top ten things to remember at a job fair

hi there. today i represented my company at the job fair sponsored by congressman peter roskam. in college and as an intern, i attended several job fairs as a potential employee. however, this was the first time that i had attended one as an employer. there were some things that instantly stood out to me and i thought i'd share them in my newest addition of my top ten's.

1) breathe.
the first woman i talked to today was so nervous & i simply reminded her to breathe. she instantly became more relaxed.

2) do not show up in a tshirt and jeans.
or shorts for that matter. you can't compare to the candidate next to you in a suit...

3) prepare your one minute elevator speech.
know what information you want to relay to me and keep it short & sweet.

4) do not solicit.
we're there to talk to potential employees. don't take time away from them!

5) bring a notepad.
take notes and reference the companies and jobs you're actually interested in so you can circle back to them.

6) do not stop by just for the pen.
at least talk to me... otherwise, you're wasting time for both of us.

7) pay attention to your personal hygiene.
wear deodorant, eat a breath mint, brush your hair.

8) do not assume you're going to get an interview.
you still need to sell yourself & have a great resume.

9) have a firm handshake!
a limp handshake conveys weakness and lack of self-confidence.

10) do not give your resume to every company.
you're allowed to be picky. take this time to interview the company! ask questions about culture, values, jobs, and benefits!

why pay?

With the economy the way it is and less companies engaging recruiters, do you think it is worth it for individuals to pay a recruiter themselves?

No matter what type of economy we're in, there is no need to pay for a recruiter. There are tons of firms out there where it is free for the candidate (they'll get the fee from the hiring company).

I'd recommend researching recruitment firms that are free or just keep at it yourself. You can do the same work! Drive around town and write down names of companies you see on buildings. Google companies that you're interested in. Talk to your friends. Attend social/professional networking events. The more you talk to people, the more leads you'll have (and it's still free!).

Ask me anything

formspring.me (strange resumes)

What is the weirdest thing you've ever seen on a resume/application?

I don't know if there's one specific thing that I've seen that really threw me off kilter... The main thing that always throws me off guard and makes me ask "WHY????" is the format. Let me tell you... simple is always the better way to go. If it's too flashy, uses crazy font, or simply has no organization, I typically won't read it...

I think I'm going to start saving "bad resumes" as examples for people... Maybe that will help!

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formspring.me (make the recruiters stop)

Now that I have a job, how do I get all these recruiters to *stop* calling me?

First of all, Congratulations!!!

Now, for those pesky recruiters.... (just kidding).

First, make sure that if you do not want to be called any more that you remove your resume from the Job Boards (Career Builder, Monster, Indeed, etc). As a recruiter, those are the first places I go to look for candidates. If your resume is out there, I think that you're actively looking for a position.

Second, contact the recruiters that you worked with during your job search. Let them know that you have found a job and would like to remain as either an INACTIVE candidate in their database or to be removed completely.

Hopefully the calls will stop after that!

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formspring.me (brainteasers)

Seems like there's a fad for asking really oddball brainteaser questions in job interviews these days...is there any way to prepare for those? Is there anything wrong with just saying "I really don't know"?

You know... It does seem like that's the fad right now... Although, I'm not a huge fan of it. My goal is not to trick you or make you uncomfortable. I've been told often that my interviewing style is more conversational. I want to make sure that you not only have the right qualifications for the job, but that you're going to fit in with the culture of the organization.

However, simply because that's not my interview style, does not mean that it still does not happen. What I can tell you is to prepare for those "typical" questions. Here's a list of the top ten most frequently asked interview questions: http://distinguishingyou.blogspot.com/2009/06/another-top-10.html

Now, for the oddball questions... If you honestly have no clue what the interviewer is asking you, do not reply with "I really don't know". Instead, ask for clarification. Have them expand on the question, or give you an example. Hopefully, this will provide you a clearer picture as to what they are asking you. Best of luck!

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