6 ways to stand out in a career fair

Despite our highly connected society, career fairs are far from obsolete. Recruiters agree that meeting and interacting with job seekers is still a critical part of the job search process. In Malaysia, career fairs continue to offer jobseekers unique personal connection not possible through online résumé submissions. 

If you want to stand out from the crowd of jobseekers thronging a career fair, take note of these tips: 

Before the event, most career fairs advertise their list of participating employers, whether in newspapers or on the Internet. This gives you valuable information on how to plan out your strategy for the day. Think about which employers you want to connect with, and prioritise in order of interest and suitability. Allow yourself at least 10 – 15 minutes at each employer’s booth but be open to potential ‘wild cards’. You never know which employer may surprise you.

It is not enough just to dream of working with the companies you picked. You still have to do some homework and learn up on them. In an interview with us, EY, 2nd runner-up of the Malaysia’s Graduate Employer of The Year 2015, tells us that “prior to an interview, graduates should carry out some research about the firm and the position they have applied for”. Not surprisingly, students who researched the companies they’re interested in tend to present themselves as well-prepared and motivated, and are more likely to impress the recruiters. 

At TalentCorp, we’ve organised enough career fairs to notice that some students still head out to career fairs empty handed. This is why we’re writing this down here: bring copies of your most recent résumé. Companies who participate in career fairs are not just there to offer opportunities to fresh graduates, they’re also looking out for people who could potentially fit into their organisations. If you just go to a career fair to collect brochures, it really is just a wasted opportunity. 

Dress professionally and comfortably. What you wear and how you look will ensure you make a lasting and positive first impression. You should also get enough sleep the night before any career fair so you’ll be at your best to engage with others. If you look tired or haggard, you may come across as unenergetic or even unhealthy. You will meet many people, so look the part and don’t forget to smile!

Every employer you’ll meet at the career fair is meeting hundreds more young people like you. So, just saying ‘hello, this is my résumé’ and dropping it off is not enough. You need to find out what makes you different from everyone else and more importantly, express that. A firm handshake, good eye contact, a smile, and a good conversation with the company representative are good ways to start. More importantly, prepare and practice your “about me” script ahead of time. Get ready to tell employers about yourself, your curricular accomplishments and why you should be hired for the job. This extra effort ensures you show up as an enthusiastic job seeker, and ensures you will get noticed. 

Even though an employer may accept your résumé at a career fair, it doesn’t automatically make you stand out as a candidate for the job. If you can, get the email address of the recruiter at the company’s booth. When you get home, send an email thanking the employer for his or her time, and attach your résumé again. Don’t forget to show enthusiasm and demonstrate desire for the job in your email!