by Greg Weishaar
Having worked in the recruiting field for the better part of 10 years, I have had the opportunity to attend many job fairs and have participated in two heavily-attended events so far this year. The experiences never fail to remind me of why I both love to hate job fairs and hate to love them. Speaking with professional, prepared, and engaged jobseekers is always enjoyable—it makes me wish I had jobs for everyone. On the flip side of the professional coin, though, interacting with those people who give off the I-don't-really-want-to-be-here vibe is disheartening, and it’s shocking how many people fall into the latter category.
Learning about people and helping guide their job searches not only helps me meet my business objectives, but also satisfies a personal intrinsic need. Unfortunately, as anyone who has participated in these events can attest, there are some people that just don't get it. They’re usually easy to pick out of the crowd. They’re the ones who:
- Amble in off the street in their gym clothes or some similar disheveled attire;
- Haven’t defined any goals for themselves or their attendance at the event;
- Are unable to discuss their professional accomplishments; and/or
- Normally leave the job fair with a handful of tchotchkes and zero job prospects.
Everyone who attends job fairs in some capacity is familiar with these ultra-passive jobseekers. Surprisingly and unfortunately, there are some companies that show up sporting the same blasé attitude, coming off as lazy and unprofessional. I cannot tell you the number of times I have seen company booths/exhibits manned by representatives who were disengaged, underprepared, disingenuous, or not there at all (company representatives also embark on their own tchotchke-hunting expeditions—don’t all of our children enjoy foam globes and pens that light up, regardless of the company names emblazoned upon them?).
The sentiment often seems to be that the companies are doing the jobseekers a favor by simply showing up and dangling the carrot of employment in front of worthy attendees. Really, it’s the other way around. A well-represented company builds its reputation as a solid employer, strengthens its brand image, and attracts leading talent. The jobseekers that come to the event each present an opportunity to further your brand—regardless of whether or not they are well-matched to your organization—and should be treated accordingly.
In the end, job fairs certainly fill a niche in the employment marketplace and offer great opportunities. In today’s market, they should be viewed as yet another opportunity to network with potential employees or employers. It is the responsibility of jobseekers and companies alike to best represent themselves.
Tips for Jobseekers
- Dress the part
- Be prepared to network and interview
- Have your “elevator speech” ready
- Target specific employers and research them prior to the event
- Use your time efficiently by visiting all targeted employers and by not overstaying your welcome
- Bring generic and job-specific resumes to hand out
- Leave a positive first impression
Tips for Company Attendees
- Advertise your openings and attendance at the event beforehand
- Engage even the most passive, mismatched of candidates, as you never know who they know
- Develop top-tier branding materials, including booths, flyers, and promotionals
- Define a process or “next steps” pathway that you will use to connect with promising candidates after the event
- Be honest, approachable, and professional
- Have a plan to keep the flow of candidates moving
- Staff your booth appropriately
Have a question on this or any other workforce-related topic? Ask a Superior Subject Matter Expert. Or learn more about the Superior Group and its offerings at: www.superior-sdc.com.
