Article courtesy of The Job Crowd.

Jobs & Career fairs can be overwhelming, so take note of these top tips to get you through the day.

Preparation:

To prepare for the day, you should;

Decide what to wear –

Your attire should be pleasing to the eye, professional and stand out.

A smart business casual layout can set you apart from the rest of the suits.

Dress for the job you want, don’t be cliche.

Check out the venue –

 Scope out the venue before the day, so you know how to get there, if there is parking etc.

You should also ensure you know where your preferred employers will be so you can be at the front of the line.

Research the Employers –

Interested in the employers but don’t exactly know what they do?

Spend some time researching the ones you are particularly interested in and the industry they represent, that way you’ll know what they are looking for and how you can approach them.
The Job Crowd has a great overview of the Top Companies for graduates to work for.

Update your CV –

Is it out of date? Will you stand out from the crowd?

Have a look at what you can improve on and print as many copies as you can.

Don’t be afraid to take loads of CV’s as you will more than likely go through them all.

Check out common cover letter mistakes to avoid here.

Practise your pitch –

Whats your USP (Unique Selling Point)?

Who are you and why do you want to work for that company?

Be prepared for “Tell me more about yourself” and above all listen for clues in the conversation.

If a recruiter seems interested in a particular subject, jump on their enthusiasm and work your magic!

On the Day

Go Solo –

You don’t need a group of friends putting you off your “A” game, neither should you take your children along.

Treat this as a job interview.

Get there early –

Head in early to make sure you’re the one that is meeting the fresh faced employers.

It’s a long day for everyone involved and you don’t want to be pitching to a fatigued recruiter.

Network –

Standing in line? Waiting for a coffee?

This is your opportunity to network.

You never know who you might strike up a conversation with.

Pitch –

Be courteous. Speak clearly and respectfully.

Complete your simple pitch and ask questions.

If you’re nervous about your pitch, practise on a few employers that you’re not necessarily interested in, that way you are more comfortable heading into conversations with the ones you want to approach.

While you’re there, grab some brochures etc but don’t be greedy or aggressive on the marketing material or samples.

Follow up –

After the event, employers can be overwhelmed with resumes and pitches.

Ensure you follow up with a phone call or email reminding the recruiter of your stand out points in the conversation. Apply for the positions that are available online and don’t be disheartened if you don’t find your dream job this time round.

Although an employer may not have picked you today, the one that got the position may not work out and you will be at the top of the list.