To get the most out of Job Fair, it's best to come to the event prepared. A great resume and an enthusiastic attitude will go a long way toward helping you stand out from the crowd. Here are just a few tips to get you started.
STRATEGIES FOR MARKETING YOURSELF
1. Know your product � that means you!
What skills, competencies, knowledge, education, strengths, and achievements do you want to market? What is the professional image you want to project? Think about your Job vision and professional goals as you consider what you want to communicate about yourself.
2. Know your plan of action
Come up with a daily action plan. Commit yourself to a timeline and determine what actions you will take each day or week toward reaching your ultimate goal. For example, make two calls per day, send out three cover letters and resumes per week, etc. Be practical and realistic in terms of what you can add to your everyday schedule. Develop tracking forms for networking follow-up meetings, organization contacts, referral sources, and resume submissions.
3. Know your market
Have you identified the organizations or companies that would be interested in your background and expertise? Be knowledgeable about your local economy, demographics, and business trends. By determining your potential market, you can tailor your resume to demonstrate how effectively you can meet a potential employer's specific requirements.
4. Know the marketing tools to use
Is your resume up-to-date and ready to circulate? A resume is your most important tool for a job search. Think of it as a marketing document introducing you in a unique way that is concise, directed and clear. You may also want to consider drafting a short professional profile or fact sheet, or even printing a business card. These items should include basic contact information and perhaps a short summary listing key skills or a short version of your primary work-related accomplishments for use at networking functions.
NETWORK YOUR WAY TO A GREAT JOB
When conducting a serious job search, networking is key. The more visible you are, the more job opportunities will come your way. Set up meetings with friends, industry leaders, referrals or potential employers. Commit to meeting two people a day. Two people a day would mean 10 a week, 40 a month. The more actively involved you become with this process the better your chances of landing the job you want. And remember, while face-to-face meetings have great power, it is also possible to conduct your meetings via phone and e-mail, especially if you are trying to relocate.
Your Networking Resources
Friends
Co-workers past/present
Professional associates
Suppliers or customers
Consultants
Recruiters
Teachers and classmates
and Job Fair Job Coaches!
FIVE WAYS TO SHINE AT YOUR NEXT INTERVIEW
1. Relax.
Focus on the present moment and you will be less apt to experience lapses in concentration, nervousness, and self-doubt.
2. Prepare.
Expect to answer the question, "Tell me about yourself." Everything you include should ultimately answer the question, "Why should we hire you?"
3. Set goals.
It is your job to leave the meeting feeling secure that the interviewer knows as much as he or she possibly can about your skills, abilities, experience and achievements. Don't leave the meeting without getting your own questions answered so that you have a clear idea of what you would be getting yourself into.
4. Remember your body language.
Make and keep eye contact. Walk and sit with a confident air. Lean toward an interviewer to show interest and enthusiasm. Speak with a well-modulated voice that supports appropriate excitement for the opportunity before you.
5. Follow up.
A "thank you" letter is another opportunity to market yourself. Consider the letter as an additional interview in which you get to do all the talking.
8 WAYS TO GET
THE MOST OUT OF JOB FAIR
Recruiters use Job Fair to meet prospective employees and conduct preliminary interviews. If they think you're a likely candidate, they will arrange to call you back for a more in-depth interview. During Job Fair, recruiters speak to hundreds of potential candidates, so your goal should be to stand out from the crowd. Here's some common sense advice to help you do just that � in a positive way, of course.
1. Focus.
Employers are attracted to candidates who have clearly defined Job goals and objectives. Take some time to reflect on your skills, education, work experience, personality, and aspirations to determine the kind of job you're looking for. There's nothing worse than telling an employer �I'll take anything� or answering �I don't know� when asked about your interests. If you need help finding focus, take advantage of the Job guidance offered in Job Fair's
Job Coaching area.
2. Dress professionally.
First impressions count! Don't forget that the jewelry industry is based on high-end, high-image product. What's more, a well-groomed and professional appearance means you're taking the job seriously, even before you're hired. You don't want to be remembered as the gum-chewing guy in shorts, flip-flops, and a muscle tee who just dropped in on his way to the gym.
3. Bring many copies of your resume.
Be prepared to paper the hall with your resume. Leave a resume with every recruiter you speak with and consider leaving resumes even with those companies who may not have a job opening that's right for you at this time. Like your appearance, your resume should be clean, polished and professional, with your contact information up-to-date and clearly visible. And don't forget to bring pen and paper so that you can make notes as you meet with potential employers.
4. Research companies.
Do your homework. Before attending Job Fair, get to know the
hiring companies by visiting their web sites and looking through trade magazines, so that you can familiarize yourself with their product lines and corporate goals. This information will help you ask informed questions about the companies and their positions available, and will show recruiters that you're enthusiastic.
5. Talk to every company.
Even if a company doesn't list the position you are qualified for, talk to the recruiter and leave a resume. They may not be advertising every position. Be sure to ask for a business card so that you can contact them after Job Fair.
6. Conduct yourself as you would for an interview.
Make eye contact, introduce yourself, ask questions, have a firm handshake, smile, stand up straight, don't chew gum, dress professionally, and be confident. Whew! And remember � Job Fair is your �first date,� and probably not a good time to talk salary � that is, unless the recruiter brings it up first.
7. Follow up.
After Job Fair, follow up with recruiters you spoke with to confirm your enthusiasm and interest in a company. You can do this by either making a personal phone call or writing a thank you letter. This helps you leave a lasting impression!
8. Finally, remember the 3 Ps.
Politeness. Polish. Positive attitude. Nothing exudes confidence more than a warm, friendly person who can speak positively and enthusiastically about themselves, the company they're interviewing with and the industry they're looking to enter. Don't just tell recruiters what an asset you are, show them!
