Navigating A Job Fair

MAP YOUR FUTURE AT CAREER EXPO 2008

 

Skagit Valley College invites job seekers to track down employment possibilities at Career Expo 2008, Tuesday, May 6, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Dave DuVall Pavilion on SVC's Mount Vernon campus. Visitors are encouraged to bring multiple resumes and meet dozens of employers who will be on campus to find new employees.

 

Some ways you can get ready for Expo are to: prepare a résumé, develop a short introductory pitch that you can use to impress hiring employers and plan a strategy.  You should also start brainstorming possible answers to interview questions for that next step in the job getting adventure. SVC's Career Services staff offer the following tips to create an impressive résumé and to help you do well at interviews:

 

MAKE YOUR RÉSUMÉ LEAD EMPLOYERS RIGHT TO YOU

 

When it comes to writing a résumé, make it clear, make it simple, and give it some pizzazz. You will want to bring ten to twenty copies to Career Expo 2008.

 

Employers often receive dozens, sometimes hundreds, of résumés in the mail each week. Sadly, only two out of every 100 résumés generate a job interview. Few employers take time to read every word of every résumé that they receive. Instead they give each résumé a quick 10-second glance. If your résumé is too long, too wordy, too cluttered or too disorganized, employers will be unimpressed.

 

Begin your résumé with an objective statement that targets a specific job. Consider it your "headline" that tells the employer what you're going to do for them and invites them to read further. Highlight both paid and volunteer experience including internships. Include outside activities that demonstrate broad interests, leadership and communication skills; computer skills; foreign language fluency as well as international travel and living experiences if they are relevant to the position you're seeking.

 

The résumés that catch an employer's eye are usually a single page. They are easy to scan, easy to understand and inviting to look at. They also resound with proof that the applicant is qualified to deliver results.

 

SVC's Career & Employment Center on the Mount Vernon campus is available for résumé advice, either drop-in or by appointment. Call (360) 416-7654.

 

ENTICE EMPLOYERS AT THE EXPO WITH A SNAPPY INTRODUCTION, HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION AND FOLLOW UP

 

Typically at a job fair, you will spend only about three to seven minutes with each employer. To make the most of your time at Expo, introduce yourself by offering a firm handshake and looking the representative in the eye. Ask them about their company and find out what types of jobs they are offering. Then highlight your strengths and make the employer aware of how your skills match their needs. This is challenging to do in a short amount of time, so PRACTICE! Employers at Career Expo want job candidates who appear confident and enthusiastic.

 

You can get a good idea of who to expect at this year's Career Expo by clicking the "List of Exhibitors" link to the left of this web page for an up-to-date list of the companies who are coming to Expo 2008. Representatives from SVC's professional technical programs will also be present to tell you how you can gain skills that will make you desirable to employers. SVC students registered in Skagit Valley College's Online Job Board can learn more about the businesses that will be attending this year's Expo. Just click on Career Services Home and from there click the Online Job Board link and follow the steps to register. Once approved, you'll be able to RSVP to the Career Expo, review employers, upload a résumé and apply for jobs.

 

Once you've reviewed the list of businesses in attendance, begin doing your homework. Visit company websites and read their literature to help plan your strategy on Expo day. Once at Expo, talk with those companies lower on your priority list to help you do a little on-site practicing before you target your top choice employers.  Remember to ask for business cards or get representatives' names and contact information. You will want to write notes for yourself soon after your meetings to remind yourself later of your conversations with various exhibitors.  Don't let your contact end there; follow up the next day with a thank-you note and to remind them of your interest in their opportunities.  Include another copy of your résumé as well.

 

IMPRESS EMPLOYERS WITH YOUR INTERVIEW SAVVY AND PRESENT A LOOK THAT SAYS "YOU BELONG THERE"

 

Competing for a job depends on both how you look and what you say. "Dress for success," and "dress to impress," are common phrases heard by job candidates. Heed that advice because you only get one chance at a first impression.

 

Once your appearance is spiffed and polished, do you know what to say to impress a prospective employer? Consider these questions often asked by interviewers:

 

Tell me about yourself.

Prepare a short statement (about two minutes) and practice it. Mention work-related qualities and things you have accomplished in other situations and jobs that provide examples of the skills you possess. These should relate to the position that you are seeking. This open-ended question also opens the door to a directed view of your character and your many dimensions as a talented person. You can mention such things as strong work ethic, a passion for learning, community volunteer involvement, or anything else that reflects on your suitability for the job.

 

Why do you want to work for my company/organization?

The answer should prove that you have done some research about the employer. Read the employer's website. Read the employer's brochures. Visit the brick-and-mortar site. Talk to current and former staff. Say something that matches your values to the workplace culture of the organization.

 

What experience do you have in this field?

Speak about accomplishments related to the position. Even if you have little experience, focus on skills that you used as a volunteer or intern. If your experience seems too unrelated, zero in on transferable skills, such as diplomacy, teamwork and good organization. Then offer examples of how you used those skills successfully in the past and how those skills would apply to the new job.

 

What do you consider to be your greatest strengths?

Now is your chance to show confidence about what you do best. Try to leap the hurdle of feeling hesitant to "blow your own horn." Employers want to know what you are most proud of and how these talents fit with their needs. Come prepared by mentally matching your skills and strengths to what is listed in the job description.

 

What are your weaknesses?

Uh-oh. This is one that everyone dreads. The trick is to turn your liabilities into assets. The best approach is to exaggerate a strength into a weakness then make it something positive. An example might be that you tend to work more slowly than others. In that case you could emphasize that you work in a methodical, focused way, with a high emphasis on thoroughness and accuracy. Leave the employer with the feeling that your weakness is either not a worry or has little application to the job they are offering.

 

Where do you see yourself in your career five years from now?

This question presents an opportunity to show that you have plans, goals and dreams. Employers respect job candidates with vision and a commitment to lifelong learning and growth. An example might be the certified nurse's assistant who hopes to be an R.N. in five years.

 

CHART YOUR COURSE AND ARRIVE WITH A ROADMAP TO SUCCESS BY ATTENDING FREE WORKSHOPS!

 

Job seekers are invited to "map your future" with a series of no-cost same-day workshops focused on résumés and interviewing as well as insider information from local employers.

 

Start your journey with the Employer Panel.  This workshop features local employers, who will discuss what it takes to compete in today's job market. Panelists will share their wisdom about skills that make candidates most employable. They will each give a short presentation, followed by general discussion. Audience members are invited to bring questions for the panel.

 

There will also be a workshop about Mapping Your Resume that will provide you with tips to help your resume navigate the hurdles and obstacles of the screening process designed to eliminate you from the competition.

 

"X" marks the spot where you can make the best headway in your plans for employment by knowing how to prepare and practice for a job interview. Attend the Pinpointing Job Interview Success workshop. 

 

Those of you wishing to keep your hand in the game by exploring an "Encore Career" can attend a workshop designed to show how the older worker with still more to offer is becoming more and more of an option to employers.

 

So get ten to twenty copies of your best résumé, do your homework, come dressed for success and meet employers who are hiring at Career Expo!  All events are free. They are all part of Career Expo 2008, sponsored by the Career Services Department at Skagit Valley College.

 

More information is available at (360) 416-7743.