Poor behavior is a turn-off. Don't chew gum, talk on cell phones, come with friends or bring children. Never grab giveaways first.
Have a career or job goal in mind and know at least a little bit about the company or their jobs. Don't ask questions about pay and hours first. Don't show up without a résumé or the information you will need to fill out an application. Don't appear to be unorganized.
Use your time wisely. Visit the employers that you are most interested in first. Then explore employment opportunities with as many companies as you can.
Don't wear clothes that are too casual. Don't wear jeans and t-shirts. Body piercings or tattoos can be a turn off so tone them down or make sure they aren't visible. Don't wear clothes that are torn or dirty or clothes that don't fit. Don't dress too far above or below the position you are interested in.
Whatever you wear should be neat and clean. Choose your outfit based on the type of work you want. How you dress will make you stand out and gives the employer either a good or bad first impression.
Never bring food or drinks to the recruiting tables.
Employers want a steady work history, dependability, a willingness to learn, and appropriate education or training. Don't apply for jobs you can't do.
Be prepared to answer questions like: What type of position are you looking for? Tell me about your work history. What hours are you looking for? Are you available for overtime? Do you have reliable transportation? Why did you leave your last job? How do you handle criticism? What are your salary expectations? What is your long-range goal? Where do you see yourself in five years?
It's good to ask questions when you speak to the employer representatives. Some possible questions are: Do you have openings for a person with my skills? What are the most important abilities I'll need to succeed at your company? What kind of training programs does your company offer? What benefits do you offer? What hours would I be working? Is the job full-time? What is your starting pay? When can I expect to hear from you? How should I follow-up with you?
Do some research on the company so you can ask better questions. Write possible questions down on a notepad and take it with you. Ask enough questions to help you decide if you want to continue the application/interview process.
Always get the correct spelling and pronunciation of the name of the employer's representative(s) and anyone else you are told to contact. Carefully write down and maintain follow-up instructions given by employers.
Don't think you can just bring a résumé to a job fair. Most employers will also want you to complete a job application. How you fill out the application will determine whether you are called back for an interview. Take time before the job fair to fill out a "mock application" to make sure you have all the information you need to make a great impression. You may not be allowed to take the application home to complete it.
If you are interested in a particular employer, investigate the employer's web site. Become familiar with the web site and how to apply online. Find out as much information as possible about the company and apply online as soon after the job fair as possible.
