By JG Côté

Going to job fairs is always a smart idea, even if they do not directly relate to your profession.  If you can find one that is specifically designed for your field of work that’s excellent, but you should go to ones that are not as well.  You can often find a few companies or organizations that hire people outside of the job fair “theme”.  Many large organizations hire a wide range of professionals and are not going to turn away prospective employees just because they do not meet the job fair ‘theme’.  Therefore it is important that you still show up at the fairs that are not necessary directed toward your specific field of professionalism.  Furthermore, job fairs are a great place to make new contacts and to do some networking.  It never hurts to meet new people and make new contacts from any area of the professional world.

Another good thing about job fairs is that they give you a perfect opportunity to assess the companies and organizations you may want to work for.  So make sure you ask a lot of questions when you do encounter a place you may considering working for.  This is a good opportunity to enquire about things like benefits, work hours & pay (is it salary based), travel, opportunities for advancement.  Just a note, when enquiring about salary, be careful and do not make it sound like it is your only interest.  You can ask about it, but make sure you try to discuss some other topics like what the company is about (e.g., how large is the organization? where’s the head office? Things like that.).

Prior to going to a job fair, you should be prepared to hand out resumes and possibly do some preliminary interviews.  Some organizations will accept resumes during the fair, and if you are lucky, they may even interview you (although these usually just lead to a more formal interview later).  Therefore when going to a job fair, always dress professional, bring resumes, and be prepared for an interview.

Just a side note, some people go to job fairs with a friend or colleague.  This is fine if you are car-pooling to the location, but that is where your “going together” should end.  Remember, you are trying to get a job for yourself and yourself only.  When you are going to booths you should be marketing yourself and no one else.  If you visit a booth with someone else, nothing good can come of it.  You could be overshadowed by your companion, not have the ability to ask the questions you need to, or you will just simply leave a poor impression with the people who are hiring you.  Show the employers some initiative and confidence by going to the different booths yourself.

Courtesy of: The Job Helper

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