This week we will continue to cover job fairs, specifically mistakes that I have seen job candidates make at job fair events. When job seekers make any of these mistakes, I believe that they cut their chances of getting a follow up interview with the companies participating at the job fair.
Mistake #1: Taking family members to the job fair.
Believe it or not, I have seen this a dozen times. In some cases, the job candidate may not have someone to watch his or her young kids the day of the job fair, and they decide to bring the kids along. Or they bring Mom with them for company and moral support. Simply put, it is unprofessional and will not make a good first impression with any company. I’ve even seen people with strollers at job fairs — definitely not the best presentation of professional demeanor. From an employer’s perspective, if a job seeker is unable to find someone to take care of their kids the day of the job fair, it may give the impression that they will not have enough freedom to come to work every day, or that they have too many responsibilities at home to be able to perform well at work. Taking Mom along also gives the impression that the job seeker lacks confidence, and may not be able to independently manage the responsibilities that the position entails. My recommendation: to make the most of the job fair day, leave family members at home. Attend the job fair on your own, as you would the first day at a new job.
Read this post for more information about how to prepare for a job fair, and check back tomorrow for the next mistake to avoid.
December 9, 2009
You made a good impression on the recruiters at the job fair and did your best to communicate your serious interest in finding a new career. You came prepared for the event, dressed professionally, and were confident, positive and polite. Now it’s time to follow up.
For the job openings that appealed to you most and fit best with your skills and experience, it is important to take the time to send a follow up email to the recruiter who you spoke with. Say that you enjoyed speaking with them and learning about their company. Reiterate that you would like the opportunity to take the next step to move the process forward – with a formal interview if appropriate. You can also inquire about other opportunities in the company if the position that you discussed wasn’t the best fit for you.
Remember, attending job fairs is a great way to make all sorts of connections. You may find the perfect job opening, or make a contact in another area of a company that interests you, or even learn of employment opportunities from other job fair attendees. Make your best effort to make a good impression, make the most of the day, and you may find your next great job.
(Start your job search now at BilingualJobFair.com, and don’t forget to sign up to be notified of future Bilingual Job Fair events in your area. Click here to sign up!)
November 25, 2009
You arrive at the job fair prepared, looking great, feeling positive — you are ready to start meeting companies. What now?
It’s time to make your plan for how to make the most of the day. As soon as you walk into the job fair, pick up a program. Review the map which shows where each participating employer is located and make some decisions about which companies you want to meet the most. Depending on the number of people at the job fair, you may be fighting through crowds, but your first objective should be to meet with your top 5 or 10 companies.
Approach your top companies one by one. Use the introduction you practiced as a way to begin a conversation about the positions each company currently has available, and the qualifications they are seeking. Offer a copy of your resume (and cover letter if you have one) and give a quick summary of your qualifications, being sure to touch on those that match the credentials they are looking for. Before you leave that booth, make sure you have expressed your interest in the position, thank the recruiter for their time and find out what you need to do to get a more formal job interview with the company.
After you have met with all of your top companies, take a break. Take a moment to drink some water and/or eat a little something. Take another look at the job fair program and booth map, and pick out your second tier of companies. Use the time you have left to visit the booths of your “B List” to make sure you are taking advantage of every opportunity to make a connection with a potential employer. By the time you have completed your secondary list, the job fair may be coming to an end. You should leave the event with a good understanding of what each of your top companies is looking for, ready to follow up with the companies that appealed to you the most.
Next: After the Job Fair: Following Up
November 23, 2009
A job fair day is a day when the job candidate needs to shine. To make the best first impression, it helps to come prepared.
You should have multiple copies of your well written one-page resume printed and ready to hand to the recruiters at the event. You can also bring copies of a cover letter introducing yourself and your qualifications. You may find that having a pen or pencil and some paper available for taking notes is helpful. To stay organized, bring a folder or portfolio to hold these materials, as well as any handouts you may receive at the job fair.
Self-confidence is very important. If you believe in yourself, it comes through to the participating companies. Dress for success. Put forth your best effort in how you dress for this day. Plan ahead and dress appropriately for the type of position you are interested in. Once you are ready with an outfit that is professional and gives you confidence, spend some time thinking about how to make an impact with your introduction. To feel more assured, it may be helpful to practice introducing yourself with a friend or family member. Be positive, smile, make eye contact, shake hands and say “Hello, my name is _____ and I am interested in learning more about opportunities with your company.”
If the information is available prior to the event, review the list of companies that will be participating in the job fair. The more familiar you are with the types of employers attending and the positions that they may have open, the better prepared you will be to discuss how your qualifications are a good fit.
Next: At the Job Fair: How to Make a Good Impression and Make the Most of the Day.
November 19, 2009
Attending a job fair is a great opportunity for a job seeker to meet and connect with recruiters from many different companies in one location. Job fairs are usually one-day events held at large venues like coliseums or hotel conference rooms, and give job seekers the chance to make a good impression face-to-face with prospective employers.
If you have never been to a job fair, it helps to know what to expect. Booths are set up for the participating employers, and each employer has recruitment representatives available to hand out materials and speak with job candidates about the positions that are available at their company. There may also be additional resources available, such as copy centers and scheduled seminars, as well as an area designated as an “interview zone” for recruiters and candidates to speak in a more private setting.
Regardless of whether you attend a job fair that is broadly focused, or one that is designed for candidates with a specific type of specialty or skill, you will need to make a memorable impact on recruiters to make the most of these connections. It is important to make a good first impression in person, and to do so you will need to put some effort into preparing and planning for the event. At our Bilingual Job Fair Events, the most successful connections between bilingual candidates and companies seeking bilingual employees are made when candidates come prepared.
