Even though you've prepared well for today, you may still have questions. Do job fairs really help? Can sophomores and juniors benefit from them? Will I get an interview? If so, how long will it last? How do I get around to everyone? What do I do after I've seen a recruiter today? Here are some guidelines that may answer your questions about the process. 

College career center directors and their staffs are charged with many important responsibilities each academic year. Among those responsibilities, particularly for colleges with active employer recruitment programs, is the task of coordinating the activities associated with scheduling job fairs and on-campus interviews for recruiters visiting campuses looking for qualified candidates. The best information and tips come from recruiters who are familiar with job fairs and campus interviewing and from directors of college career service centers. Their views provide ideas and strategies to ensure success at job fairs during the coming year.

Why do employers recruit on campus? Companies use various recruiting vehicles to secure the appropriate number of qualified candidates to contribute to the organization. Job fairs provide the opportunity to pre-screen a large number of students for future consideration as well as to publicize the kinds of openings an employer may have in the future. Not all companies have the funds and staff to participate in campus recruiting programs. They require time away from the office, and they are costly in terms of staff time and preparing recruiting materials. The companies that do send recruiters are making an investment by directing their efforts toward a pool of applicants that they can screen in an effort to meet their recruiting goals. 

More and more companies are concentrating on job fairs and cutting back on on-campus interviews mainly for cost-effectiveness, said Carolyn Thomas, director of career services at Xavier University in New Orleans. They will attend the job fairs, and if they are interested in specific students, they will invite those students to their companies, telephone them or do video conferencing.  

Thomas says job fairs have become so important that many are now mega-events with at least 100 companies participating. She suggests that because of the increasing importance of job fairs, students should prepare for them as they would for on-campus and on-site interviews. At Xavier, a week before the annual career fair in September, the Office of Career Services offers a workshop on How to Work a Career Fair.  

Sam Hall, director of career counseling at Howard University, said that while on-campus recruiting appears to be dying out at many schools, many more employers come to Howard for on-campus interviews than for job fairs. On-campus interviews are mainly for seniors and upper class students who are going to be working within months, so these are serious interviews. You have to be a lot more focused and centered on what you want.  

Hall said there are a couple of basic requirements for both the job fair and on-campus interview: computer literacy and strong verbal and written communication skills. Without these, you won't get hired. It's as simple as that, Hall said. 

Job fairs and scheduled on-campus interviews offer recruiters the opportunity to work with candidates who have had some counseling in how to look for jobs. Recruiters are impressed with students who have taken advantage of the career counseling and placement activities offered by their college career centers. These include professional development workshops, resume and interviewing techniques, seminars and mock interviews. If you are successful in your efforts at a job fair, you will be moved to the next stage of the process, an interview on-site at the employer's location with the ultimate goal of landing the job that you want. 

A survey in Recruiting Trends: 1996-97 found that there is a growing trend for employers to pre-select the graduating students whom they wish to interview on campus visits. This is in contrast to the traditional system in which students signed up for the recruiters of their choice and representatives interviewed each student who expressed interest in them. This new process of selective interviewing reflects a changing mode of corporate America. Employers are more focused in meeting their recruiting goals and are becoming more directed in approaching campus interviews. For example, in the Recruiting Trends report, data showed that when there were open interviews, with the total interviewed being 100%, the percentage invited for a second interview was 29%, and the percentage of job offers extended was 9%. Job offers from second interviews was 30%. In contrast, when there were selected interviews (where there was pre-selection of students), with the total interviewed being 100%, the percentage invited for second interviews rose to 47% and the job offers extended shot up to 26%. Job offers from second interviews were considerable 55%. In instances of pre-selection, campuses provide resume books with the backgrounds of students. An employer will review the resumes and decide on interview selection and scheduling. 

Another new trend is emerging: Some employers are beginning to limit their active recruiting to schools that prepare students to begin to produce results immediately after hiring, instead of recruiting at a large number of schools. This includes students who have completed internships and those who have previous work experience or some kind of prior relationship with the employer. What does all this mean to a college junior or senior? You should be aware that employers are looking for certain skills and disciplines. To increase your chances of being considered, review materials carefully, polish your resume to highlight skills and accomplishments and stay in close contact with your career center so that its staff can guide you through the job fair process. For example, when you check the schedule of companies recruiting on campus, see if the disciplines they are seeking match your background. Check to see if they are doing pre-screening. Prepare yourself to fit into the requirements of the job fair day. Don't just appear at the job fair and appear to be shopping for anything that's being offered. 

