Tips & FAQs

• Ready, Set, Go! Getting Ready for a Job Fair
• Job Applications
• The Resume
• Interviewing Do's and Don'ts
• How to Sell Yourself and Win Over Employers
• Frequently Asked Questions

 

Ready, Set, Go!

Getting Ready for a Job Fair

This guide will help you prepare for a job fair and make the most of your time while you're there.

Reasons to Attend a Job Fair

You can:

• Investigate positions and career fields of interest
  Meet representatives from organizations for whom you are interested in working.
  Get more information about specific companies and organizations.
  Gain valuable interview experience.
  Increase your chances of interviewing with an employer.
  Receive sound job search advice from seasoned company recruiters.
  Develop your network of contacts!

What to Expect

• Many job fairs are comprised of employers from as well as other youth community providers. Employers expect to interact with young people seeking job opportunities as well as those simply researching careers and organizations. Community service providers will be prepared to offer information on different programs and services offered to youth, ages 16-21.
• This job fair will be held in one big room. Rows of tables will be staffed by representatives from the participating organizations and decorated with table-top displays.
• A student registration table will be located at the entrance to the job fair. Here, you will be asked to sign in, create a name tag, and complete a brief questionnaire. Lists of attending organizations and maps identifying their locations will also be available.

How to prepare for a job fair

• If you are attending the job fair in search of employment, you should prepare for the experience as you would for an interview.
• Review the list of organizations that will be attending the fair, then research those employers of interest to you. Specific lists may be viewed on this website. Visit the organization s website for more information.
• Ensure that your resume (or personal fact sheet) reflects your most current accomplishments, skills, and experiences. Bring multiple copies of this information.
• Practice answering specific interview questions and prepare questions you would like to ask the employer.
• Consider how you will dress. If you are exploring job opportunities, we recommend you dress in professional business attire.
• Prepare a strategy for how you will work the fair. Prioritize the employers with whom you'd like to speak, identify the information you want to get from them, and specify goals you hope to achieve by attending the fair. Be sure to distribute your resume to each employer, and also get a business card from a representative at each organization that interests you.
• Visit the MontgomeryWorks One Stop Career Center and/or attend some pre-job fair workshops to help you prepare for the job fair.

After the Fair

• Within two weeks of the fair, make follow-up contact with the representatives you spoke to, unless you have discussed an alternative arrangement.