Post by Admin on Mar 20, 2013 6:45:00 GMT -5
What Not To Do During Job Fairs
by: Chai Fonacier
Senior Contributor, CebuJobs.PH
It’s that time of the year again, isn’t it?
I remember some of us getting forced into those job fairs or we were going to get it. Others went of their own volition, while others did with a little prodding from the faculty. Whatever the case may be, it doesn’t matter, really. What matters is why you should go anyway, what’s in it for you, and what you should or shouldn’t do when joining job fairs.
So, why go?
Firstly, it saves time. Hopping from one venue to the next can take days in comparison to visiting tables or booths. Secondly, this is your chance to make an impression towards potential employers in the shortest time possible. Thirdly, possibilities are high that employers have determined what type of market would show up in a particular job fair, so you could be among their targeted people too. Also, go get that first hand experience in job hunting. Like they say, experience is the best teacher.
Now, what shouldn’t you do in a job fair?
Many people, and many sources can tell you what to do in a job fair, but no one really tells you what NOT to do. So let’s avoid those booboo’s now, shall we?
I have handled many interviews in a job fair setting many times during my time in recruitment, and I must say that though it’s all in a day’s work, working on these can make the process smoother, as well as improve the chances of hiring both for the employer and applicant.
1) Applying in groups and pushing each other as to who should go first. Don’t show them you’re afraid – that possibly makes a bad impression on how you take on challenges. You don’t want to look like you need your mother, do you?
2) Using the same résumé format as with your peers. What does this tell potential employers? Again, it gives a negative impression on your ability to assess yourself, present your strengths in the best light, much less the ability to create your own résumé.
3) Approaching the booth tentatively as if the recruiter could bite your head off. Always remember, a smile is a powerful thing. When you smile – forced or not – your brain releases happiness-inducing hormones (we swear by the tips of your hair, it’s true). And it’s a contagious thing. There really is truth to “fake it till you make it,” when you come to think of it. So as soon as tensions are eased, you get the chance to think a little more clearly, focus on the interview instead of keeping down the chattering of your teeth to an inaudible minimum.
4) Whispering through the interview. Speak out loud, but of course don’ t scream or you’d be mistaken for a psychopath. Speaking in low volume says “no confidence” and that may be a turn off. Other than that, job fairs can get really noisy – it’s hard enough for the recruiter to keep craning her neck to listen to you only to hear “rabble rabble my skills rabble rabble confident rabble rabble graduate.”
5) Handing in a crumpled hard copy of your résumé. No explanations needed, eh?
6) Dishonest answers. Oh yes, we got that kind of internal radar; we know when you’re trying too hard to impress. But when you give an appropriate, professional yet honest reply, we’ll most likely consider you.
Quick tip for a good job fair experience: come prepared. Research about the companies that are joining the job fair, as well as the vacancies that they have so when you are asked about why you’re applying for their company, you can avoid giving a generic answer (yes we can see through generic answers).
Official Post:What Not To Do During Job Fairs
by: Chai Fonacier
Senior Contributor, CebuJobs.PH
It’s that time of the year again, isn’t it?
I remember some of us getting forced into those job fairs or we were going to get it. Others went of their own volition, while others did with a little prodding from the faculty. Whatever the case may be, it doesn’t matter, really. What matters is why you should go anyway, what’s in it for you, and what you should or shouldn’t do when joining job fairs.
So, why go?
Firstly, it saves time. Hopping from one venue to the next can take days in comparison to visiting tables or booths. Secondly, this is your chance to make an impression towards potential employers in the shortest time possible. Thirdly, possibilities are high that employers have determined what type of market would show up in a particular job fair, so you could be among their targeted people too. Also, go get that first hand experience in job hunting. Like they say, experience is the best teacher.
Now, what shouldn’t you do in a job fair?
Many people, and many sources can tell you what to do in a job fair, but no one really tells you what NOT to do. So let’s avoid those booboo’s now, shall we?
I have handled many interviews in a job fair setting many times during my time in recruitment, and I must say that though it’s all in a day’s work, working on these can make the process smoother, as well as improve the chances of hiring both for the employer and applicant.
1) Applying in groups and pushing each other as to who should go first. Don’t show them you’re afraid – that possibly makes a bad impression on how you take on challenges. You don’t want to look like you need your mother, do you?
2) Using the same résumé format as with your peers. What does this tell potential employers? Again, it gives a negative impression on your ability to assess yourself, present your strengths in the best light, much less the ability to create your own résumé.
3) Approaching the booth tentatively as if the recruiter could bite your head off. Always remember, a smile is a powerful thing. When you smile – forced or not – your brain releases happiness-inducing hormones (we swear by the tips of your hair, it’s true). And it’s a contagious thing. There really is truth to “fake it till you make it,” when you come to think of it. So as soon as tensions are eased, you get the chance to think a little more clearly, focus on the interview instead of keeping down the chattering of your teeth to an inaudible minimum.
4) Whispering through the interview. Speak out loud, but of course don’ t scream or you’d be mistaken for a psychopath. Speaking in low volume says “no confidence” and that may be a turn off. Other than that, job fairs can get really noisy – it’s hard enough for the recruiter to keep craning her neck to listen to you only to hear “rabble rabble my skills rabble rabble confident rabble rabble graduate.”
5) Handing in a crumpled hard copy of your résumé. No explanations needed, eh?
6) Dishonest answers. Oh yes, we got that kind of internal radar; we know when you’re trying too hard to impress. But when you give an appropriate, professional yet honest reply, we’ll most likely consider you.
Quick tip for a good job fair experience: come prepared. Research about the companies that are joining the job fair, as well as the vacancies that they have so when you are asked about why you’re applying for their company, you can avoid giving a generic answer (yes we can see through generic answers).
Official Post:What Not To Do During Job Fairs