Why You Should Attend a Career Fair
The Retiree Summit and Career Fair, held each year at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek/Fort Story to assist veterans and retirees in transitioning to post-military careers (U.S. Navy/Adam Austin)
As you transition from military to civilian and student to jobseeker, you'll get a lot of advice. You may appreciate some of it, and some of it may even be helpful. If the advice you're getting as a jobseeker is to attend a career fair, it may be time to listen up.
Practice Makes Permanent
Interviewing and seeking a job is new to you, and it may not come naturally. By attending a career fair, you'll have the chance to practice your introduction, speak to recruiters, and get feedback.
"Career fairs allow you to meet employers, learn about their company's values, and business model and talk to recruiters. These are all skills you need in the job search," Jill New, manager of career programs and outreach for the Diller Center, said.
You'll also get to see what everyone else is doing. Does your professional attire match your peers? Does it align with the recruiters? Do your lifestyle and priorities match up with your dream company? You can learn these things by treating your career fair experience as a practice round for interviews.
Learn About New Job Options
Career fairs allow you to learn from the recruiters and employers who attend. You can touch base with companies you're interested in and learn about new ones. You can also find unique options, such as start-ups or different fields that may need your expertise. Use this opportunity to ask questions about their ideal employer.
Expand Your Network
A professional network is critical for finding out about opportunities, and adding potential employers and recruiters to it will help yours grow. You have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with many people at a career fair.
All employers are representing a business," New said. "All businesses need accountants, finance experts, human resources professionals, IT staff, cybersecurity personnel, data analysts and managers. If you're looking for positions in IT, attend an education career fair since school districts need IT staff and learn more about their opportunities. If you're a finance major, visit the healthcare career fair, the recruiter is bound to remember you!"
Standing in front of someone and speaking to them makes an impression. A good one can pay off, even years down the road. Take the opportunity at the next career fair to do just that.
Internship Opportunities
The main goal of a career fair is to land a job, right? But there may be other opportunities like internships or apprenticeships. If you kick off your relationship with a recruiter or employer on the right foot, you may even get an interview on the spot for one of their entry-level positions or an internship program. The more you can grow your network, the more opportunities you have.
Get Important Feedback
Bring your resume to the career fair and circulate it as much as possible – while being open to feedback. Some recruiters may file it away, but others may offer you suggestions or add your email to their list. You'll want to make sure your resume is professional and polished before you arrive, but the feedback you receive may be just what you need to break into a specific industry.
Use the Resources Available
When looking for career fairs to attend or registering for them, make sure you take advantage of all the extra things they offer. Frequently they come with additional workshops and tutorials. You can attend these workshops or seminars and get extra help on resume writing or other employment services.
Learn to Talk to People
The likelihood of finding a job at a career fair is slim, but each time you attend, you get facetime with recruiters and practice talking to people. You can practice introducing yourself, shaking hands, marketing your skills and answering some interview questions. All of the things you do when talking to people at a career fair will help you in your job search.
You have nothing to lose by attending a job fair, so make the most of it and get out there!
Join a strong community of military veterans and their family members by connecting with other students at GGU.