Veterans How to Avoid 5 Fatal Job Fair Mistakes- Career Enlightenment

Which demonstrates more effort? Simply putting on a service dress uniform or donning an interview-ready suit? Believe it or not, I see many candidates treat the job fair as some type of marginal event where they think a uniform or slacks and a shirt are “good enough.” The lesson here is that I ALWAYS remember the candidates with the polished,  professional image.Another reason not to wear the uniform is that  it allows the prospective employer to disqualify you before even hearing your elevator speech. Recruiters who are fellow veterans can immediately tell by looking at your uniform whether or not you’re retiring, how much salary you’re currently making (i.e., whether they can afford you or not), and some have even said it creates doubt as to whether or not you’re truly ready to hang the uniform up.4. You Sound Like the Other 200+ People I Spoke with TodayA very good friend of mine is also a recruiter. I walked up to her once during a job fair we were both attending, and h er immediate response was, “How can I help you?” She’d become so “punch drunk” by the hundreds of job seekers who’d walked up to her that day that she barely recognized me by the time I stopped by.If your approach is along the lines of, “Here’s my degree and my military experience; nowyou  figure out if I’m a good fit (then hire  and  train me),” you’re in effect saying “me, me, me” all day long. (Hint: This is NOT a good thing.)Now, I know firsthand, having facilitated the  Transition GPS Course, that the instructors explicitly stress that  this “me, me, me” technique is the worst way to work a job fair. But I guess the vast majority of graduates think they don’t have to give much thought about how to differentiate themselves from the  standard job seeker. How do you accomplish this?You can do this by extending your hand, giving a firm handshake and telling me your name. Then ask mine. Then ask me briefly what my actual position is with the company, as I may not even be a recruiter. Once that’s out of the way, acknowledge the fact that my time is precious, hit me with your 10-second elevator speech and ask if your skills are a match for my company. (Which should be “yes,” if you’ve done your homework and identified the companies that are a good fit for you.)If you’re told “no” or “apply on our website,” don’t take offense; it effectively gives you honest feedback that you haven’t stimulated enough interest.Instead, ask the person what type of folks the company typically hires, so that if you have any sharp people in your network, you can refer them. Trust me, the quickest way to stay in a recruiter’s or hiring decision-maker’s mind is to send exceptional candidates their way. Once your conversation has ended, thank them graciously with a smile, ask if they have a business card and determine if it’s OK to email them.Once you leave the job fair with all of your new contacts, email each of them and use the subject line “Thanks…and a cup of coffee?” Thank them in your message for the time they took to speak with you, and offer to meet in future to learn more about what they do and the company.  I can tell you that 95% of the people at job fairs will not do this.But you should also take it a step further. In the email, note that you saw the person’s LinkedIn profile and ask if it’s OK to connect with them on there. You can also look that person up on Twitter and start following them (if they have a professional profile). Because two out of three job seekers are  effectively using all three big social media  sites to find their next job, many less-qualified people are getting hired as a result of more-qualified candidates still stuck in the “resume cover letter” age.Just by adding one person, such as me, to your network, you’ve increased your professional contacts by over one million connections. (Connect with me now, and let me know that you read this post.)5. You†™re Downright Scared to Talk SalaryHopefully, you already have an idea of  what you need to know about salary  and are prepared to have some answers when asked.You may try deflecting or redirecting when I ask you “How much are you looking to make?” by saying something along the lines of “I’m more interested in learning more about the job…” But understand that you’re essentially speed dating at the job fair. Most companies are aware of their current needs and have to determine whether or not you’re going to be a match for those positions in terms of skills, location  and  salary.Your answer to the salary question shows us how prepared you are, because it shows you understand  the norms  for the company or the industry and location. I often chuckle inside when I ask the money question and a job seeker’s answer has nothing to do with the position’s range, but is strictly in tune with what that person is making in terms of their military salary. Once again, the fatal ly flawed thinking of “me, me, me.”Just like the popular dating sites out there, we recruiters are truly trying to match you up with your skills, location and salary preferences to create a win-win situation. But understand that, at the end of the day, all of us are specialists looking to fill very specific positions, so don’t get annoyed or frustrated if there isn’t a match. Instead, say to yourself, “There isn’t a match today,” and  use it to your advantage by making us your wingman. That way, if we do come across someone who’s looking for a candidate with your background, you’re the first person we think of.One Final Thought and SuggestionRemember when I told you not to bring a resume to a job fair?  Well, if after your elevator speech and subsequent conversation you’ve really connected with us and we ask you for it, offer to email it to us recruiters. Better yet, for hiring decision-makers, send it via FedEx or UPS with tracking, then call about 30 minutes af ter you get the delivery notification.  That’s  how you leave a game-changing and job-creating impression.Have your eyes been opened to any job fair mistakes you’ve been making? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!