Anyone went to a job fair before?

[Domino]

I'm going to my first one next Thursday (it's taking place on college campus which makes my life easier) and the good thing about this job fair is that you can see which companies are coming to the fair online.

Since I signed up for it online I can just put down which companies I'm interested in so I have a list of companies that I want to visit their booths next Thursday (plus by doing this the companies have a right to look at my resume ahead of time).

I'm wondering if anyone had any luck at job fairs before and can give me pointers and such? The college is also going speed networking which is one day before job fair so I'm going to that event as well.

I don't finish with my degree until the end of Dec of this year but I need to land on a job ASAP so I can be on my own for once. My goal is to land on a job by the end of April but if I don't land on one by the end of Dec I'm in deep shit to be honest.

If you are wondering about my resume I have five jobs on it that includes real estate, magazine business, university, and help running a record store. The record store gig is fun but I don't want to do it forever so yeah I'm looking for a career job.

If anyone of you guys have HR experience and want to give me points on my job skills I can send you my resume if you want.

I know it might be odd posting this on a forum but I don't mind. The more I talk to people about this the better.

[mirkvid]

Dress nice, and have your resume reviewed by your schools career counseling center. Five jobs in the history section seems like too much. I got my first job out of school at the job fair.

Good luck!

[StarCreator]

Yes, definitely pay your school's career services a visit - if it's anything like my alma mater, they'll provide everything from resume critiques to mock interviews.

[flux]

I went to a job fair my Junior year in college which got me an internship which directly led to a job.
Hit the places you're interested in, but it doesn't hurt to talk to other companies. I didn't plan on applying to the place where I got hired, but I'm glad I ended up talking to them.
Make sure your resume is formatted correctly and everything is spelled right. Dress well and seem interested/engaged in what the company reps are saying (even if it's boring).

[BulletMagnet]

In my experience job fairs were always dead ends (lots of "we actually don't have anything open at the moment, but thanks for the resume - don't call us, we'll call you" crap from every employer present), but others have had better luck than I ever did, so maybe the ones in my neck of the woods were just lousy.

[brentsg]

Yeah my college always had tons of companies that showed up "just to keep their names out there" but weren't actually hiring.

That being said, never be afraid to pursue whatever you want even if people deter you. One of the auto manufacturers came to my campus way back when, for interviews. Unfortunately for me I hadn't been selected via their pre-screening efforts. I tracked their schedule and found out what time they were conducting interviews. When they went to break for lunch, I was waiting outside with my suit on and resume in hand. I convinced them that they had made a mistake by not selecting me, got to interview while they ate, and eventually got the only job offer for our school.

If you see something you like, keep at it.

[Domino]

Thanks guys for your tips. I been doing mock interviews, getting my resume worked on by many different guys, and etc. I been doing things as you guys are recommended already. I should be good for next week but I'm always working on new stuff.

[burgerkingdiamond]

If you're outgoing (which I'm not) it shouldn't be too bad. Personally I don't like walking up to people and starting conversations. It kind of makes my skin crawl. However, I actually got my current job from a fair at my college the semester before I graduated. I don't have any tips other than dress well, over dressing won't hurt. Also make sure you resume is really good. My school had people who came to one of my senior classes and did like 2 lectures on resumes and job interviews and even proof read our resumes. Maybe there is something like that at your school.

[GaijinPunch]

Dress nice, and have your resume reviewed by your schools career counseling center. Five jobs in the history section seems like too much. I got my first job out of school at the job fair.

Good luck!

Unless times have changed (which they may have, your resume should have your last 3 jobs, and your academic information). It should fit on a single page only.

[brentsg]

Dress nice, and have your resume reviewed by your schools career counseling center. Five jobs in the history section seems like too much. I got my first job out of school at the job fair.

Good luck!

Unless times have changed (which they may have, your resume should have your last 3 jobs, and your academic information). It should fit on a single page only.

