Standing out of a Crowd at Job Fairs

Job fairs are a dime a dozen. Fairs often congregate a mish mash of employers under one roof. It is frustrating and impossible to match the perfect candidate with the right company. Company representatives must repeat the same spiel over and over again. They cannot even decipher who is there looking for employment and who is there trying to add to their mouse pad and coffee mug collection (started when you filled out a credit card application on the first day of school, not that there is anything wrong with credit cards, mouse pads or coffee mugs, of course).

Those who want a job shove their résumé in the face of a recruiter without making a real impression. Yet a company representative can determine the difference between a serious candidate and an apathetic student right away.

Show That You Are Unique

What recruiters look for is character and personality. How else do you expect to stand out from a hundred faces and a pile of CVs?

Walk Around And Get A Feel

Walk around and see how most students fare. This will give you a good idea of your competition and how you should market yourself.

Take A Practice Swing

You should get a feel for all the employers present before you approach one. The trick is to go up to some that you have no interest in and practice your delivery. When you approach your dream employer, you will be better armed to wow them.

Remain Confident

A lack of confidence is a bad sign to an employer just as it is to the opposite sex. So the first thing you should do is ask them about their company (unless it is a large one and you should know who they are as a business student). If the company is large, ask what divisions are looking to hire. Put them on the spot by asking why they came to your school. Showing this much confidence upon your first conversation may seem like a kiss of death, but if they fear confident people, you must then ask whether you wish to be there in the first place.

Remain Positive

Make a positive comment about their firm. Do not question strategy or ask about scandals. These are HR people, not marketing or legal people. They are also more interested in your character.

Don't Go ''Tossing Salad'' Now...

Whatever you do, do not suck up. You will only survive throughout the recruiting process by showing that you have backbone and can stand your ground. Agreeing with everything a recruiter says may work once in a while, but innovative, long lasting firms need people of vision and not people who lack conviction.

Respect Them And Respect Their Mandate

Do not waste their time, but ask them about their experience. Have they worked in various departments? How did they get hired? How many people have they hired? If the conversation is going well, then do not be shy to ask what the single greatest challenge is to hiring new talent. The answer will reveal how sharp the employee is and what the company outlook for the future is like.

What To Expect?

Recruiters are cheerleaders so do not hesitate to ask what a typical day at the company is like. Measure how upbeat and cheerful the response is.

What Not To Do?

Whatever you do, do not bring up pay, vacation time, titles and the like. If they want to tell you, they will.

Leave On A Good Note

Whether you wish to provide a résumé or not is your call. Adding yet another to the pile may not help you. However, not giving one implies a lack of interest. You can tell them that you will prepare a customized résumé, emphasizing what they are looking for to hire you for the position. This strategy demonstrates that you prefer not to offer a cookie cutter résumé. But showing too little interest makes you look like a slacker. Being too confident may hurt you as well. Similar to joining a sorority or fraternity, companies are proud entities that expect you to show interest in joining. Playing hard to get is fine later on in your career but it will backfire on your first job search after school.

Follow Up

Ask for their business card and follow up. If you did not give a résumé, at least provide a name and email them a copy soon thereafter. Include a personal note about your conversation and thank them for your time.

Whatever you do, do something! That's what networking is all about.