Getting the most out of recruitment fairs

We have all experienced visiting recruitment fairs and wondering around aimlessly for an hour and a half before leaving empty handed and still jobless. Without a plan and a list of objectives recruitment fairs can be overwhelming and unproductive and leave you feeling exhausted. By preparing beforehand you can make the most of visiting a fair and come away with more job hunting experience and maybe even a job:

- Research what companies are going to be there

Before you visit the fair browse through all the exhibiting companies. Make a note of what companies may interest you and research into current employment positions they are offering (i.e. check their company website for any availabilities and job requirements). Ensure you thoroughly understand their business and brain storm any questions you want to ask them when you meet them at the fair.

- Make an appointment before hand

It could pay dividends to think ahead and try and arrange an interview with the exhibiting company. Call up the business (try the human resource department first), explain your interest in working for them and then push to organise a meeting at the fair. Make sure that you have a set of planned questions to ask them during the meeting so you make the most of your individual time with them.

- Bring plenty of CVs

Always make sure that you have a pile of pristine CVs ready to give to prospective employers. It may also benefit you to print some business cards, and if you can bring a laptop so you can email the business then and there with all the relevant documents. By ensuring that they have both an electronic and paper copy of your CV ensures they are aware of your interest.

- Bring a notebook

Make sure that you have means to take notes about each company you approach. You can jot down contact details, reminders, or general thoughts you had about certain companies as well as anything new you have learnt that may help your job search in the future.

- Practice your interview skills

Use the fair to practice your interview skills. At recruitment fairs you have the chance to talk to an abundant of prospective employers about employment. This offers a great opportunity to gain interview experience. Don’t be afraid to approach recruiters and get talking to them. It will help to build confidence as well as knowledge and improve your chances of impressing future employers.

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Using Twitter to Promote Yourself during Job Search

Twitter is another great tool in the toolbox to promote your qualifications during a job search. The intent is to have potential employers and networking contacts read your tweets.

A couple of thoughts to help get you started

One: Keep it professional and positive

Two: focus on your profession only – especially where you can give advice from personal experience

Three: If you have skills that cannot be easily trained, put those in your tweets, as employers will need to hire someone with them

Four: Tweet on issues/experiences that will likely be raised in an interview/networking

Five: Before starting to Tweet. Write your first 50 tweets. People will go to your profile and review your tweets – so best to have them organized versus random thoughts. So tweet with purpose (I’d wager no one has ever told you that before).

Six: Retweet other good thoughts from people you follow – recognizing good content is as valuable as giving it

Seven: Manage who you follow and who follows you (e.g. Blocking anyone who has ‘Check out my hot profile’ is advised!)

Put your Twitter ID on your business cards (along the URLs for personal blogs, LinkedIn profile, etc.) – so people know you’re tweeting.

Good luck today!

Mark Richards
www.candidateschair.com

http://TwitJobs.co.uk - Jobs Fed Into Your Life

Keeping Your Psyche Strong During Job Search

The saying goes “Desperation does not work in dating or job search”. I can verify both of those when looking at my school years and job transition.

At one point in my search I had six solid job leads go completely dark within a week’s time. I remember going to a 7 a.m. networking meeting the following Monday. Big mistake – I wasted a good networking opportunity. If a job search is selling, you have to believe yourself first before anyone else will.

When I got home, I cancelled all of my job search activities for the next two days, so I could get my psyche back in order and avoid a downward spiral (which we all know can be tough to pull out of).

So here’s a tip to help you keep your psyche strong – which has worked for me many a time. Make a list of small projects that you would like to accomplish. When you feel down, pull out the list and work like mad to finish the project. The sense of progress, accomplishment and putting your mind somewhere else for a stretch of time will work wonders. Trust me.

There are loads of other good ideas like volunteering, etc. – whatever they are, put them on the list and keep it handy. It’s not a question of ‘if’, but ‘when’ you will use it.

Remember, if you run into someone who needs to take a break – do them a favor and tell them.

Good luck today.

Regards,

Mark Richards
www.candidateschair.com




http://TwitJobs.co.uk - Jobs Fed Into Your Life