I think they have. I was working with a couple of headhunters and nobody seemed to care about the single page thing. So many companies and recruiters are using keyword searches to pre-screen nowadays in the electronic era that it's helpful to be a bit more comprehensive.

Also, the days of hiring a good person and training them are going by the wayside. Now they are looking for extremely specific skills and experiences and they don't expect to bring you up to speed. Another good reason to cover a lot of detail on the experience.

Of course this applies more to later in a career, not right out of the gate. New folks get hired b/c they are cheaper and it's good to bring in youth.

[Domino]

Of course this applies more to later in a career, not right out of the gate. New folks get hired b/c they are cheaper and it's good to bring in youth.

And rape them in the ass at the same time.

[njiska]

Of course this applies more to later in a career, not right out of the gate. New folks get hired b/c they are cheaper and it's good to bring in youth.

And rape them in the ass at the same time.

Oh god yes. Business, especially the tech industry, really loves it's forced sodomy.

[flux]

If you're outgoing (which I'm not) it shouldn't be too bad. Personally I don't like walking up to people and starting conversations. It kind of makes my skin crawl.

Maybe it changes place to place, but I'm not outgoing at all and didn't have much trouble. Most of the time reps from the company would approach me and start the conversation if they saw me hanging around.

[Necronopticous]

Hey man,

I got my first job out of college through an on-campus job fair as well, and I was kind of in the same place you are now. I could not afford to not get a job in the extremely short term. In preparation for the fair, I busted my ass on my resume: I must have worked on it in one way or another for 15-20 hours over the span of a couple weeks. I spent a lot of time getting advice on it and refining it. My most helpful resource here was actually the career center on my campus. At one point they actually had a bunch of interviewers come out from a bunch of companies just to give mock interviews and resume advice to students that were interested. Once I felt comfortable with my resume I printed out as many copies as there were companies in the fair on textured thick stock paper.

People will tell you to make a list of the companies that you're interested in before you go. This is good advice, not because you want to have a list of companies to visit, but because you want a list of companies to visit last, with a specialized version of your resume just for each of those companies (their company name should be in your objective, and whatever you have listed should be relevant to the position you want at that specific company). You should also know a lot about the companies you're very interested in. Spend at least an hour researching each one of them and be prepared to explain what it is about them that interests you.

At the fair, my advice is to arrive as early as possible and just start talking to everyone, even companies you don't know anything about or have no interest in. Give them a resume, tell them where you're at in school and what you're studying, and tell them what you're looking for. After you do this five or ten times you'll find yourself more comfortable with the flow of these exchanges, and it will be much easier for you talk and respond more naturally and stay focused on the conversation. That's a good time to start talking to the companies on your list.

Job fairs are a really good way to get your name out there and get some interviews, but they're also not the only way. If you really need that job, make sure to explore all of the other avenues available to you as well. Look on Craigslist. Apply online to everywhere that interests you. Once your resume is rock solid the hardest part is done, then it's just a matter of getting it out there for people to see.

Good luck.

[Domino]

Hey man,

I got my first job out of college through an on-campus job fair as well, and I was kind of in the same place you are now. I could not afford to not get a job in the extremely short term. In preparation for the fair, I busted my ass on my resume: I must have worked on it in one way or another for 15-20 hours over the span of a couple weeks. I spent a lot of time getting advice on it and refining it. My most helpful resource here was actually the career center on my campus. At one point they actually had a bunch of interviewers come out from a bunch of companies just to give mock interviews and resume advice to students that were interested. Once I felt comfortable with my resume I printed out as many copies as there were companies in the fair on textured thick stock paper.

Thanks for talking your time with your advice my resume is pretty hard solid. It was being rework for months. I'm buying some thick stock paper this weekend that's not white.

