10 career fair interview tips
If you’re not taking advantage of an opportunity to impress at a career fair, you can be sure that someone else will.
A ttending a job fair can be unnerving. You know you need to impress recruiters and you know you need to do it quickly. If you take a casual approach to that initial interview at a company’s booth, you may be sealing your fate. After all, if you’re not taking advantage of an opportunity to impress at a job fair, you can be sure that someone else will. Job seekers should treat a job fair interview as if it’s their one and only chance to sell themselves to the employer. Here are 10 tips to participating in a brief interview at a job fair:
1. Dress the part: Don’t be the person jeans and gym shoes. You’re looking for a job — dress like it. Wear anything less than a shirt and tie for men or businessappropriate attire for women and you’re underdressed.
2. Hand it over: Your initial handshake is important. Don’t offer up a flimsy or sweaty hand. Instead, when you meet with prospective employers or interviewer, offer a firm handshake, with one or two pumps from the elbow to the hand. It’s a good way to illustrate your confidence and start the interview off on the right note.
3. Rehearsal space: Interviewing skills are learned and refined over time. Don’t go into the job fair cold. Be sure to practice ahead of time with a friend or family member. If no one is available, practice in front of a mirror or with a tape recorder. When you actually interview for the job, many of the questions and answers will be familiar, so you’ll be more at ease. Even if you come in contact with a company that doesn’t appeal to you, take advantage of an opportunity for a quick interview at the job fair. You can make contacts for future job opportunities and get valuable interview practice.
4. Get happy: Bring a positive attitude to the job fair, even if it’s 10 degrees outside and you rode one train and two buses to get there. Most interviewers won’t give a second thought to someone who has a negative presence or seems like they almost need to be talked into the job. “You’re selling yourself, and part of you is the positive approach you’ll bring to the office every morning,” says Alison Richardson, a recruiter for New York financial firms. “That smile and friendly demeanor go a long way.”
5. Question authority: When participating in the job fair interview, it’s helpful to have a handful of questions to ask the potential employer. Some questions could include: What do you consider to be the ideal background for the position? What are some of the significant challenges? What’s the most important thing I can do to help within the first 90 days of my employment? Do you have any concerns that I need to clear up in order to be the top candidate?
6. All about you: If you make it past the first few questions, your interviewer will want to know about your skills and experiences, but he or she will also want to know about you. Don’t fire off routine answers to questions. Instead, work your answers into stories or anecdotes about yourself. People remember the attendees who are interesting. Prove your value by tailoring stories that address the main concern an interviewer may have: What can you do for us? Keep in mind that a job fair interview is no different than an across-the-desk interview at corporate headquarters. You’re competing with others for a second look.
7. Keep it to yourself: During a jobfair interview, what you don’t say may be as important as what you do say. As a rule, don’t talk about money or benefits, especially during the first interview. You should already know if you fit the parameters. Don’t badmouth about any of your past employers. Companies don’t hire complainers. Don’t mention outside career aspirations or part-time jobs. Employers are looking for people who want to be part of their organization for the next decade and beyond. And considering the high number of job-fair candidates who may meet with the HR professional working the company booth, you don’t want to say anything that will immediately take you out of the running. You’re there to make a good impression. Stay positive and focused.
8. Be memorable: Considering the amount of job seekers at the fair, it’s safe to assume that many recruiters will be unable to keep track of all the candidates. That’s why it’s important to do or say something that will allow you to stand out in the mind of your interviewer. In addition to striking a personal note with your interviewer, it will provide a point of reference for later when it’s time to recall the top candidates for the position. “You want to be the person who gets the ‘plus’ or ‘check’ on your resume,” says Hannah George, a recruiter. “HR people are always making little notes on resumes that only they understand, usually to denote someone’s positives and negatives, so do and say things that will get you in the ‘positive’ pile.”
9. Want it: “Tell your interviewer that you want the job — period,” says career expert Dana Fulbright. “So many people leave without ever saying they want to be hired. It sounds so simple, but it’s true. Let your employer know that you want to work there.”
10. Think ahead: If you show signs of brilliance, no doubt you’ll be invited to an official interview, only this time on the company’s home turf. Be prepared for that interview by thinking about what you learned about the job during your first interview and meshing that knowledge with what you know about the company.
“Based on your command of the company and the position, you want to prove to the interviewer that you are the person for the job,” says Meg Price, a career counselor. “A second interview is more of a ‘Q-and-A’ with your original interviewer and maybe a couple of others. They already know you’re qualified for the job — they just want to see if you can close the deal.”