Aim to Stand Out as Career Fair Applicant

Lots of job seekers, especially ones who may not have been in the job market in years and now find themselves unemployed, may be tempted to attend a job fair.

But how can they take the best advantage of a fair? That's what this worker wants to know.

Can anyone tell me what to expect at a job or career fair? I have a background in health care and am thinking about attending an upcoming job fair in Washington.

Patricia Miller, who operates her own human resources consulting firm in Seven Valleys, Pa., said anyone attending a job fair needs to prepare in various ways, starting by finding out which companies will be represented at the fair and then checking their corporate web sites to find out about them.

"Find out what type of jobs they have available," she says, "and then assess your job skills" in relationship to the openings. "What transferable skills do you have?

"You may not have exactly what job skills they're seeking," Miller says, but nonetheless an applicant should make an effort to relate her strengths to a company's needs.

"You may have only 30 to 60 seconds to make an impression" at the fair, where corporate representatives will likely be positioned at booths as they greet job seekers. "Stay away from such comments as, "I'm dependable," or "I'm a hard worker," she advises.

Instead, she says, "Give examples of something you could do for that company. Listen for something the recruiters said they need, then make sure you get a business card and follow up within 24 hours. [In the note}, you can mention how you can provide what they need. It's all about standing out."

And by all means ask to get together for a more formal interview, she says.

So how does an applicant improve at making the connection that might lead to a job?

Miller suggests that before job seekers go to job fairs they should "role play" with a friend, preferably one who has been to job fairs, to act out typical get-to-know-you encounters that might occur in a blink but can leave lasting impressions, both favorable and negative.

Let the experts help you, check out How to Stand Out.

Kenneth Bredemeier has six years of experience writing about the workplace. On the Job, a column addressing real worker questions about office relationships, corporate policies and workplace law, is written exclusively for washingtonpost.com.

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