How to Succeed ata Career Fair

Tips and tactics to beat your competition from Pete Kistler, who’s worked both sides of the table

Pete Kistler CEO of Brand-Yourself.com

Q: What % of 2009college gradslanded jobs?

4 out of 5 were here upon graduation: Jobless and back on Mom’s couch.

Career Fair Basics

Develop your 30 second elevator pitch

Before the Career Fair

Who are you?What experience do you have?What motivates you?What makes you unique?

Develop your 30 second elevator pitch

Before the Career Fair

Practice - you’ll use this at every booth

Dress for the position you want, not have

Before the Career Fair

Guys: conservative shirt and tie, polished shoes, clean cut hair, remove jewelry from visible piercings

Girls: conservative suit (pants or skirt), shoes and pantyhose, styled hair, remove jewelry from visible piercings

Polish your resume

Before the Career Fair

Keywords and accomplishmentsTangible results and action verbsProofread with friends

Preparefor the Fair

Check the list of exhibiting companies

Identify your targets

Research your targets

Before the Career Fair

SizeLocation Top managementProducts

Before the Career Fair

Get news of your targets in real-time before the fair

Create a Strong Web

Presence

43%reject based on negative content

50%solidify based on positive content

You Will Be Searched Online After the Fair

83%recruiters research applicants online

LinkedIn Strategy

LinkedIn Strategy

Complete profiles are40 times more likelyto receive job opps

LinkedIn: Headshot & Headline

Headline Headshot

LinkedIn: Summary & Experience

LinkedIn: Join Relevant Groups

Facebook: The Golden Rule

Keep it clean, or keep it private.

Facebook: Profile Privacy Settings

= Be careful

Facebook: Profile Privacy Settings

Facebook: #1 Brand Killer

Your Google results and profiles ARE your extended resume

The easiest way to manage your image online…

Control how you’re perceived on the web at Brand-Yourself.com

Now that you’ve put your business suit on online,it’s time to rock the fair.

Choose your top 3 companies

At the Career Fair

Go to your top 3 firstMention something specific about their website / give elevator pitch / ask “what specific skills are you looking for?” / explain how your experience matches what’s needed / drop a recent news byte from Google alerts / close with “look forward to putting my skills to work for you” / leave resume and biz card

Return to your top 3 at the endClose with “It was great to meet you / anything else I should know about following up? / I’m excited for the opportunity and look forward to hearing from you”

Final Advice

At the Career Fair

Talking non-stop is exhausting for recruitersRespect their time and read their body language

Don’t get bored and goof off while waiting in lineYou’ll be observed from the second you arrive

Bring a pen, paper and clipboardFor contact info and notes

Don’t have an inseparable buddyIndependently approach booths to show your enthusiasmYour career is your own, grab it by the horns!

For more: Blog.Brand-Yourself.com