Lagos Recruitment Expo 2008 provides a great opportunity for you to meet employers who represent a wide range of industries, and in some instances obtain interviews with them. If you make a favorable first impression chances are that you will be invited for an interview later on.
Detailed below are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of these events.
Preparation for the Recruitment Expo
Do not forget to print out your job fair invitation ticket/email Make sure you have the invitation card or a print out of the invitation sent to your email address. Individuals with hand written invitation numbers will not be allowed. Also, check which session you will be attending, if your invitation ticket says, “Valid only 2pm to 7pm”, then you will only be allowed to enter in the afternoon session. Do not come in the morning as the security personnel will not allow you to go inside.
Research your favorite companies The Recuitment Expo provides details on the companies participating in the event. Research the ones you are interested in by visiting their websites and talking to your friends and colleagues who work for these companies.
Since you will have limited time at the recruitment expo have a game plan and focus on how to approach each company so that you can leave a lasting impression.
Practice to perfection Remember to prepare and rehearse a 30 second pitch that you will be giving to each employer that you are interested in applying to. You must remember to incorporate positive nonverbal communications, such as eye contact, facial expressions, body language, posture, etc. A solid introduction will help you move on to the important next step—the interview. A poor introduction, however, may put you on a slippery slope to the cutting room floor.
Groom yourself Ensuring a professional outlook is essential in making a good first impression. You will have very limited face time with the employer so make sure that you are looking your best for the event.
Create a professional looking Resume/CV Make sure that you have created a professional looking resume that represents your knowledge, skills, and abilities effectively. It needs to be in an easy to read format on plain white or cream colored paper--and be free of spelling mistakes. If you are looking at several career options, you may want to have two or more targeted resumes with different career objectives. If you have not made a proper resume already remember to use an online resume builder such as the one provided on WazobiaJobs.com which can save you considerable time and effort.
Create professional looking Cover Letters Make sure that you have created a professional looking cover letter that is accurate, spell checked and grammatically correct. If possible you should try and customize for each company or position that you are interested in. You can use various career sites such as WazobiaJobs.com on the internet to find templates and tips on how to create one.
Interviewing Techniques Learn and use proper interviewing techniques. You can ask a friend to do a mock interview. Focus on communicating clearly and using proper grammar. Enunciate your words and try not to mumble while answering questions.
Check your goals It is important that you set your goals and expectations appropriately. You may walk out of a career fair with an interview call or job offer. However, if you do not, you should at least have made enough contacts to follow up in the near future.
A Recruitment Expo is primarily an event that allows you to gather information about potential employers and make contacts that can lead to your first interview. If you have been able to do the above, you have succeeded! So pat yourself on the back and follow up on your leads as discussed below.
What to Expect
Chaos Recruitment Expo all across the world are, by their very nature, highly trafficked events where hundreds or thousands of job seekers visit employer booths in a limited amount of time. Expect to encounter a certain amount of confusion and disorderliness. However, this should not deter you from achieving your objective at the event.
Tough Competition You will be competing against thousands of job seekers for jobs offered by various companies. You have limited time to make your pitch and ensure that you stand out. Consequently it is essential that you prepare properly for the event and have a game plan in mind as discussed above.
Long Lines Since recruitment expo are highly trafficked events, expect to wait in long lines especially in front of booths that belong to large brands. A good strategy is to arrive early at the event and first target the companies that you really want to work for.
No Interviews or Job Offers As discussed above you may walk out without a single interview or job offer however, as long as you have gathered all the material to follow up with the employers of your choice consider your efforts a success.
On the day of the event
Dos
Arrive early in the morning Make sure that you arrive early in the morning which will help you avoid long lines and will give you more talk time with the employers. They will also be more responsive to your questions and so the chances of you making a lasting impression are a lot higher.
Get your bearings When you arrive take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the hall and employee directory. You will feel more comfortable if you quickly locate and walk by the employers in whom you are most interested. This will confirm their location and alert you to any crowds and lines of other students waiting.
Take supporting documents Make sure that you take plenty of copies of the documents mentioned below so that you do not run out.
Resumes/CV (must have at least 20 copies)
Reference Letters
Professional Portfolio (if applicable)
Meeting and Greeting There's a certain etiquette practiced at recruitment expos. Making a mistake won't necessarily knock you out, but if your goal is to stand out from the crowd, you don't want a mistake to be the thing that makes your visit memorable in the employer’s mind.
Give the Recruitment Manager a strong handshake and introduce yourself in a warm, polite manner make sure that your pitch should include the following information:
Name
Major
Opportunities you are seeking
Relevant experience
Highlights of skills and strengths
Your tone must convey confidence, energy and enthusiasm for what you would like to pursue. Let your positive attitude show. Also try and ask engaging questions that convey your knowledge and interest in the company.
Be courteous and demonstrate sensitivity to other candidates waiting to speak with employers by keeping your questions brief and offering to continue your conversation at a later time.
Remember that career fairs/recruitment expos require you to be on your feet, moving from table to table for at least an hour or so. Each time you meet someone, try and be at your best, as refreshed as possible!
Some employers will expect you to complete their job applications while you are at the job fair, so be sure to bring information that may not be included on your resume. This information may include addresses and telephone numbers of former employers; addresses and dates of attendance for colleges; and contact information for references.
Don’ts
Coming Late Don't arrive 30 minutes before the end of the day and expect to talk to employers. Some will have planes to catch; others will be tired and ready to wind up after a long day of interviewing.
Not knowing what you want Responses like, "I'll take anything" or "I don't know" and questions like “What jobs do you have for me?” or “What can your organization do for me?” shows a lack of focus and interest on your part. Doing so creates a very negative impression on the recruitment manager since it is considered as a lack of preparation on your part.
Not carrying your credentials professionally You must carry your credentials in a neat folder or a small briefcase. Carrying your documents around in your hands may crease them and will not create a good impression on the employer.
Lying on your resume/CV Make sure that everything that you have written on your resume can be elaborated upon with examples that you can discuss during the interview to highlight your achievements and skills.
Asking about salary and benefits Questions about compensation and benefits are best left for the final round of your interview. Career fairs/ Recruitment Expos are usually not the right place for such questions since even if you do interview on the spot for a position it will probably be the first round. Asking such questions at this point in time can create an unfavorable notion on the employer and he or she may disqualify you for the next round in the recruitment process.
Hoarding giveaways As discussed above your primary focus on the job fair should be to interact with the employers and discuss career opportunities in their organizations. Collecting free items offered by companies should be the last thing on your mind since it defocuses you from your primary goal and creates a very strong negative impression on the employers if they notice you.
Frivolous Questions Asking personal questions or flirting with the recruitment manager is a definite No; and is ground for instant disqualification from any type of opportunity that is being offered by any organization.
Things to Take Home Make sure that you walk out the job fair with as many of these items possible so that you can follow up with them in a professional and effective manner.
Business Cards
Your notes on the conversation with the HR Manager
Company Brochures and other informational material
A better sense of your career options
Self confidence in interacting with employer representatives
Job Application Forms
Follow Up Most employers follow up within two to four weeks after the recruitment expo to request an interview. They also expect some kind of follow-up from you: a cover letter, phone call, or a completed job application, and may not extend an invitation to interview if you fail to take this initiative. Additionally, remember to send a thank you note to all the contacts from companies you would like to work for.
Time spent at a job fair/recruitment expo pays off if you take the initiative. It's your chance to see many of the career opportunities that are open to you and you may connect with potential employers who, ultimately, can offer you a job. If you make a favorable impression, you are more likely to be invited for an interview.
