By Laura Bill, Head Writer at Inspiring Interns
Jobs fairs are a great opportunity to start thinking about your career and searching for available job roles. Typically, you’ll have the chance to meet employers and rub shoulders with professionals that could become useful contacts in the future.
If you’re planning on attending a fair in the near future such as Royal Holloway's Careers and Placements Fair, it’s always worth gaining inspiration on how to make the most of the occasion and boost your chances of employment.
Here are some suggestions for you:
1. Research the companies attending beforehand
Many fairs will list the companies that are attending on their website in the weeks and months beforehand. Therefore, it would be a good idea to research those companies in detail and figure out which ones you’d like to target. For example, you can find Royal Holloway's Careers & Placements Fair Brochure here.
If you take the time to absorb as much information as you can about each company you’re interested in, you’re bound to make a stand-out impression. Get to grips with the company culture and the roles available and you’ll have a much clearer idea of the employers you need to impress during those few hours. They will be far more impressed if you ask questions that show you have researched their website beforehand.
2. Dress smartly
While attending the fair may be in your free time, you should always dress appropriately. Why? Because this is the very first impression that an employer will make of you – so it’s crucial to make it a good one. Interestingly, employers will make an immediate judgement on you based on a first glance, so attire really does matter if you wish to be taken seriously.
You don't need to go too over the top, but if you are well-dressed it will show you’re serious about your career.
3. Sell yourself
As you may well know, the graduate world is tough out there – and you’re going to be up against a significant amount of competition with other grads acquiring the same skills and experience.
A job fair is the chance to sell yourself and convince an employer why you’re the perfect fit for the job and the company. In the weeks beforehand, prepare your introduction. Start with a hello, a solid handshake, and go on to state your skills and experience and why you believe you’re a suitable fit for the company.
It would also be worth carrying a notebook and pen to jot down any important information – most importantly, the names of employers you have met and would like to follow up on once you get home.
It’s also a good idea to shoot questions at employers to show your interest in their company and the roles they’re recruiting for. This shows willingness and is likely to make you more memorable to an employer.
4. Follow up with a thank you email or connect via LinkedIn
A few days after the fair, follow up with a simple thank you email or LinkedIn message to the employers you have met and would like to remain in contact with. State that you appreciate the time they took to speak with you and the advice provided. This ensures you stay top of mind and shows a sense of gratitude and politeness which are positive traits in any potential employee.
Good luck!