"Owning" the Career Fair

There's nothing like working a career fair...as a seeker.

When you arrive your immediately bombarded by the sights and sounds of people asking questions, banners and swag bag stuff everywhere, and companies putting on their best smile.

Far too often job seekers, even our veterans 'jump the shark' when they're on the floor. I would like to add some insights on what I've done and what I've seen in this matter:

I always dress for the occasion. I'm not going to a Keith Sweat concert, but at the same time I'm not going to a funeral. Enough said.

I reflect on my past work experience and how it matches the job offered. I talk about my military experience (not tours) but job positions,(not saying "I'm very disciplined card). I'm talking about "...I served as the _____ this many years and ________ during that time. I feel a lot of the skillsets I have match the job's description. When it comes to the differences, here's how I can be a winner at that: ______"

Keep the winner's mentality you were trained to have - you know, the one programmed for team and not for self? Show them how you can make them better with the facts of your work history.

Don't give peddled answers like, "I can be very pursuasive", or "I'm a team player". These are qualities that if the employer is a good judge of character, he or she will see that already in: 1. How you pursue their job openings and 2. How you talk to them.

This deserves all caps so forgive me: DON'T BLOW OFF REPRESENTATIVES. Always present yourself as professional and approachable. Just because the company table you walk up to doesn't have what you're looking for, don't show it: Smile, say hello, keep it moving. You never know who that person knows.

And that also goes for the table that has a job close to your qualifications. Don't walk up to the person mentally and verbally looking past that person or persons. They could be the VP, or COO of the company looking to get out the office.

Before the "experienced" say it doesn't...it does, more than you'll ever know.

An officer told me a while back that, "Your success outside the military is contigent on how you carry yourself and what people see. You are _____,Incorporated.


"...Brand names mean something, Nicky. Consumers rely on them to know what they're getting. They know the company isn't going to try to fool them with an inferior product. They buy a Ford, they know they're gonna get a Ford. Not a Datsun. Blue Magic is a brand name; as much a brand name as Pepsi. I own it. I stand behind it. I guarantee it and people know that even if they don't know me any more than they know the chairman of General Foods..." American Gangster

(Live, love, and laugh, ok? You'll get that job!)

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