BREAKING THE ICE - HOW TO TALK TO RECRUITERS
The recruiting area at Job Fair is a bustling place. It's typical to have between 20 and 25 companies there, each company bringing at least two representatives. The Job Fair August 2005 will attract more than 10,000 job seekers. You get the picture, an enormous hall, lots of people walking about, talking at the same time. It's a lot of energy in one room! It's exciting, but it's also daunting.
So, how do you make a dint in all that noise? How do you come up with an introduction that puts your best foot forward? Keep in mind, you only have about 30 seconds!
� Make eye contact. Smile. Offer a firm handshake.
� State your name.
� Express the opportunity you're looking for.
� Share key pieces of relevant experience and/or something you're good at.
� Say something positive about the company.
� End with an engaging question.
Here's an example:
Hi, my name is Shourav Zaman. I'm looking for a sales position with store management potential. I was a Sales Associate at XYZ company in Dhaka for the last three years. I have a degree in business and I'm about two years away from earning my MBA at UK. I was excited to read that you're planning to open two branches in the Dhaka area. Your company is one that I've always dreamed of working for and I know I can make a positive contribution to your team. Your Web site mentioned that you have a management track program. Can you tell me more about it?
It'll sound better when you put it in your own words. Just keep in mind that there are some things you shouldn't say. Don't ask what the company does (you should know that already). Don't ask if the company has any jobs (they're exhibiting at a job fair!). Don't say you'd be willing to do anything at the company (this shows lack of focus and direction on your part).
Finally, it's good to remember when to say thank you and move on to the next recruiter. Pay attention to the recruiter's cues when he/or she is trying to terminate the conversation. (Look behind you, there may be a line of job seekers waiting.) Remember, Job Fair is a preliminary meeting where you introduce yourself; engage in a few minutes of meaningful conversation; leave a good resume; and ask for a business card so that you can follow up.
SUREFIRE RESUME DO'S AND DONT'S
Brainstorm Before You Begin
Know Your Goal: It helps to have a goal in mind � a certain kind of job, a particular area of the industry you'd like to work in. This goal should be realistic given your experience, qualifications and skills. (BTW: if you need some help goal setting � be sure to visit the
Job Coaching area at Job Fair. The industry pros are great at offering realistic Job advice that will help you meet your aspirations.)
Given your goal, find out what training, experience and special skills employers are looking for to fill similar positions. Newspaper want ads and job descriptions, Monster.com and
GIA's job database are great resources. Not only do they tell you about the specific skills and experience employers are looking for, they often indicate pay ranges for a particular position, and suggest key words and phrases you should include in your resume.
Make a list of everything that you've done that demonstrates how you are the perfect fit for the job. In addition to your education, training and work experience, don't neglect any hobbies, internships or activities that may have given you experience relevant to the job.
Before you begin laying out your resume, here are some things you won't include:
Don't include your salary history on your resume. If an employer requires a salary history, include this information in your cover letter.
Don't include the following personal information: your gender, age, height, weight, marital status, race, ethnicity, national origin or religion.
Don't include any information about why you left one job to go into another. You'll talk about that during the interview.
Don't include references on your resume. These should be listed on a separate sheet of paper and presented to the employer when asked for.
Hints for a great presentation
Use white or off-white quality paper, with matching sheets for cover letters and references.
Use a standard, conservative 10 or 12 point font.
Use a writing style that is short and direct.
Use phrases rather than full sentences.
Use action words liberally.
Be consistent with your capitalization, abbreviations and punctuations.
Be sure your resume design is uncluttered and easy to read.
No errors � proof and re-proof for typos, spelling, punctuation, errors of fact, etc. A single typo can undermine all your efforts.
Resume Must Haves
Your Name - Make it the biggest, boldest print on the page and easy to read.
Up-to-Date Contact Information - Include your complete permanent address and temporary address (if applicable) along with phone numbers and e-mail address.
Objective and/or Summary - An objective is a brief statement that targets your professional goals and helps employers determine whether your goals are compatible with their needs. A summary recaps your qualifications as they pertain to the job you're applying for. It should be a powerful statement about why an employer should hire you instead of other candidates and it should compel the employer to continue reading your resume for evidence supporting your claim.
Your Work History - List in reverse chronological order. Be sure to account for any gaps in employment. In addition to paid work history, you can include internships, volunteer work, and military experience.
Your Education - List in reverse chronological order. Be sure to include advanced training only if it is relevant to the job desired.
Choose a Resume Format
Chronological - Your work history is the focus of the resume; each job is described with some detail following. Primarily used when staying in the same profession. An objective or summary is recommended with this format. Advantages: May appeal to more traditional readers. Is easy to understand what was done in previous jobs.
Functional - Your major skills and accomplishments are the focus of the resume. Company names and positions are in a subordinate position with no description. Highly recommended for those changing Jobs. Advantages: Extremely helpful in reaching for a new goal or direction. Helps the reader see clearly what you can do for them.
Combination - Includes elements of both chronological and functional formats and is becoming the most widely used format. Follows the basic form of the chronological resume, but highlights skills and abilities, line by line under each job listing. Uses a summary to accent qualifications and marketable skills. Advantages: Maximizes the advantages of both kinds of resumes.
Optional Sections
Skills - Describe what you produced, what happened as a result of your efforts and what you are especially gifted at doing. Draw from your paid or unpaid work experience and education, keeping in mind the needs of the position you are hoping to fill.
Associations - You may include memberships in trade associations, professional societies, alumni and volunteer groups.
Hobbies and Activities - This section can indicate a skill or area of knowledge that is related to the goal, can create common ground or spark conversation in an interview and may reveal talents or personality traits an employer finds desirable. Disadvantages: May be irrelevant to the job goal and resume purpose or meaningless to the prospective employer.
