How to Prepare for a Job Fair in 3 Easy Steps - Jobscan Blog

How to Prepare for a Job ritterlich in 3 Easy Steps - Jobscan BlogPosted on May 4, 2015November 13, 2018 by Trista Winnie Spring is a busy time when it comes to job fairs, leading up to summer hiring. If you are planning to attend a job fair soon, its time to start preparing. There are three main things you need to know about how to prepare for a job fairCreate a specific job fair resumeTypically, you should create a customized resume tailored for each individual job. When youre attending a job fair, though, your resume needs are different. Put good effort into crafting a compellingcareer summary. This is not the same as a traditional resume objective, which is all about your goals instead, its an overview of what youve accomplished, and how you can benefit an employer.You should have printed copies of your resume to take with you. The resume that you create to take to a job fair should be limited to one page.Remember, roles that date back 10 years or mora can be condensed into a sec tion called Prior Professional Experience, or something similar, where you include just the employers, your titles, and your employment dates.Depending on your field and the type of job youre targeting, a job fair is your chance to move beyond the typical resume and include (carefully chosen, of course) color and graphics. Because you will be meeting with people face-to-face, you could even include your photo (normally frowned upon in the U.S.).You may not be able to choose keywords targeted for an individual job when attending a job fair, but you can research keywords relevant to your industry and the types of roles youre interested in, and draw from those. Resume examples are a great source in this case. If youre pursuing a career in social media,visit Indeed.com, click Find Resumes, and browse through resumes using social media as a search term.And, as always, make sure your resume is polished and error-free.Hone your elevator speechAn elevator pitch isa short speech30 seconds or fewer, or about the length of an elevator ridein which you tell someone who you are and what you do. You can also include details such as notable accomplishments, standout skills, your interests, community involvement, or professional goals. Obviously, you cant include all of thatso think of several highlights, and choose which to share based on who youre talking to.Keep your elevator speech short and conversational.But remember, its an ice breaker, not your whole life history. Focus on being conversational.If youre a student and youll be attending a job fair at your college or university, your elevator speech should include information about your major, plus any notable projects, such as a thesis.An elevator speech is designed to be a brief and compelling quick of your career or education. Practice, revise, and accept feedback to make sure you are engagingbut not bragging.Dont try to memorize an exact scriptjust get comfortable with the points you want to cover. The last thing you want is to come off as stilted.Research potential employersGenerally, youll be able to find out in advance which employers will be at a job fair. Its important to learn about who will be there, and to come up with a realistic and prioritized list of the companies you want to talk to. Dont go to a job fair planning to talk with every company present.If youre going to be attending an industry-specific job fair, then doing your research is even more important. Not only will you need to know what sets one company apart from anotherin order to decide who you want to spend your time talking tobut the questions you prepare for an industry-specific job fair should be more focused, and should allow you to demonstrate your understanding of, or experience in, that field.Employers will come into contact with countless candidates during the course of a job fair. One of the most effective ways to make yourself memorable is to ask engaging questions. Dont ask questions that could be answered with a moments web search.Attending a job fair provides you with chances to practice marketing yourself, to learn more about specific employers, and to make potentially valuable contacts. It also gives you the opportunity to practice answering employers questionsand ask some of your ownin a lower-stakes setting than a job interview. A job fair can be an ideal trial run, and should be considered as part of any job search.Facebook Commentswpdevar_comment_1 span,wpdevar_comment_1 iframewidth100% important