Next up: Preparing to Attend a Job Fair.
(Don’t forget to sign up to be notified of future Bilingual Job Fair events in your area. Click here to sign up!)
November 18, 2009
Rounding out the list of common interview mistakes that job seekers make (see mistake #1 and mistake #2):
Mistake #3: Assuming a great resume is enough to get you hired
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that because you have been called for an interview the job is already yours. No matter how great your resume is, you still need to prove yourself in person. Keep in mind that the impression you make on a prospective employer may begin as soon as you walk through the company’s front door.
From the moment you arrive for an interview, remember your body language. Pay attention to your posture and your facial expressions, and keep a professional demeanor both with the person interviewing you as well as with anyone else in the company that you may meet. This includes the person that greets you in the front office or reception area.
I’ll share a true story with you about when I interviewed candidates for Account Executive positions at a broadcasting organization. Our receptionist was instructed to observe the candidates as soon as they walked through the front door. She noted how they greeted her, how they treated her, if they made small conversation with her, how they handled themselves at the front office, whether they talked to other employees — all of this while waiting to begin the job interview. If a candidate wasn’t polite and friendly to the receptionist, they would not be considered for the position, mainly because they were going to be working with people, and we took pride in treating people right. This illustrates how a job candidate’s behavior is taken into consideration from the moment they enter the front office.
November 12, 2009
In additon to the first big mistake job seekers make when it comes to interviewing (going unprepared to the job interview), here is another common mistake:
Mistake #2: Failing to impress with your overall presentation
In addition to preparing for an interview with practice questions, the job seeker needs to make a great impression with their overall presentation, which includes everything from their cover letter and resume to their personal appearance and follow-up. You can refer to these posts for cover letter and resume tips, as well as suggestions for appropriate interview attire and etiquette:
Feeling comfortable with your overall presentation includes feeling confident and positive about the challenge in front of you. Knowing that you have put forth your best effort helps you feel that confidence. If you don’t like your resume, or if you doubt that you look as good as you should for the job interview, the interviewer will see that lack of confidence enough, and may assume it reflects a lack of interest in the position or the company. Your attitude — what you believe about yourself — will be projected to the interviewer, and may have an effect on the outcome of your interview. Pay attention to what your overall presentation portrays to the interviewing company about you as a potential employee. You must believe for others to believe.
November 11, 2009
So you got the call! You’ve been asked to come for an interview with a prospective employer. Now what?
This week we’re focusing on common mistakes to avoid during the interview process.
Mistake #1: Going unprepared to the job Interview.
There are several things a job seeker can do to prepare for a job interview. First, spend some time thinking about your unique assets before the interview. To take it a step further, it is helpful to write out and read over a list of the qualifications which make you unique. Practicing answers to possible interview questions is another important tool that can help you feel more comfortable once you are face to face with an interviewer. (See this post, this post, and this post for some sample interview questions to practice with.) You may not know in advance which questions to prepare for, but you can use sample questions to practice speaking about your experience and your qualifications. No matter how much you have practiced answering sample questions, remember to listen carefully to the questions that you are asked in an interview, and don’t be afraid to iake a few seconds to compose your thoughts before answering.
Finally, taking some time to research and learn as much as you can about the company you are interviewing with can be a crucial step in your preparation. Coming to an interview with some questions for the interviewer about the company shows that you have put effort into learning about your potential future employer.
November 10, 2009
A thought for Friday:
Keep in mind that being happy in your job is very important, because you spend a lot of your waking hours at work. If you’re happy at work, then life will be more pleasant for you and your loved ones after work. Also, if you accomplish a lot in your work-life, a sense of pride forms within you and your sense of confidence and self-respect increases.
But you should also remember that work is only one part of your life, and that you must balance it with your personal life. If you give everything to your work, then your personal life suffers, and there’s no ‘you’ left after work. I once wrote: “Work is a part of life and should not BE your life… because if work goes, so does your life.” You must prepare for a balance between your business and your personal life.
We wish you the best in the search of your dream job. May you find what you’re looking for – and more. Start your search now — new jobs are posted every day at www.bilingualjobfair.com.
November 6, 2009
This week we have assembled a list of questions that might be asked in a job interview. (Find the first and second set of possible questions here and here.) Practicing your answers to these questions is a good way to prepare yourself for a job interview.
POSSIBLE JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
• When looking at all of the positions you have held, where have you been the most successful?
• What did you like the most about your most recent job and what did you like the least about it?
• Tell me what personality traits you have that will help you succeed in this field?
• What do you think it takes to be successful in this field of work?
• What was the worst job you have had? The best?
• How long will it take you to start showing a profit for our company?
• Do you foresee any complications you might have in completing the job requirements as we have described them? Would you be able to overcome them, if any?
• Any concerns you personally have that might not allow you to do the job to your fullest potential?
• What does ‘Customer service’ means to you?
• Describe one instance in which you received POOR customer service, and one instance in which you got OUTSTANDING customer service.
• Please describe a time when you were praised by your manager for something extraordinary you did for someone else in the team.
• Do you have good oral and written communications skills? (In more than one language?)
• How good are you at writing business correspondence?
(Note: Everyone always replies: “I’m really good at writing letters”. However, this is not necessarily the case. That’s why some companies test this ability, including our company. Be prepared for this question, and with the answer. If you are not good at writing letters, be honest and say something like: “I would like to get better at writing letters and would love the company’s help if I’m hired. That’s a personal goal of mine.” Again, honesty is the best policy. Keep in mind that the interviewer can read your body language and whether you are comfortable writing letters or not. At this point, there could be a surprise for you. The company might ask for a written exercise as part of the interview process.)
November 4, 2009
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