Executives 11-Step Guide to Job Fairs

Executives 11-Step Guide to Job FairsExecutives 11-Step Guide to Job FairsTheyre not just for entry-level positions. Tips and tricks for mid- and senior-level executives to get the most out of choosing and attending job fairs.By Kevin Fogarty John HazardThe recession is forcing job fairs to move upstream, bringing in recruiters and companies hiring for mid- and senior-level executives. Its worth your time to attend a few, if youre looking for a job or just curious about your options.Ladders asked recruiters and career coaches for their advice and compiled this guide for more-seasoned job seekers to get the most out of finding and attending job fairs.1. Avoid general/government job fairs.Events organized by local government agencies and chambers of commerce tend to be unfocused, involving companies because theyre local, not because theyre relevant.2. Target a session or recruiter, and get there early.Look at the agenda ahead of time to see if theres a particular session, recruiter or company in which you are interested. Get there early and talk to other early arrivals they probably have a special interest in the topic or company. Find out what they know and who they know you should talk to. Find out who in the room is influential in that area, and talk to them.3. Dont hover or wait in line.Dont stand still while someone else talks to the contact you want to meet. Pick up the contacts information and leave your card come back when the contact is free, or follow up later.4. Research the host.Before you attend, learn about the organization hosting the darbietung. Check it out online. Find members or leaders in the group, and call or write them for details. Sometimes you have to make the leap and attend an event you arent sure will be helpful, but most of the time you can do enough research to know before you go.5. Match yourself to the host.Do research about whos behind the event so you can identify the best match for your skills, background and interests. A pharm aceutical marketing manager in New Jersey will get more mileage out of an event hosted by an organization of New Jersey pharmaceutical marketing managers than by a general marketing-industry event.6. Research the companies in attendance.Read up on the companies going to the event make a list of the ones you want to talk to and what you can glean from them. If you can narrow down the list to identify the actual company representative to whom youd like to speak, you can prepare a better case for why youd make a good contribution to his or her team.7. Participate.Find a way to be more than an attendee. If youre the speaker, you dont have to worry about chasing down recruiters or fellow job seekers. They will find you.8. Be prepared.Prep for a job fair, a professional conference or a meeting of a professional organization just as you would for a job interview, a presentation or a meeting with a client. You must demonstrate that you are knowledgeable, professional and capable.9. Bring a resume.Unlike the Internet, where most job applications occur these days, in-person events, require a paper resume you can kralle out. Follow the resume rules no images, no fonts that cant be scanned.10. Bring business cards.You might also want a private business card. If youre still working and are uncomfortable handing out your work card, have some made up with your name and private contact info. Theyre cheap, theyre easy to hand out, and they give the impression of professionalism.11. Talk to everyone.Talk to your fellow job seekers. Job fairs are tailor made for people looking for jobs. Theyre like mixers for people too shy to mix on their own, said Irene Marshall, a certified resume writer, career coach and president of coaching service Tools For Transition, who works with Ladders. Everyone at a job fair has been doing their own homework, and most will be willing to compare notes with you.