Students should use the job fair to get a feel for what's available out there, says Leslie Rienzie, president of The Rienzie Group, a human resources and training and development consulting firm based in Oak-Park, Illinois. Rienzie consults with employers on human resource functions and recruitment programs, and with individuals on strategically developing their careers. She is currently writing a book for college students on job fairs tentatively titled, Working the Room at a Job Fair. I have found that students come to job fairs with the intention of having an interview and that is not the actual purpose of a job fair, Rienzie says. 

She suggests that the purpose of the job fair is two-fold: 1) It gives the student an opportunity to make sure that the potential employer meets certain requirements that the student has in terms of career goals. And, 2) It gives employers the opportunity to learn if the student is suitable, employable and acceptable for work at their companies. 

Rienzie also recommends that students attending job fairs collect business cards from recruiters, and bring extra copies of their resumes and planning calendars (in case they need to set up a follow-up appointment). She emphasizes however, that students not go to a job fair with the false impression or intention of getting an interview. She reiterates, A job fair is a screening process only, and a very brief one at that. You will get no more than 3-5 minutes 'face' time in a job fair forum. I find that students do not always understand this and think that possibly they may be there for 45 minutes.  

Rienzie's other advice is that students should want to make a first impression that lasts. You will want the impression to be positive so that the employer walks away remembering who you are. When you get to the job fair appear well groomed, practice what you're going to say before you get there, talk briefly with the recruiter and let your overall general conversation be professional. Practice a 1-2 minute introduction of the things you want to say. This would include things like your name, college major, type of position you are interested in applying for and short-term career goals. Write this information on an index card and practice it until it flows smoothly in a conversational tone.  

She also cautions students against over-preparation. I tell students not to worry about doing a lot of homework on a specific company. This isn't the time to do it. However, she urges students to get an advance list of companies that will be recruiting on campus. Most college career centers publish a schedule of who will be on campus, when and the types of majors they are seeking.If you have a certain interest in a specific company, get the name and the contact and learn where their booth will be. If you do this, you can take the time to visit an employer of your personal choosing rather than trying to hit all of the booths.  

And Rienzie advises against the loaded-down look. I caution students not to collect a lot of things at the job fair. You sometimes see students asking for shopping bags to carry things like mugs, brochures, newspapers or whatever is being passed out. Don't look overwhelmed and cluttered. 

You're not on a shopping or 'freebie' spree. It's best to look professional with your briefcase or small portfolio and place your items in these.  

On the subject of appearance, Rienzie is adamant about hair braiding. I don't want to see your braids no matter how beautiful they are. While braids are acceptable in most atmospheres, I do not think they are acceptable at a job fair. As for earrings, an earring in the nose is definitely a 'no-no' to me. For men, a small earring in the ear has become very acceptable. For men and women, well-groomed nails are a must. Women, if you have a run in your pantyhose get a new pair. And it goes without saying for females: no bare legs at a job fair or job interviews. You simply must wear hose. 

Even though the atmosphere in business has gone to 'business casual,' you want to convey a professional image.  

According to Rienzie, a business suit for men, or a dress or suit for women is acceptable. For females, I definitely counsel that you wear closed-toe shoes. Long acrylic nails with designs or sculptures, while beautiful on Friday and Saturday night out, are not acceptable at a job fair. 

Remember, anything that draws attention away from you and puts it on possible distracting areas of your personal appearance should be avoided. That's not what you are trying to sell. Emphasize your skills, knowledge and abilities.

Francis Wilkins, EEO/Training Man-ager with the personnel department of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, oversees hiring in more than 300 different job occupations. The District's primary focus is technical engineering and engineering related jobs. Wilkins says not only does the District hire workers in waste water treatment, it also hires people to work in human resources, finance and compliance for monitoring contracts, and monitoring businesses for pollution control. It also has positions for police officers. Because of this, her recruitment covers almost any occupational area in addition to the skilled trades. When I go to a job fair, Wilkins reveals, the key thing that I am trying to convey to students is our examination process. Our exams are given on a three-year cycle. Once an exam is given and an eligible list is posted, only those individuals on the list may be considered for a vacancy that occurs in that job title over the next three years. 

Because we are a governmental agency, our procedures for having individuals considered for opportunities are not well known. Job fairs give us the opportunity to clarify the proper and only way by which students can be considered for jobs at our agency. A large number of students think that all you have to do is send your resume to an employer. They should be aware that different organizations and agencies have different intake processes when it comes to recruiting.  

At a recent job fair Wilkins attended she explained to students the process for applying, how to prepare for an examination and on how to apply in the future. At a job fair I'm not doing any screening. My activities are basically information sharing. If there is an actual vacancy at the time I'm at a job fair, I'll have exam announcements and application forms to those who meet the qualifications, Wilkins explains. 

To prepare, Wilkins advises, It's a terrible deficiency to walk up to a recruiter and respond to the question, 'What are you interested in applying for?' with 'I want anything that's open.' That tells [the recruiter] first of all that the student is unfocused and secondly that they've done nothing in terms of preparation for the day at all, says Wilkins. 

