Maximize you chances in Jobs Fairs

Job fairs are quite a fad nowadays. Government agencies, groups of businesses and establishments and other entities conduct a one-day, two-day or week-long fairs offering jobs and employment to people. Usually these happened at the malls, parks, and other venues where people can access. Recently these events are accompanied by on-line registrations or free clinics or with free snacks or other freebies.

With the Jobs Fair, finding a job may be a piece-of-cake, but always remember that there are a hundred or more applicants wading their way to get those jobs too. Then you might wonder how you can get the job you wanted even with a limited experience or skills to offer? As said, qualifications, skills, and education are just half of the whole package on landing a job. Finding a job is also an art with a technique to follow with much leg-work to be done - the other half of the "hiring equation".

Prepare for the Jobs Fair

Now you have kept a tab on important dates for jobs fairs and similar events, then prepare for those events. If you are too eager to have a job, do consider that finding a job is like the job itself. Going to a workplace entails money and other preparations and so does job hunting. With these, you need to have enough money to avail other sources/resources such as computer encoding (of your résumé and cover letter) and printing, fare (if you are commuting by public transportation), meals and snacks, or registration fees (if the organizers require one). Just like in business, you need to invest a little on your marketing activity (marketing your skills - that is!)

Don't come too early

This is the common mistake job-hunters/seekers do during Jobs Fairs - being too early and wait for the malls or event venues to open (along with other job-hunters who crowd the entrances of these places). This is not really a good practice and you will look like a cheapskate harassing the security guard to open the door of the mall because of a 50%-off sale. A jobs fair is not a clearance sale - it is an event where people can "shop" for jobs and land for them - not a flea-market bargain where the first ones to arrive get the best buys. Come an hour later or a couple of, after the opening. The process of registration (if there is any), queuing and other things will be orderly by such time, and the crowd is better controlled by then.

Do not Dress up or bring your Cover Letter and Résumé right away

"That's absurd!", you might say. Always put in mind that the first person interviewed in a jobs fair do not necessarily land for that job - so as those who are too early and too hasty to be there. Let us call this as "Research First".

Always remember that your cover letter and résumé should be customized to fit the job position you are applying for and the company you are impressing with your skills. Don't give your potential employer a "template" cover letter and résumé - it's a sign of insincerity. Printing out template cover letters and résumé will cost you more than proper research. Head Hunters/Employment Consultants (people who help you to find job) always advice to conduct a research first - about the company, the nature of the job, the skills needed, and qualifications required for the job. Knowing these things will get you ahead of the pack, and the jobs you choose will suit you better.

The point then is that do not go to Jobs Fairs already dressed up with template cover letters and résumés at hand. Just drop by to "shop" for suitable job offerings, register first if required - but do not go to an interview yet. Write down all the details of the jobs you are eyeing, then go home or go to some business center (for encoding and printing), surf and research additional information about the company or job in the net (some might be posted in an on-line job listing site such as JobStreet or Careerjet) and write the customized cover letter/résumé. After customizing your documents, you can go back to the fair already dressed up and prepared for the interview.

Wear your best

Now that you are about to hand out that cover letter and résumé, please wear the proper dress too. Never wear something rugged as if you are going outdoors (unless you are required to wear it, as in a movie role audition).

HAPPY HUNTING!