If you have never been to a job fair, you may find it a little intimidating your first time around, but if you go prepared and present yourself properly, the butterflies will go away after your first couple of interviews, and the event will be a success for you. You may not come away with a job your first time, but do not be discouraged. Regardless of whether you get hired or not, you are getting valuable interviewing experience in a fast-paced environment, and that experience will put you at ease down the road and possibly be the sole reason you get hired during your next interview.
You also have to look at a job fair as an incredible networking opportunity. By talking not only to the job hosts but also to other attendees, you are going to become aware of other HVAC job opportunities and publications that will have HVAC listings. People in similar situations will open up a little bit more and give you information. Talking to someone who looks as though they are having difficulties is a great way to find out why they did not get hired. If they did not get the job that means it is possibly still available and that is another opportunity you may not have know was available.
Another thing to remember is that this is a fair, and fairs are crowded places. That being the case, you are going to have to set yourself apart from everyone else and make sure that you get noticed. You are going to get one shot at making an impression and you do not want it to be a bad one. The idea in these situations is to leave a mark in their minds that you were the best and you are the one that they need to call back at the end of the day. Everyone in that room is out of work and selling him- or herself; you need to do it better than all of them to be successful.
Here are some tips to make your job fair experience a positive one:
- Dress Professionally—This is one of the most important factors when going out for a job and is especially important at a job fair. You would be surprised how many people show up inappropriately dressed. You are trying to get a job in a professional environment, so you need to present yourself in that manner. Dress otherwise and the first impression you give will be a negative one. At that point it will not matter what you say or what is on your resume.
- Resumes—Bring lots of them. You are going to want to hand a fresh copy to each and every interviewer. You also want to make sure you know your own resume inside and out, so you can field any questions presented to you from your interviewer. You also want to supply your references with an updated version of your resume to ensure that when they are asked questions about what you stated on your application and resume, that they have the correct information.
- Have a Presentation Prepared—Think of your interview as an audition. You are only going to have about a minute to make an impression. Within that time you are either going to impress them or lose their interest. Make sure you are impressive and entertaining at the same time. These are your sixty seconds; use them wisely.
- Be Goal Oriented—Prospective employers want people who are looking for a future. The days of hiring PUCs (pick-up-a-check artists) are long gone. The economy is too tough and the workforce has too many people looking for jobs to choose a slouch. Let them know you are looking to move up and be a contributor and it will put you ahead of the bulk of the field.
- Be Early—Getting their late will result in disaster. You are going to get a horrible parking space, which of course will result in you being flustered, and then you are going to be waiting forever in lines because everyone else is already there. You are also going to be amongst the last interviewed and that is never a good thing. Interviewers are human, and like anyone that is faced with the same thing over and over, you eventually lose a little interest, especially after they have met someone earlier that they think is their guy. You need to be that guy and impress them early. It can only lead to positive things down the road.
- Smile—Never underestimate the power of a smile and enthusiasm. Employers do not want to see glum looks on people’s faces; especially those that are going to have to deal with the public. If you are smiling, pleasant, and entertaining during a time when you are out of a job, it is a safe assumption that you are going to be a pure delight when you are working again.
