How to Get the Most Out of Job Fairs

How to Get the Most Out of Job Fairs Audra Lowe: Have ever you considered attending a job fair? Well, whether you think that they're just a waste to time or you just don’t know were to find them, Better’s financing career expert Maribel Aber is here to talk about why those job fairs might actually be your golden ticket. Good to have you here Maribel. Maribel Aber: Glad to see you Audra Lowe: Yes. Big things seem all the time but again, we’re talking about is it worth your time? You've got recruiters that have tacked? Your going online, what about the job fairs? Maribel Aber: Job Fairs I think what people think about job fairs is very informational, very general but it’s actually a huge opportunity. It’s what’s you make at. Audra Lowe: Okay Maribel Aber: Okay. So going to into a job fair, you have the opportunity to delete all the emails and you become the face that they put to actual applicant. So it’s really important for you to put your best game face on, have you elevator pitch ready, be able to talk very quickly. I want to say 30 seconds about who are and your experience Audra Lowe: So you want to be able to sell it but as be as natural as possible right? Maribel Aber: You want to be as natural as possible. And I will say we've talk about jobs before about were we getting jobs? This is also very good for the older applicants because this gives them an opportunity just sort of be face to face with hiring manager. Audra Lowe: That’s what a lot people miss these days is actually seeing someone that could possibly be hiring you. What about when you're preparing to pitch yourself? You’ve got your resumes in hand — like how many should you plan on bringing and is it still the thing to do to have a resume in hand to hand over — Maribel Aber: Resumes, you definitely so want to have that. But the most important thing is do your research. You want to find out what companies are going to be at the job fair, what jobs they're posting for, what's available there and bring your resume along. And if you can, be very targeted. Because think about it, if you go to an outlet mall, you could walking around, walking around but if you aren’t targeted, you're not get to people or the places in the stores — Audra Lowe: Right. Maribel Aber: You're not going to get the right jobs that you want to look for Audra Lowe: So you definitely have to do your homework before because there’s a lot company at those jobs. They do need to know specifics right? Maribel Aber: You need know and dress the part, look the part because it’s sort of like a casting. Audra Lowe: Yeah. Maribel Aber: They’re looking for a — fill the blank, an engineer, broadcasting engineer, whatever we have you so you need to look that route as well. Audra Lowe: What about following up with — I've always from certain people. They’ll say, “I hate it when someone emails me like the day of the job fair or the day after. Give me a chance to relax.” But you're talking to someone who might be desperate for a job. So what's the time frame with it? Maribel Aber: The time frame you want to be still wants to be quick. And when I say here is you want to distinguish yourself from the other people sending the thank you notes. So put in your name in actual subject line. Put your name, the name of the job fair, make your note brief and attach your bio in resume because you — if they're still going to have it. Audra Lowe: Brief is probably keys right? They don’t want us dump through an entire email. Maribel Aber: Yes. Audra Lowe: What about where you can find the job fair? Is there one spot that you can go to to locate them? Maribel Aber: They're all over place. I would look at in nationalcareerfairs.com and also monster.com. We know it’s a great source anyway but they have this program keep America Working Tour and you want to look that. They have all kinds of information about job tour or jobs fairs. Audra Lowe: Lots of people doing them so that’s good information. Thank you very much Maribel. And if you have questions for Maribel, you can always email her at Ask Maribel@better T.V.com so answer them on the show.