Do more than submit the application.
Get out there and Network!
When job seeking, getting in front of recruiters and hiring managers can change your results dramatically. How can you do this? Simply look online for public hiring events, job fairs, or networking opportunities in your area and sign up! Obviously, do your research and be sure the event is worth your time and effort. However, here are some tips on how to navigate the “career fair” or “networking event.”
Before we dive in, it is worth noting that how you represent yourself is a major factor in how you are perceived. Be sure to dress professionally and be at your best.
Prepare your elevator pitch in advance. You can use your resume to help you prepare, by simply walking a recruiter or hiring manager through the highlights of your resume (Summary, Education, Core Competencies, Work Experience, Additional Skills, Affiliations and Volunteer Experience). Most importantly, be yourself and let your personality shine through. Practice makes perfect, so prepare in advance. Try your elevator pitch on yourself (in a mirror) or with friends or family members to get feedback. If you can, research employers that will be in attendance, in advance, and complete an application (so you can reference the position when speaking).
Come prepared with MANY copies of your résumé. Be sure to carry said résumés in a professional portfolio and, if you can, print your résumé on high quality résumé paper.
When you arrive, instead of jumping right in, observe the room. Take note of which employers are there and make a plan on how you will navigate the room. Sometimes, a particular table can be crowded, use this as an opportunity to blend in with the crowd and to take note of things you may not have thought about that are being said by others. Most importantly, working the room to make a strategy can also help calm your nerves and help you think clearer.
If you see a company that would be no benefit to talk to (They only hire retail cashiers and you are a business analyst), use this as an opportunity to break the ice and calm your nerves. Go up and speak to them (using your elevator pitch) and tell them all about your background and qualifications. They may interject and tell you that they are only here to hire retail cashiers, but hey, no harm no foul. Now, you have essentially taken the pressure off and put yourself in a better position to speak with the companies of interest.
Now that you have made your plan…start to work that room! The exchange generally begins with you introducing yourself, giving your elevator pitch (hopefully mentioning that particular position you applied to) and then allowing the employer to tell you a little bit more about the company.
BE SURE to get a business card at the end of the conversation. This way, you can follow up with every employer with a Personalized Thank You Email and be sure to stick to a professional follow up process (post event). You never know where that business card may come in handy, either in the immediate future or maybe 5 years from now.
Although I mentioned previously to maximize opportunities to break the ice, prior to speaking with companies of interest, it is also worth noting that these companies may also have positions for you (even if they are not there to recruit for your position). Always represent yourself in the best possible way, and be on your game, because even though that company is only recruiting retail cashiers - they may also be able to forward your resume to the recruiter that hires people with your background.
Any conversation between two complete strangers can be hard (and sometimes awkward) to begin and to navigate. It is imperative that you think these hypothetical conversations through (ahead of time) so that you have a playbook to work with. Try to anticipate the questions, the hurdles, the discomfort - put yourself in situations, maybe among friends and family, that allow you to explore these conversations in a safe area, if you will. Get feedback. Do research. Prepare. Then, go get em’!
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