don’t just stand and look at the literature, take the freebies and then move on without saying anything at all
* Sell yourself. Talk to companies about what you are looking for and the skills you would bring to the team
* Do not monopolize an employer's time. Ask specific questions and offer to follow up after the fair
* Ask the employer about current openings, salary, benefits, training, who to contact for follow-up discussions and the next steps in the recruitment process
* Try to obtain the recruiter's business card for follow-up discussions and call them the day after the careers fair
If you require assistance with interview and career coaching or
CV and cover letter writing, please contact
www.mycvandme.co.uk.
