Tips from the Pros

Bradford Rand

Founder and CEO, Job Expo International, Inc. (www.job-expo.com)

Strategies for Job Fair Attendees

Research the hiring event before you go. Most job fairs have Web sites that list the participating companies and their available positions. You may also be able to use the Web site to set up interviews in advance, giving you a head start over the other job seekers.

Be prepared. Get a good night's sleep—you’ll need the extra energy to handle what amounts to numerous short interviews in a few hours time.

Don't be limited to the jobs listed in the program guide. Most job fairs advertise hundreds of available positions, but you should also inquire about positions that have not been advertised.

Take advantage of networking opportunities. You may meet people who know of jobs that fit your skills or can forward your resume to another division or department of their company. In addition, you may meet people who have been in situations similar to yours and can offer advice.

Broaden your career horizons. Use career expos to learn about different types of positions, including ones you hadn’t considered before. Meet with companies you thought you’d never work for; you might like what the company has to offer, and, even if you don’t, it’s good practice for when you meet with your dream company.

Bradford Rand is the founder and CEO of Job Expo International, Inc., one of the leading career event producers for over 10 years. The job fairs his company produces include JOBEXPO for sales and management professionals (www.job-expo.com), TECHEXPO for computer professionals (www.techexpousa.com), HealthExpo for healthcare, biotech, and pharmaceutical professionals (www.healthexpousa.com), and DiversityExpo for companies hiring with equal opportunity in mind (www.diversityexpo.com).

© 2002 Used with permission of the author.