You walk in a little before noon, and the venue’s already packed. Right away you see them, standing on the sidelines, checking out each person who walks by, and you know all they’re thinking is, “Who looks the best, who has the best personality, who can bring the most to the table?” No, it’s not Friday night at the club, it’s Cal State Long Beach’s spring job fair.
“Job fairs are the meat markets of the entry level job market, with employers sizing up candidates quickly, based on appearances, communications skills and first impressions,” as stated on CollegeGrad.com. CSULB’s spring job fair will continue to take place from noon to 4 p.m. in the University Student Union. And trying to win that interview requires technique and skill.
THE GROUNDWORK:
Preparation is key. And you can’t get in the door without the key. Update your résumé; you always want to bring extra résumés to job fairs and interviews. In the case of CSULB’s spring job fair, they’re expecting more than 200 employers, so make sure you bring enough. Do your homework; if you’re interested in a particular employer, do a little research on them. You can use this information during your interview. Practice, practice, practice: Get comfortable with interviewing, more importantly interviewing well. Web sites such as CareerBuilder.com and CollegeGrad.com offer interview questions for you to practice with.
FIRST THING’S FIRST:
You’re just another candidate to them, so if you’re not careful, your first impression may be your last impression. Instead, make your first impression a lasting impression. Be punctual. If you’re not on time to your interview, you’re not going to be on time to your job. It may not be true, but don’t give employers a chance to think that. Dress for success; for job fairs and interviews, business attire is a must. Use a clever “pick-up line;” employers hate typical, not thought-out answers. Be clear and confident with what you want. And remember, even the two-to-three minute greeting and exchange of words is a real interview.
GOING IN FOR THE KILL:
“Treat every interview as if it were the only one you will ever get with that company and your only opportunity to convince them that you are the best candidate for the position,” as stated on CollegeGrad.com. The only thing that will put you above the person with the higher GPA, more experience or inside connection, will be your passion for the job.
SEAL THE DEAL:
The critical last step is follow-up. Call, e-mail, go in for a little visit. You want to be the one who stands out in their mind after a long day of interviewing. Send them a thank you card for taking the time to meet with you or interview you to confirm your ongoing interest. You might want to conclude with something along the lines of, “I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with your further…”
If you perform at your very best and follow through on all the steps, you may be on your way toward the final interview at the company site.