People will tell you to make a list of the companies that you're interested in before you go. This is good advice, not because you want to have a list of companies to visit, but because you want a list of companies to visit last, with a specialized version of your resume just for each of those companies (their company name should be in your objective, and whatever you have listed should be relevant to the position you want at that specific company). You should also know a lot about the companies you're very interested in. Spend at least an hour researching each one of them and be prepared to explain what it is about them that interests you.

Since I'm applying for it online it does keep tabs on what companies I'm interested in. I'm making a list of the big ones that I want to see first before going to the other ones. I have 20+ companies on my list and I will do my best in researching each one of them before the fair next week.

At the fair, my advice is to arrive as early as possible and just start talking to everyone, even companies you don't know anything about or have no interest in. Give them a resume, tell them where you're at in school and what you're studying, and tell them what you're looking for. After you do this five or ten times you'll find yourself more comfortable with the flow of these exchanges, and it will be much easier for you talk and respond more naturally and stay focused on the conversation. That's a good time to start talking to the companies on your list.

I want to arrive on early but I won't be able to since I have a class that ends at 12:05 and the fair starts at 12:00. I can get there at 12:30 at the latest. I'll try to see if I can get there at noon if I can.

Job fairs are a really good way to get your name out there and get some interviews, but they're also not the only way. If you really need that job, make sure to explore all of the other avenues available to you as well. Look on Craigslist. Apply online to everywhere that interests you. Once your resume is rock solid the hardest part is done, then it's just a matter of getting it out there for people to see.

Good luck.

Thanks, I'll need it.

The day before the job fair is a special speed networking event where 50 students (me included) and about 20 companies will teach you to be good at networking and practice your talking skills at the job fair which is the next day after the event. This should come in very handy.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

In list format, because I'm just too lazy

Be confident. No uhmmmm, ahhhhsss, or noises that make you sound like an idiot. If necessary, take 5 seconds of weird silence and answer like you know your shit.

Persevere. You'll be turned down by lots of employers before you get a job unless you're lucky like me .

Don't be too picky about what you apply for. Unless you're the shit, you'll have to work up from the crap jobs to super stardom. My job is not that great nor is it exactly what I want to do (it is IT related, though), but I see the light at the end of the tunnel. One of my colleagues just left for a job paying 2x and another one is about to leave us for a job paying more than 2x. Just grab a job related in any way to your field, work at it, keep studying for what you want and the chance WILL come if you look around.

Apply for shit even though you don't meet their full requirements. I nowhere met the full requirements of the job I'm doing now and I got the job. I wasn't aware what half the shit in the job offer was nor had the experience they required. There is nothing to lose from knocking at doors and asking except for some pride.

Go prepared. Investigate the company, the interviewer, go dressed appropriately, have a nice resume, references, do interview training, etc.

Remember to be amicable and be interested in the interviewers. Try to connect with them. It is likely they'll ask you something not job related and about your personal life. Try to get the conversation to switch to their personal life and find out what they like. Get them in a good mood by focusing the conversation about them and you will greatly boost your chances of getting the job. People skills matter!

[GaijinPunch]

And rape them in the ass at the same time.

Well, you really aren't worth shit in the business sense until you prove something. Nobody else gets paid w/ no experience. You shouldn't be any different. It's an eat what you kill world.

People skills matter!

Communication is at times, more important than your technical skills. I've traditionally gotten raises/promotions over people that actually trained me b/c I'm so smooth with the words... as any long term poster here should know.

[njiska]

People skills matter!

Communication is at times, more important than your technical skills. I've traditionally gotten raises/promotions over people that actually trained me b/c I'm so smooth with the words... as any long term poster here should know.

It's not just people skills but general networking. Most of the promotion i've got in life I was more than qualified for, but the tipping point was i was in good with the people in charge. That's not to say you should kiss ass or brown nose, quite the opposite actually. But if you are genuinely friends with people in high places you should exploit the fuck out of it.

[GaijinPunch]

but the tipping point was i was in good with the people in charge.

