Job Fair Success
By Anthony Michaelides
Director, Career Services & Job Placement

Attending job fairs can be a great way to find a job. There are many job fairs advertised in the newspaper,
generally in the classifieds section, as well as on the Internet and Career Centers. With proper preparation you can circulate your resume, speak with hiring managers and leave a great impression with an employer. Some employers may interview you on the spot, while others will simply take your resume to consider for an interview at a later time. In either case, you have an opportunity to meet the employer in person, rather than just emailing, faxing or mailing your resume to a “box” at the company.

Preparing for a job fair is easy...

• First, make several copies of your resume to bring with you, as you will be handing them out to employers.
• Second, you will want to look professional, as you will meet a variety of company representatives and you want to impress them. Keep in mind that if you do not look professional, your competition probably will.
• Third, be sure you know the contents of your resume so that if an employer begins to ask you questions about it you can answer knowledgeably. Practice what you will say beforehand as you will want to sound prepared and professional. Prepare a “60 second commercial” that sells your skills, education and personality.
• Finally, keep in mind that when you go to each company table, think of it as an interview. Shake  hands with the employer, introduce yourself and the position(s) you are seeking, and be prepared to ask questions about the company and position to show interest.

Job fairs are a “free’ job search tool that need to be a part of your job search process. Although emailing, faxing and mailing your resume are certainly effective, and need to be done, there is no better way to make contact with an employer than to stand in front of them, shake hands, introduce yourself and talk to them about what skills you have to offer them. We look forward to seeing you at College of the Canyons Job Fairs, held in Fall and Spring.