Are you planning to attend a job fair in Indianapolis? With some preparation and research, you can make the most of the experience. According to career coaches and employers, doing some research ahead of time can make or break your experience. Make sure you know not just when and where the job fair is, but who’s hosting it and what employers will be there.
Research and Preparation
Community and neighborhood organizations tend to invite a variety of employers to their career fairs. Most will post a list of companies and organizations that’ll be there. Looking up a few different employers to learn about open positions at each company and what skills those jobs require can also help you make the best use of your time when you arrive.
Beth Bowling, manager of workforce development at IndyGo, recommends having a game plan going in. “I think if you have a game plan going in there of who you want to talk to, you can prioritize those folks. That will help you be most successful.”
Dress to Impress
There’s no hard and fast rule for what to wear to a job fair. But it never hurts to put some thought into your outfit when going to meet employers. Tammy Thomas, employment services manager for Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center, recommends using “clean, neat and organized” as guidelines for your job fair outfit.
On the most basic level, that means nice slacks or a skirt, a blouse or button-up shirt and dress shoes. Your clothes don’t have to be expensive, Thomas said, but they should be clean and modest. Devon Doss, executive director of Indiana Plan, a program that helps prepare people for union construction apprenticeships, said dressing in a way that fits the industry you’re interested in can be helpful.
Bring Printed Copies of Your Resume
Career coaches still recommend bringing printed copies of your resume to job fairs — and even job interviews. “Technology has its own mind sometimes,” said Ros Morris, talent acquisition coach at IU Health’s Mosaic Center. “The more prepared they are, that helps to put them up there a little bit above other candidates.”
Five to 10 printed copies of your resume should be enough for most job fairs. It’s also helpful to have a LinkedIn profile and have your LinkedIn QR code available to easily connect with employers as you meet them.
Prepare to Introduce Yourself
Coaches recommend coming up with a quick elevator pitch to introduce yourself, your job experience and what types of roles you’re interested in. Practice in the mirror, or with family and friends. That can go a long way when approaching an employer at a job fair.
Be sure to get contact information so you can follow up with employers you meet and are interested in working for. Tammy Thomas recommends following up by email one or two days after meeting an employer at a job fair.
Original reporting: Mirror Indy — read the source article.
