The New Practice Interview – the Career Fair

Friday, here in New York, I attended a job fair for those interested in positions with non-profits and public service organizations. I want to share the summary points and some useful tips on ways to make a Career Fair a valuable experience. Before you click away in horror, let me say that you are correct, a career fair is a most unlikely spot to land a job, but it can be incredibly useful. I walked around and introduced myself to candidates while handing out dark chocolate (the chocolate was key) and here’s what I learned.

Approximately 2000 people attended, up from 1200 last year (65% increase). Of the attendees my guess is that 75% were either class of 2009 or within 7 years of graduation. About 85% of participants were female. The organizations represented a wide variety of career choices and industries. Who had the longest lines of prospectives with resume at the ready? The US Department of State (think Homeland Security) and the US Department of Justice.  Other non-profits included the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA),  Common Cents and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).

So why did I bother to attend a career fair? First of all, some of clients decided to check it out and I wanted to offer my morale support while they did the work of moving elbow-to-elbow with other well-educated, eager searchers. Second, I knew I would learn a great deal.

Before you shrug off a career fair, here’s how to use it to your advantage:

1. Presence and Pitch. Be aware of how you approach the table and be mindful that these folks are working as hard as you are. A smile, strong handshake and positive demeanor go a long way. I overheard a seeker harass a rep about their internship requirements. What did the person behind the table do? She stood up, stated curtly that she had given all the information she could, and moved on to the next person.  By pitch I mean practice using different one-sentence introductions. You will quickly find which one(s) roll off your tongue.
2. Get the Title and Free Advice. Ask what the most appropriate position for you is in their organization. Literally. This verbage may be, “Hi, I’m Grace. I’m an expert grant-writer and researcher (fill in your skills). What position in your organization do you think best matches my strengths?” Notice you are NOT asking which OPEN position best matches. The answers may be something like, “Policy Analyst” or “Development”. Now you have the information to locate positions on the organizations web site that best match your skills (no more searching blindly).  You also have a strong foothold to ask more questions, such as, “Do you know who is the best person for me to talk to in that division?” and “How does my resume look to you?” The people I saw were eager and happy to help. You’re creating the possibility to continue the dialogue.
3. Interview Practice and Resume Review. If you have not interviewed in the past few weeks, get thee to a career fair and practice. The more you tell your story, the easier and more natural it sounds.
4. Not Alone. Recognize that as of right now, and increasingly so over the next year, you are one of many overqualified people looking for a job. You are not alone. Employers know this and, my personal belief is that they will become more comfortable hiring the overqualified. Attending a career fair is a great way to see that you are in good company and that nothing is wrong with you.

If you attend a career fair, your goal is to leave with a better understanding of which organizations you would enjoy working for, contacts at those organizations, and with the ability and knowledge to present yourself as a stronger candidate. Try to attend one that is smaller and not open to the general public, such as one sponsored by your alma mater or professional society. Hint: these ‘closed’ career fairs often ask for a school ID or to see your resume in order to verify your alma mater.