Set Pace Now: How to Become the Bait for Employers in Your Job Search

If you are seeking fish, a great idea would be to go where there's a lot of fish and cast bait.  Wouldn't you agree?  Well, if I'm searching for a job, wouldn't it make sense to attend a job fair where their main objective is to attract job seekers?  Seek out and find the closest job fairs in your area.  If you live in a rural area, the longer drive will be worth the trip.  If you are job hunting, go to job fairs.

Attending job fairs provide opportunities to:

Network with people.  It is important to take advantages of the opportunity to meet with people face to face.  Meet Human Resource personnel and/or hiring managers and directors.  You can leave a memorable first impression upon the interviewers.  Take good notes and receive information about each company.  Get their business cards, exchange emails and telephone numbers.  Leave your business card and/or resume.

Take brochures and pamphlets so that you can evaluate each company.  Your goal is to find something that feels good and "is the right fit".

There are various types of job fairs:

-specific market/audience for a single industry

-multiple industries-no specific audience

It's important to keep this in mind:

-Companies are hiring

-People are hiring

-These companies and people will compensate their employees!

Take the opportunity to market yourself by promoting your background and prior accomplishments to the hiring managers.  The impression could lead to a second round interview or in some cases, an offer is extended to the candidate right on the spot.

Job fairs are an invaluable tool in the job seeking process.  These fairs can save you valuable time and energy because you have multiple companies at one location to find people like you.  You also gain experience by meeting and interviewing with the company hiring team and personnel.  You can quickly detect differences and similarities by paying attention to each company's interviewing techniques.  By taking notice of those differences, we can adapt and make any necessary adjustments in order to improve our next interviewing experience. 

Show up early, and with your A-game.  Take a briefcase, or a professional portfolio to store your information, along with notes you have written down about each company.  Have your resumes ready and a brief cover letter prepared and ready to submit. 

Note:(Cover letters will vary depending upon the type of company, name of position, and industry).

Take time and research the types of job fairs in your area.  There is much to gain from the experience, and gaining knowledge and information will make the trip worth your time.