Discover opportunities that exist for various skill sets to join healthcare or Social work
Meet employers and speak with them face-to-face
Compare different company cultures and determine what is the best fit for you
Fine tune your interpersonal and communicative skills
Determine the qualifications and skills you should emphasize when speaking with prospective employers
Benefits for Employers
Promote their organization in order to attract qualified applicants and increase their potential applicant pool
Provide information about opportunities available within their organization
Items to Consider during a Career Fair
Strategy
Determine a strategy for the day. An example of a strategy would be to arrive early to avoid long line ups, survey the layout of the career fair, pick up a floor map and determine the order in which you plan to visit employers.
Do not arrive during the last half hour of the career fair, because some employers may leave early.
Engage both recruiters and job seekers in conversation. You never know who will have information or contacts that could help you in your job search.
If you feel you need to practice your self-introduction you may want to speak with employers you are really interested in after you have practiced with other organizations first.
High profile companies may have long line ups, so if you are confident in your self-introduction you may want to visit them first, if they are on your priority list, to avoid the wait times.
Make a good first impression
When meeting with an employer attempt to build rapport early on and make a good first impression.
Approach an employer with confidence. Keep your back straight and shoulders back, smile, make eye contact, say hello, offer a firm handshake, and deliver your self-introduction.
Visit company booths by yourself in order to have the ability to market yourself and appear confident.
Be organized: take a folder to collect handouts, a calendar in case an employer wants to schedule an interview and a pen and notepad to record notes. Ensure you collect the names of appropriate people to follow up with after the fair.
Be polite
Paying close attention to your manners will ensure you make a positive impression on the employers.
Be mindful of the time you take with the employer. Do not spend more than ten minutes with an employer unless he or she invites you to continue the conversation. Be mindful of social queues. If the employer is looking over their shoulder it may be a sign to move on.
Be patient. Don’t cut the line or complain about wait times.
Do not take an employer’s promotional materials without asking or being invited to.
Be friendly and respectful with everyone at the fair. You never know who may witness your behaviour or who may pass on what they saw to an employer.
Thank each employer representative you talk to for taking the time to speak with you and answer your questions and ask them for their business card.