Regarding dress: I don't have hang ups about one set of earrings [on a woman] or an earring on a man, for example, says Wilkins. But what troubles me is a lot of earrings. And young ladies with the new hairstyles that are bouffant should know that they are not particularly appropriate for career days/job fairs. Also, I have seen skirts that are so short that the person couldn't turn or bend, and sitting was difficult. Short skirt lengths are not appropriate for career days or job fairs. 

Wilkins also stresses that students develop better listening skills so they can hear not what they WANT to hear, but what the recruiter is actually saying. For example, she says, if a recruiter says not to send additional material, don't. If you follow [instructions] closely you have a better chance at succeeding in the process.

Willa Wells, vice president and director of employee relations at St. Paul Federal Bank for Savings in Chicago, joins the chorus of experts extolling the importance of the first impression. The first impressions at a job fair are very important, as well as what you say and how you say it. She suggests writing down and practicing what you are going to say about your personal background and history. When I ask 'who are you?' I usually get the response of just their name. That's not who they are. I'm looking for their character, mission or purpose in life. This requires some preparation and personal introspection. Some students are too busy looking outside of themselves instead of looking inside first.  

Wells continues: At a job fair, a recruiter will want to know that you want to impress them even before you open your mouth through your poise, your confidence, how you walk, look and the expression on your face. You want to make an impact as you approach the recruiter as well as when you leave, so there's a memory left there of you. I hear some of our recruiters when they return to the bank claiming, 'I just met someone at a job fair who just stood out from the crowd!' Sometimes people walk up to a booth at a job fair with a lackluster approach, conveying the impression that they are just going through the motions. A student should be positive and beaming with confidence. 

In my industry, with high public contact and customer service concerns, it is better not to have the dangling earrings, and ethnic braids distract from the job. I do agree that one can have a nice braid in a bob fashion or French roll style for my industry and that that would go over pretty well. However, a too dramatic look of any kind, elaborate nails, different colors of polish on each finger and a ring on every finger, is not a businesslike look. My sage advice for beating the competition at a job fair, and in general, is: look good, sound good and know that you're good!  

Jacqueline B. Hobson, director of personnel services for Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America in Lombard, Illinois, recruits engineers, accountants and computer science candidates for her company. Hobson is impressed by students who have done their homework who know something about the company they're recruiting with. She says these students have pulled the brochures of the company they are interested in, know something about the business the company is in and maybe have gone beyond the written materials, if necessary, to find out the latest trends or innovations of the company. 

This shows me that the student is interested in my company and not just a job. I also think that students should be prepared to tell an employer why they chose to apply to that particular employer. At a lot of job fairs it's sometimes akin to a cattle call with students signing up for everybody, hoping someone will consider hiring them. That appears to be their primary motivator. I'd like to offer students this important tip: An employer is interested in whether you're interested in their company, why you chose that particular company.  

Hobson says an ethnic appearance is something the student should really think about. I wouldn't advise anybody to necessarily change the way they are dressing or wearing their hair. However, they should be prepared for the fact that not every employer is prepared for [it]. Hopefully, we've come a long way, but it still may be problematic for some. I'd ask a student this: What's most important to you at this time? If it is getting a job, dress the way you would with ANY employer. But, if your culture and expressing your unique background are most important to you, be yourself, but realize you may be limiting yourself with employers. You may want to work with someone who is more accepting.  

Hobson said on-campus interviews that are not connected with job fairs are more specific and are usually scheduled when her company has immediate openings. In scheduled interviews, the recruiter has more time to talk with individual students. At job fairs you don't get a chance to exchange a lot of information. It's more of a time to sell your company as an interesting place to work. On-campus interviews are more of an in-depth process, when the company gets an opportunity to really evaluate a student.  

Hobson said the scheduled interview requires the student to do more homework on the company, to ask more structured questions and to be prepared to answer a more detailed set of questions. It's a much more serious kind of interview, she said. 
Summary 
Our panel of experts agreed on several points: First, a reasonable amount of preparation for on-campus interviewing is necessary. Prepare yourself, know what you will say and learn a bit about the companies you are interested in. Second, although some companies are more progressive than others, dress appropriately, in a manner that does not distract the interviewer from your intellectual qualities. Third, take the process seriously, but don't expect to get hired at a job fair. Use it as an opportunity to obtain information about careers and job opportunities; don't confuse it with an on-site job interview. And finally, make a lasting impression on the interviewers by being personable, confident and knowledgeable.

Scheetz, L. Patrick. Recruiting Trends: 1996-97. East Lansing, MI: Collegiate Employment Research Institute, Michigan State University.