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AttendingJob Fairs

Your mission at job fairs: Stand out from the other attendees. When a fair is over, recruiters will take home a towering stack of resumes. Here’s what you can do to stay on their radar.

01

Before the Job Fair

Prepare a packet that includes a resume and short bio. Summarize highlights of your military service—in civilian terms. Include a photograph and link to your LinkedIn profile.
Dress for business. You want employers to be impressed and take you seriously, so look professional and not overly casual—avoid wearing jeans, T-shirts or military fatigues.
Research who will be there. Read up on participating companies so you can speak intelligently about how your skills align with their missions. Some industries—like transportation—have aging workforces and are looking for workers. These industries are crying out for workers, so know where to look for them.
02

During the Job Fair

Keep an open mind Recruiters say job hunters’ biggest mistake is walking past their table. You may assume you don’t have skills for an electric utility, but there may be a department that directly correlates to what you’ve been doing in the military.
Remember this is still a job interview. You may not be in a traditional setting, but you are being evaluated. Conduct yourself as you would in an interview.
Take notes. You’ll be meeting so many people that you may forget important conversations. Write down specific details about each recruiter.
03

After the Job Fair

Reconnect with recruiters. Get your notebook out so you can remember specific details from the job fair. They’ll be impressed at your level of recall, attention to detail and interest in them. Thank them for the time they took to attend the job fair and ask for next steps in the interview process.
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