The following items are inspired by real encounters I’ve had as a former field recruiter across the country. If you follow these five tips, you will impress the recruiters you meet and hopefully have success in your hiring journey.
Break the Ice:
The first thing some students say is, “What hiring opportunities do you have?” It always left a sour taste in my mouth. Yes, when I was a recruiter I attended these events to hire top talent, but I also wanted to connect on a personal level first. Building rapport before jumping into job talk makes the dialogue feel more natural and less awkward. Having an elevator pitch prepared helps when starting a conversation. Click here for elevator pitch examples.
Have Plenty of Copies of Your Resume:
I remember speaking to a student I liked as a candidate, and when I asked for a copy of their resume, they had run out. This wasn’t a good first impression. Recruiters read into that behavior and start creating their own bias. They may think things like “This student doesn’t know how to prepare for important events,” which is not the kind of candidate recruiters want to hire. We recommend printing between 15-20 copies of your resume in advance. This sounds like a lot, but you never know what companies might grab your attention. Additionally, you should print copies before the day of the fair in case there are long lines. Printing options on campus include Tate Print & Copy or various printing kiosks across campus.
Research Beforehand:
Recruiters get burnt out from saying the same thing over and over again to hundreds of students. Every conversation starts to bleed together, and that makes it hard for candidates to stick out. When a student researches ahead of time and asks clarifying questions, it breaks the mold and shows genuine interest in coming to work for their company. Click here for tips on researching employers.
Collect Business Cards:
Even if a recruiter doesn’t offer you one, don’t be afraid to ask, especially if you’re interested in working for the company! The day after the career fair, I recommend taking those business cards and emailing everyone a “Thank you.” This will give your application a personal touch and help you stand out from other candidates. Click here for a template example.
Next-Day Interview Etiquette:
Hiring windows close fast and recruiters utilize next-day interviews to move candidates along. Remember the following to be courteous of employers’ time when creating your schedule.
- If you schedule back-to-back interviews, be mindful of your time. Let interviewer #1 know at the start so if you need to cut the interview short, it’s less abrupt. You can always schedule a follow-up with interview #1 to complete the rest later. You don’t want to be late to interview #2 and hurt your chances with the other company.
- If you realize after scheduling you aren’t interested in the job opportunity, cancel with the recruiter as soon as possible via email. No-show interviews are inconsiderate of recruiters’ time and don’t represent our values here at UGA.
- If you make it through the first round interview, keep an eye on your email for next steps. Be sure to handle any follow-up items diligently so you can continue moving through the hiring process. If not, the job posting could be filled by the time you circle back around to it.
Implementing these tips into your career fair strategy will help you make strong impressions with recruiters and stand out among other candidates. Best of luck in your professional journey!