Careers fair are not for the faint of heart. They are for the bold and the adventurous. They are for juniors and seniors in college ready to take their next step in life and use what they mastered throughout their four years of higher education. Even If this doesn’t apply to you, and you forgot everything from your theology class last semester, you can still learn these five proven tips to help you successfully survive a career fair.
This past Thursday I attended the Trail Blazers Sports & Entertainment Career and Internship Fair, in Portland, Oregon. I sat inside what appeared to be an empty warehouse underneath the Moda Center's roof, which is the Portland Trail Blazers' home arena. I was one out of many anxious college students from all over Oregon, dressed in their best business formal attire, waiting to meet the corporations and schools in attendance. I was extremely nervous, but it wasn’t the usual kind of nervous. It wasn’t the nervous before a big game, or when I have to give a speech in front of the class, or even when my girlfriend says we need to talk. No, this was way worse. This was the, "I’m about to meet the most important people in my life, the people that control my destiny, the rulers of my faith" kind of nervous. I was about to shake hands with people such as Murray Cohan, the president of MC Sports, Sales, and Consulting, and Phil Horn, the vice president of ticket sales and service for the Sacramento Kings. Not to mention, representatives from the Seattle Mariners, Portland Timbers, Adidas, Corvallis Knights, the Portland Trail Blazers, the San Jose Sharks, and the Seattle Sounders. Carefully, I made my way through the businesses, booth by booth gaining confidence with each conversation. I had exchanged my resume in trade for internship opportunities, business cards, and a warm smile followed by a corporate handshake off approval. Knowing what I know, now after the career fair, I had nothing to be nervous about.
Through careful planning, meeting the people who hold the key to your future won’t be as stressful as you think. Here are five helpful tips to help you successfully navigate, and ultimately survive, a career fair:
1. Dress to impress.
You can only make one first impression, so make it a good one. You won't get hired because of your outfit, but if you introduce yourself in a clown costume, there’s a pretty high chance you won’t get the job (unless you're applying for the circus).
2. Be professional.
This means you need to smile, be respectful, and use your manners. You are applying for a position in a corporate world so it's time to act professional. Your boss is not your best friend or you cousin Andre, so saying, “What’s up fam?” isn’t an acceptable greeting.
3. Expand your network.
In college, you’ve probably heard the cliché saying, “It’s not what you know, it's who you know”. Although the person saying this hasn’t been to class since syllabus day, and they are probably trying to justify their poor grades, there is some truth behind this. Get as many contacts as you can. At a career fair, you may just want to only go to the booths that interest you, but expanding your network will only be a benefit in the long run. Don’t limit yourself, and meet as many organizations as you can.
4. Be confident.
Be yourself and show your personality. The companies don’t want robots, they want problem solvers with people skills, so be confident in who you are. It's okay to brag about your abilities and talents.
5. Follow up with employers.
Whether you received a business card, or an internship form with an email address on it, you need to thank the representatives of the different businesses that you meet at the career fair. This is important because it will set you apart and increase your likelihood of being remembered. It shows that you are interested and you appreciate their time.
A career fair isn't meant to scare you. There are enough horror movies in theaters for that. Just like riding a bike, the more experience and comfortable you get, going to career fairs and speaking with business professionals, the more confident you will become. While meeting employers and planning your life is difficult, your experience at a job fair can be simple and pleasant if you choose to follow these steps.
