Service members have a great resource for meeting prospective employers face to face: job fairs. Job fairs allow transitioning service members, retirees or veterans to connect with federal agencies or corporate employers who want to hire military personnel. Oftentimes, employers set up job fairs on military installations to gain easier access to a qualified service member.
However, you need to know the rules before you go into a job fair unprepared. Here are 10 "rules of engagement" (according to Monster.com) you need to know:
- Once inside, get a list of participating companies and choose which companies interest you. Spend your energies on them rather than wandering from booth to booth.
- Check out job openings for each company of interest, typically found on a listing sheet. Or use a computer, if provided, to look up individual companies.
- Get a floor plan map -- usually at the entrance or information table. Plan a route to move around the floor quickly, visiting your companies of interest.
- Stay upbeat and energized. Try to make an impression through your enthusiasm about the work. Also try to engage the company representative in conversation about the company and listen to what the rep has to say.
- Try to talk to the hiring manager or senior member of the team, if possible. Recruiters can be helpful regarding the company and what they are seeking, and human resources personnel can give you information on the hiring process and the company, but the hiring manager is the one with the clout.
- Let the person you talk to know what you have to bring to the company. Be prepared with a short statement about yourself and your background -- less than two minutes. Try to hook the interviewer's interest with something unique about you.
- Try to get a name or business card from anyone you talk to so you can use the name as a reference when you follow up.
- Follow up by sending a letter and another copy of your resume to human resources and the hiring manager. Mention that you talked with them, or a company representative, at the fair. Tell them how excited you are about the position. Let them know you are the solution to their problem; you can make a difference and add value.
- Follow up in a week or so with a phone call, inquiring about the position and the hiring status.
- Use the job fair as one of many sources in planning your job search. Do further research on participating companies by visiting their websites and check for additional openings and opportunities.
Try not to be overwhelmed by the size of the job fair or the number of job seekers in attendance. Keep focused on the companies you want to interview with. Don't be discouraged if you don't go home with a job offer or formal interview lined up. This should be just one step in your research and networking process.
Consider any new contacts you meet or information gathered at the job fair as a positive addition to your resources. Be persistent in your endeavors; job opportunities sometimes come from the least expected sources at the most unexpected times.
View upcoming veteran job fairs.
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