A little preparation goes a long way. These nine tips will help your booth attract stronger applicants and make every conversation count.
In the days leading up to the event, you will be given data from career seekers who registered for the event. Use this data to invite people to stop by your booth.
Job seekers will be trying to get all of their documentation in order, and it is equally important that all of your ducks are in a row as well. Make sure the job fair organizers have created an accurate description of your company or group and that your booth's location has been correctly listed. If possible, post the kinds of jobs you are seeking to fill in the career fair's online forum before the event begins.
The people representing your company help ensure that specialists in your field, not people without the qualifications you are looking for, fill out your application. Make sure that whoever is staffing your booth knows exactly what you are looking for and can speak at length about your organization, the positions you are looking to fill, and what the hiring protocol is.
Because the number of people attending job fairs can be quite large, it can be tempting to blur lines and allow for exceptions to your normal hiring procedures to accommodate the sheer volume of potential applicants. Employers, however, should adhere to their standard hiring practices at a career fair for everything — from the type of applicant you are looking for to how positions are pitched, from what application procedures and resumes will be accepted at the fair to when people can expect to hear back from you. Having a solid outline of how the day will go keeps you from missing a great opportunity or taking on dead weight.
If the career fair is happening at an academic institution, use that venue to your advantage. Prepare a list of appropriate majors and minors and other academic requirements for the positions you want to fill. Is your company willing to offer internships as well as regular jobs, and are some of the applicants too young? Have a stack of business cards on hand so that you can network today for future assets and employees. In addition, be sure that any of your current employees who are alumni of that particular school are present (if possible) to discuss the transition from college life into the outside workforce.
Exciting graphics and pictures of what your company is doing, fun company-based giveaways, and demonstrations keep people's attention and attract stronger applicants who may not otherwise have considered your group. Of course, make sure career fair etiquette is in effect — be presentable, on time, and ready to talk.
Not everyone who comes to your booth will be hired the same day as the career fair, or any time for that matter. However, you still should recognize the individual merit of each potential applicant. Spend some face time with each visitor, even if you believe the person is someone you would never hire. Potential applicants who get a good vibe from your company may surprise you on paper, or may become clients and customers in the future.
Some career fair participants are not as polite as they should be. Stand, rather than sit, at your booth. Shake hands with applicants (hand sanitizer is usually omnipresent at career fairs). Although office concerns may weigh on your mind, put the phone away — you wouldn't hire someone who was texting the entire time you were speaking; that's a two-way street. While there may be pressure to eat quickly at career fairs, make sure that you eat at the appropriate time and in the appropriate place. Unless absolutely necessary, do not leave your booth unmanned. And while colloquialisms may make you seem more relatable to younger applicants, keep conversation polite and vulgarity to an absolute minimum.
You may be very excited about your company, the career fair, and potential employees and job seekers. However, there is such a thing as overkill. Be informative without being domineering. Ask questions when in doubt (e.g., "What are your interests academically?" or "Have you ever considered going into this field?"). Being friendly is great. Being scary is not.