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The job fair, once limited to the college campus, is quickly becoming a
favorite tool of America’s recruiters. The thought of milling about with
numerous would-be employers and hundreds of competitors can be overwhelming.
If you go with a well thought out plan, a good attitude and your best
etiquette skills, you are most likely to leave with some solid connections
and a number of promising interviews, leading to the desired job offer.
Remember that the interviewers are looking for employees. They want to
appeal to you as much as you want to appeal to them. All those other
jobseekers are not just your competition; they are a possible networking
contacts. View them as such.
Do your homework before you go. Get a list of the companies who will be
represented, learn who they are and what they do. Then prioritize the ones
you want to meet. Find out the location of their booths and plan your
strategy. Visit the booths that most interest you first when your energy
level is up and you are at your best. Showing up and meandering around like
a sightseer is a complete waste of time.
Prepare your own very brief “infomercial” to introduce yourself. You
should be able to state in under minute your experience and education in a
way that sounds natural and unrehearsed.
Take plenty of copies of your resume and have them handy. Recruiters are not
impressed with jobseekers who have to shuffle through all their materials
before producing a resume. They would prefer to hire people who are
organized and prepared.
Most recruiters will have the usual “freebies” or promotional items to
give away. Never help yourself. Your chances of getting an interview will go
right down the tube if you give the impression that you’d rather have a
Frisbee than a job.
Start every conversation with your best etiquette---a firm handshake, eye
contact, a smile and that informational introduction. Follow up immediately
with any information requested,such as references and transcripts. And, of
course, send that thank you note to the recruiters who spent their time with
you.
Don’t be shy, but be prepared. These employers are looking for qualified
people and they have jobs to offer or they wouldn’t be there.
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Lydia
Ramsey is a business etiquette expert and the author of Manners That Sell.
She conducts presentations for organizations that want their employees to be
at ease in business situations and represent them well in the marketplace.
Visit her website: www.mannersthatsell.com,
send an email to her at mailto:lydia@mannersthatsell.com
or call 912-598-9812.
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