Resume Tips for Job Fairs

Resume Tips for Job Fairs Resume Tips for Job Fair SuccessWhether youre a recent graduate landseeking your first position or an experienced professional in search of a new opportunity, attending job fairs is one way to network and find job leads. Job fairs allow you to meet hiring managers from various companies and industries -- all housed under one roof for the day. These tips will help you make the best impression. Research Job Fair CompaniesWhen meeting candidates at job fairs, I like to see that theyve done their research, says Louis Dennis, a menschenwrdig resources representative for State Farm Insurance Companies in Greeley, Colorado, who regularly recruits employees by attending job fairs. Folks who can sit down with me already knowing something about the company and the types of jobs theyre interested in are very impressive to me.Its usually possible to obtain a list of employers participating in a job fair ahead of time. The best-prepared candidates will have already spent time researching corporate cultures and searching job listings on Monster and other sites. If someone can say to me, Im interested in underwriting or claims and can back up why theyre a good fit, Im immediately going to be impressed, Dennis says.Develop Multiple Versions of Your ResumeAfter youve done your homework, tailor your resume based on your job objective, and consider bringing multiple versions to the career fair, says Christina MacGill, associate director of career programming for career services at Pennsylvania State University.Once candidates have done their research on participating companies, they can create a few different resumes targeting these, MacGill advises. For example, someone interested in finance can research typical job titles and types of responsibilities and then create several different versions accordingly. They also might create one resume targeted to working for banks and another one tailored to working for the finance division of a large firm like GE .You should also prepare a general resume without a specific objective. That way, candidates can be prepared for any situation at a job fair by keeping their options open and having multiple resume versions ready to go, MacGill says.Cut Through the ClutterHaving a concise resume to hand out at job fairs is crucial. When Im at a job fair, where the line can get eight-to-10 deep of people waiting to talk to you, I cringe when I see a resume thats more than a page and a half long, Dennis says.If the resume is cluttered and not easy to read, this is a problem, says MacGill, who coordinates career fairs at Penn State. Employers get so many resumes at career fairs, and youve got to make sure your resume is easy on the eye, with the main information easy to pick up and quickly scan.Bring Supporting DocumentsAdditional documents that could help support your qualifications will depend on your industry and career goals, but they may include a titelseite letter, professional portfolio, transcr ipts (usually for new graduates), reference list, letters of recommendation and job applications.Use the information uncovered during your research to guide your cover letter development. You may have found names of HR managers, position openings and job requirements that will help you customize your letters. If you dont have this information, write a cover letter to go along with each resume version. The letter should provide an overview of your qualifications that meet the goal the resume specifies.At the same time, supporting documents arent as important as your resume, and some hiring managers wont be interested in dealing with the extra paperwork. Dennis says cover letters arent necessary at a job fair.Follow UpRequest a business card from each hiring manager, and jot down a few notes immediately after each conversation -- this will help refresh your memory when you follow up. Email or mail a thank-you note within 24 hours of the job fair.When Ive met someone promising, Im look ing for them to follow up, says Dennis. If they do, thats a sign of serious interest.We also recommend that after you meet with someone and learn more about specific positions, alter the resume and send an updated, customized version to the rolle you spoke with right away, MacGill says.Make your resume shine with help from Monsters resume writing experts