15 ways to improve your job fair performance

Whether you love job fairs or hate them, it’s difficult to ignore them altogether. After all, dozens of employers are gathered in one location, all waiting to talk to you. To get the same number of direct contacts online would take days or weeks of clicking the mouse.

Unfortunately, job fairs can also lead to crushing disappointment if nothing develops from attending. You get all dressed up, walk around for hours, smile at everyone you meet, and still leave empty-handed? For that you could have stayed home ... clicking your mouse.

While it’s unrealistic to imagine that every fair would produce jobs for every attendee, the truth is that most attendees could improve their odds substantially by being more strategic. Here are 15 tips to help:

1. Dress for success. Wear a dressy outfit appropriate to the job you want, with one exception: stick with comfortable shoes. As long as the footwear isn’t tennis shoes or flip-flops, your shoes are likely to go unnoticed by the people behind the booth. But the grimace on your face from pinched feet will be hard to disguise.

2. Travel light. Both men and women will find that a slim, over-the-shoulder bag provides a professional tote for resumes and business cards while letting you shake hands without struggle.

3. Turn off your cell phone. You knew that, didn’t you?

4. Plan to stay. If you go with a connecting mentality, it will be easy to fill two or three hours; if you approach this as a shopping excursion and speed walk past the booths, it will be more challenging. Which do you think is more effective?

5. Research target companies before arriving. Use the list of employers on the event Web site to determine three that most interest you. Then research those companies to develop questions for the representatives at the booths.

6. Plan your approach. Once at the fair, review the event layout to find your top choices. Approach them first, to ensure those conversations happen. If you encounter congestion, keep circling back.

7. Plan your introduction. Never, “Do you have openings for…” because this can be answered “yes” or “no” and leave you without further conversation to pursue. Instead, initiate a discussion: “Hi. I’m Joe Jackson. I’m a service specialist with a background in electronics. I’m wondering which of ABC Company’s departments would use someone like me?”

8. Listen in. If others are asking questions, take advantage of all that free information floating around. Join in, or just build on that conversation after the others leave.

9. Focus on contacts, not leads. Not every booth will have job leads for you, but every booth has potential contacts. Focus on learning which department would be the most likely to use your skills, then get the name of that manager to contact later. If the representative doesn’t have that information, ask permission to call later in the week for it.

10. Leave the trinkets alone. Key chains and pens will just clutter your pockets, and chomping the candy will look unprofessional.

11. Bring a snack. Eating an energy bar will keep you in the game while making the candy dishes less tempting.

12. Seek company. If break tables are provided, use the opportunity to network with other job seekers.

13. Seek knowledge. If seminars are provided, plan to attend. In addition to the tips you might learn, you will have more networking opportunities with the other participants.

14. Follow up after the fair. With luck, you should have names from a dozen or more companies, including those from your top three. Now it’s time to really work. E-mail each person to say thank you and to ask for an opportunity to meet again in the near future. Attach your resume and plan a follow-up call to set that meeting.