For me my biggest "jumps" were when I went to other companies. Sad, but true. However, now, I work at a business anomaly now which employs a very rare notion: they pay employees what they're worth.

[BulletMagnet]

However, now, I work at a business anomaly now which employs a very rare notion: they pay employees what they're worth.

Yeah, I think you probably made a trans-dimensional jump back there someplace - you're certainly light-years away from where most of us are at.

[GaijinPunch]

It's a lean & mean shop... when we were laid off from Bank of America at Christmas (true story) we were in talks of what to do next. The group basically split in two, but one of current my bosses was quite critical of what is now the other company's business structure: too much fat. "You either trade, or you do systems... that's it." So, there's nobody sitting around doing bullshit. In this way, we're totally in a parallel universe. Even the managers code. On the flip side, I'm also responsible for getting my shit done on my own, w/o someone breathing down my neck. If I don't perform, I don't get paid... and eventually don't have a job.

EDIT: Worth mentioning for would-be employees, I'm basically available 24 hours a day. I don't get bothered on vacation that often, but I rarely take them. No employer wants to hear someone bitch about their hours... I've never complained about mine, and they are extensive (and sometimes at bizarre times). In the long term, it pays off. Employers want team players. When it comes review time and you don't get the review you think you deserve, you then have some bullets.

[brentsg]

I second GPs comment about crazy hours. I'm pretty much on call 24x7 also, worked overnight twice just this week.

Also, I just saw a tweet that TiVo is looking to hire a new college grad for engineering.

http://hire.jobvite.com/Jobvite/jobvite.aspx?b=nEC0dgwe

[Domino]

Well the event is this Thursday and I have over 20+ on my list that I want to see by priority. Just doing a little research on them and see what jobs they are offering. It's going to be a long road ahead of me coming up.

[GaijinPunch]

It's going to be a long road ahead of me coming up.

And it will probably never end.

[Domino]

It's going to be a long road ahead of me coming up.

And it will probably never end.

Most likely. I don't like the idea of retirement to be honest. My dad is retired and I think it is the most boring thing to do. I guess it depends on what you do with your retirement. I'll answer that when I'm 30-40, married with about two kids.

I been studying the companies, just general info since most companies didn't release their info for me to look at. I think I have a high chance, I just became assistant manager at the record store. I don't work there too much but it's more for experience than anything else.

[GaijinPunch]

It's going to be a long road ahead of me coming up.

And it will probably never end.

Most likely. I don't like the idea of retirement to be honest. My dad is retired and I think it is the most boring thing to do. I guess it depends on what you do with your retirement. I'll answer that when I'm 30-40, married with about two kids.

I'm almost 36 and I as well couldn't imagine what I'd do retired. I'm sure I could take up some type of hobby, like dicking around with music or maybe joining some type of large-scale open source project to occupy my time... but I'd still need something w/ structure and deadlines I think. But then again, 40 hours is a VERY light work week for me now.

My statement was mainly that employment is an ongoing part of ones life, especially in the technology field as it's such a fast changing industry. You have to continually upgrade yourself (if not reinvent) as well as learn aspects of whatever industry you're in. You can't do much in finance if you have no clue how it works.

Interested to see how it turns out though. I kind of cheated this whole system by moving here, and having a respectable Japanese communication level by the time I was interviewing for technical jobs. My first two required zero tech experience.

[Domino]

Well tomorrow is job fair, but today I did the practice speed networking which help me out a lot. Gave one guy my resume (but I didn't like his company too much so I don't care if he called me back or not). Talked to Target and Winn-Dixie of all people and they want to talk to me tomorrow because of my background experience. Did I say I'm not too happy with retail/food unless I get paid to manage shit?

Then CSX (railroad) talk to me saying to apply online. Then some other company want to talk to me more tomorrow as well. I guess being assist manager at a record store is working out just fine.

It's not even job fair and I guess I'm off to a start, or something in that nature.