Job fairs get a bad reputation among many job seekers. Some are low-quality affairs with unimpressive companies dispensing unappealing swag to dispirited lines of job seekers. It can seem that every other table is looking for entry-level fodder or multi-level marketing salespeople. But well-run live events can be an important tool for the older job seeker who knows how to use them. Here are eight reasons they can be helpful for older job seekers.
Forced networking. Most people hate to network and, truth be told, they are not very good at it. Job candidates realize that the best jobs are to be found by networking with people they know, and yet it can be like pulling teeth to execute on a productive networking plan. Job fairs offer an excellent opportunity to meet hiring managers and recruiters at scale to assist with those efforts. By walking the aisles of a good job fair, the job seeker can speak with 40 or 50 companies and find some sub-segment of that group worthy of follow-up conversations. Even natural introverts can muster the energy to make good connections in a way that is easier than inviting someone for coffee.
[See: The 8 Stages of a Winning Job Search.]
Access to otherwise inaccessible company representatives. These days, voicemail, gatekeepers and applicant tracking systems keep job candidates from gaining access to real-world humans. At a job fair, however, company personnel are open and accessible. You can obtain a business card, maybe a cellphone number and get a few questions answered.
A chance to practice and refine your elevator pitch. As a candidate works her way through a job fair, at each table she can practice and refine her elevator pitch. Who is she? What does she seek? What are her top selling characteristics? Along the way, the job seeker can try out different pitches to see what resonates. Emphasize one factor here and another one there and seek what works best. In marketing, they might call this a rolling focus group of sorts, but the feedback could be invaluable.
The possibility for a serendipitous encounter. By attending a job fair in your area, you will encounter people, both seekers and employers whom you may have forgotten that you know. These people might spark an idea or another relationship that can help move your search forward. With hundreds of people in a room to encounter, the possibilities are endless.
[See: Tips for Surviving a Career Transition.]
The opportunity to give your resume to a human. With so many online application systems and job boards around that seem like black hole collectors, it can be nice to know that a real live human has accepted your resume. Be sure to get that person’s card for a follow-up electronic copy as well. You can also take the time to point out one or two relevant features about your background to the recruiter. It is a good sign if the recruiter jots down some notes on your resume.
The chance to gain referrals. Too many job seekers take no for an answer too easily. If rejected or snubbed, either with a formal application on casually through conversation, come back with a sincere, “I appreciate that feedback. Is there someone else or another organization that you suggest I speak with?” Not only is such follow-up professionally impressive, hiring managers and recruiters often know each other and will appreciate the referral of a candidate that is a better fit somewhere else.
Learn key buzz phrases that employers use. Each industry has its own vocabulary. Trends come and go, and especially if you have been out of work for a while, you may be out of date. Learning to talk about agile talent, blockchain, mindfulness or the internet of things will sound more up-to-date. By talking to recruiters and hiring managers at a job fair and doing professional reading online, the job seeker will make a far better impression with a future employer.
[See: 10 Ways Social Media Can Help You Land a Job.]
Get immediate feedback. The final huge benefit of working a high-quality job fair is to obtain immediate feedback. The job seeker can test hypotheses with questions like, “I have five years of experience within this aspect of a certain field and current certifications in A and B. Is that something that you find valuable when recruiting for this sort of position?” Or, “I have contemplated making a move from marketing to sales. I think I would be successful in a sales role because of X, Y and Z. Do you agree?” It is important to discern the difference between polite social responses and genuine feedback. If uncertain, you can follow up your question with something like, “I appreciate your saying such kind things but, really, is my sort of background a fit for that position or not? I am looking for genuine professional feedback.”
It is easy for a job seeker to blow off the opportunity to attend a career fair. As the old sports coach admonition goes, one must shoot to score. There is no guarantee that a job fair will be productive, but there is at least the chance that it will be more helpful than another day at home firing off job applications into the black hole.
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8 Reasons Career Fairs Are Helpful for Older Job Seekers originally appeared on usnews.com
