mastering a career fair

Career Fair StrategyAnne H. Jones

Piton Inc.Veterans Education and Career

Summit

What Does Success Look Like?

The Beauty of a Cold Glass of Beer

• Knowing what you want

• Getting what you want

• Having it be what you wanted

Today’s Class

• Strategy = Understand the concepts

• Standard Operating Procedure = Have an actionable plan

•Rehearsal = Practice

StrategyKnow the employer’s purpose. What’s in it for

them?

• Connect with candidates

• Screen candidates on the spot

• Brand their organization

Strategy

Know your own purpose. What’s in it for you?

•Understand the market

• Plan and prepare for applications and interviews

• Expand your network of employer contacts and other students

Set Your Goals

Make “Understanding the Market” a goal.

•What are functions and industries?• Function: what will you do• Industry: where will you do it

•Where are the jobs you want located?

•What is the current and future environment?

Prepare for InterviewsPractice for the ‘At Bat’

Use the Career Fair to prepare for future interviews:

•What skills are they are looking for?

•What do they know about you?

•How does your ‘pitch’ work?

Expand Your Network

Get Noticed and Learn who is out there

• “Who can help me?”

• “Who can help someone I know?”

• “Can I be a connector?”

4 stages of the Job Opening

Plan-Prepare-Execute: Military Skills for Your Civilian Career Search9

Pre - Game

Get the list of who is attending

• Make A, B and C lists

• A = Your dream job / dream company

• B = A good fit.

• C = Interesting but don’t know much about this company

Pre - Game

Get on the website of every A & B list

• Who do you already know there? LinkedIn

• What makes you value added as an employee there?

• What jobs do they have posted?

Game Day

• Get dressed • Clean, good fitting outfit. If you feel professional and

comfortable, that is how you will look.

• Visualize Success

• Practice your pitch (out loud)

• Consider what to bring• Folder to carry resumes, cards, pen and paper

The Booth SOP

• Go to the “B companies’ first

• Check your notes

• Wait patiently (pleasant face, standing straight but comfortable)

• Eye contact, smile, shake

• Introduce yourself. Ask a question

• Ask for and give cards

• Say thank you

• Step away. Put card away note down information to follow up

The Pitch SOPin 5 Easy Pieces”

Networking Success for Veterans

• Introduction • Key skill, experience I need to know about you• A second skill, experience I need to know about

you.• A third thing I need to know about you• Where you would like to take these skills and

experiences

The Pitch: Tell your storyin 5 Easy Pieces

Networking Success for Veterans

Game On!

• Go to the “B companies’, then “A” and then C

• Avoid waiting in line

• Meet as many in the booth as possible

• Check your notes before going to booth

• Visit as many booths as possible

• Go to the private receptions

• Send follow-up emails

Battle Buddy Strategy

• This is Not a Zero Sum Game.• You want them to want you, but also to want to hire

more veterans in general. Everyone wins.

• Pick a Battle Buddy to check in with a few times• Practice with your pitch• Reconnaissance• Introductions• Moral Support

Serious Etiquette for Networking

• Be clear about what you’re asking• Be over prepared• Be mindful of people’s time• Smile and Say Thank You• Respect Reputations• Be aware of TMI (too much info)• Just One Drink and no smoking

Networking Success for Veterans

It’s Not Personal…

• You might hear…

• “Don’t give me your resume, send it to our website”

• “I don’t make hiring decisions, I’m just here because….”

• “We’re only hiring for full-time”

Let’s Do It

• Standing Tall

• Shaking Hands

• The Pitch

• Taking the Lead

Contact Information

Anne H. Jones

Cell: 347 782 1715

• Anne@pitoninc.org

• www.pitoninc.org

Military Career Transition Planning for Uncertain Times

Follow Us on Twitter, Linked In, Facebook