First impressions are everything. For graduating college students, making a positive impression to potential employers is key to landing a full-time career upon graduation. When attending a career fair, it’s normal to be nervous when so many recruiters are in one room. But a little preparation can go a long way in ensuring students are ready with the right attitude, attire and documents to make a lasting impression with employers.
On Oct. 18, approximately 30 students who are studying to be Personal Support Workers (PSW) attended a career fair at Evergreen College in Toronto. The students were all in various stages of their academic program, with some being in the classroom stage, while others were in a job placement.
In what was the first-ever career fair at the college, six industry employers attended the fair. Five of these organizations were hiring agencies and one represented a local long-term care facility. Margaret McLeish, the college’s PSW Program Manager, said this fair was organized based on the large number of employers wanting to hire the college’s students and meet with them.
Typically, the goal for employers and recruiters at a job fair is to meet the students and-hopefully-position them at the top of their hiring list.
Preparation will propel many PSW students to the top of this list. From reviewing their resume to practicing interview skills, preparing a portfolio and dressing for success; below are some suggestions to help students prepare for their next career fair.
Research the organizations attending the fair
Prior to attending a career fair, take some time to look up information about the attending organizations. Learning about their location, work culture and job postings can help students get an idea of the type of position(s) they would be hiring for. Also, identify any gaps in information to help fuel any questions that the students would want to ask at the fair.
Typically, this type of information can be found on each company’s website under the “careers” or “about us” section. Knowing the types of organizations that are attending can go a long way in helping students to complete the following preparation tasks, such as creating a targeted resume and developing a list of questions for each employer.
Refresh the resume
The first step to attending any job fair involves polishing up an existing resume. If a student has not been active in the job market, their resume may require some updates to reflect new credentials, educational achievements or even part-time employment. Students may find it beneficial to ask an instructor to review their resume prior to the fair to ensure it’s well targeted to the industry and position they’re seeking.
On the day of the fair, students should print out several copies of their resume to leave with each employer. Some companies may ask for more than one copy of a student’s resume, so it’s important to bring many photocopies. Carrying these in a folder, along with other important documents, a notebook and a pen will enable students to present themselves in an organized fashion.
Practice an introductory pitch
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Students will often have a minute or two to introduce themselves to employers at a fair. They can make the most of this short time by rehearsing what they want to say. An essential pitch includes a brief, personal introduction, an overview of skills, along with a sentence or two about a student’s career goals.
Next, students will often be able to display the documents they have brought with them, and take a recruiter through their resume verbally. As part of their preparation, students should plan to give an example of each attribute listed on their resume. Whether it’s facility experience as a PSW or customer-service traits from a previous career it’s important to be able to back up each item with specific examples.
Prepare a list of questions for employers
Career fairs present a unique opportunity versus traditional job applications. Students will be able to speak with recruiters directly and ask any questions they have prior to an official interview. Preparing these questions in advance is important to getting the most out of each interaction.
Students will want to avoid asking simple questions that they can find the answers to on a company’s website. For example, asking a recruiter where the company is located or what types of positions they are hiring for could demonstrate that a student has not done their research. It would also be wise to avoid any discussion about salaries or benefits unless it’s something that the recruiter brings up.
Instead, aspiring PSWs could ask employers where they might be situated, what kind of support they offer to PSWs working in the community, and how and when PSWs can they get a hold of someone if they have a question or need backup support in the field.