Graduate Advice - All the Fun of the Careers Fair
All the Fun of the Careers Fair
Everyone talks about the 'job market'. Careers fairs are a chance to haul your ass along to the market in person and parade it to the highest bidder. You have to put yourself out there. But it's wise to know certain things in advance.
What happens?
Generally, there's a bunch of exhibition stands with eager recruiters standing around handing out free biros, carrier bags and brochures saying quite why their industry and their firm is the gold at the end of every students' rainbow. They'll tell you what their company's all about, what they offer, who they're looking for and for what roles. But it's not all about them selling to you - they're also scoping the talent.
So, why go to a careers fair?
-Get intelligence: You can find out about careers you didn't know about, hadn't thought about, roles you hadn't considered. And not all firms are the same, even in the same industry. Many will send recent graduate employees along who'll give an inside track on the company culture. Stuff the corporate bumf won't tell you. Oh, and you can pick up the bumf. By knowing these differences, you can find one that suits you. And you can score points with your knowledge when you apply.
-Get networking: An application that you can send to someone you've done face-time with is going to be more effective than a letter between strangers. Even if it's only a case of being able to drop a name, it might give your application the edge.
-Get a job: At some fairs, recruiters are there to hire people. They'll take email addresses and CVs, they'll do prescreening interviews, they'll fast-track your application.
-Get something else: Even if there aren't any jobs on offer, you might come away with a chance of some work experience, temp work or an internship.
Are they all the same?
Some are huge, run by independent outfits, attracting hundreds of employers and tens of thousands of students and graduates. For instance, the Summer Graduate Fair (9/10th June) at Earls Court is a biggie. Others are more focused, specialising in science, say, or ethical jobs. Often they're run on campus by uni careers offices, usually for their own students. They also vary depending on the time of year. Around autumn, it's more about the early pitch, giving and getting info. By the following summer, they're in recruitment mode, taking applications and doing mini-interviews and filling vacancies.
Should I just turn up?
It's better than not turning up. But not much. The key to making a fair work for you is to invest a bit of time in preparation. Visit the fair's website to check out which employers are going. It'll be a drag to try to traipse round them all, so make a target list. Visit their company sites and find out a bit about them (such as selection criteria and number of vacancies). That'll mean you look clued up and keen when you talk to them. Prepare some intelligent questions to ask. Print out a bunch of error-free CVs.
What should I wear?
Comfy shoes. You may spend a while on your feet. Beyond that, it doesn't hurt to be over-dressed. But being too scruffy is far worse.
How do I make an impression?
Be as relaxed and friendly as possible. Smile. Be confident - you're great, so show it. Have a killer question to start with. Something like, "As an employee, what would you say it is that makes your company different from the rest of the sector?" Have a spiel about yourself, no more than a minute. Try not to sound too pre-prepared. Make sure you get the person's name. Don't be afraid to ask for a business card. Follow up. Drop them an email to say how much you enjoyed meeting them. Add them to your LinkedIn network. The more connections you have, the better you're to follow up.
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