Maximizing results from a job fair depends on the
follow-up that is done after the event. You spoke to various people about their
opportunities and the possibilities that they had available to you and everyone
else that passed by them. What happened after the fair? What did they do, and
what did you do, to follow-up?
Perhaps you provided your information to someone at the
fair and they called you afterwards. Maybe they wanted to meet with you and
chat further about the possibilities that they have. Maybe they wanted to
discuss some specific opening because they believed that you were a match. Did
you speak with them or let the call go to voice mail? If it did, did you return
the call to see what they wanted?
Maybe the person who called you wanted to set a date and
time to meet for further conversation or an interview. Did you agree to the
appointment, or did you say that you were not interested? If they called you
for a follow-up meeting, why did you not want to have a further conversation?
What did you have to lose? You must never turn an offer down before it is
actually made to you.
If you agreed to meet, did you show up for the meeting? Not
showing up for a meeting without calling first is rude. It is also negative
marketing that might be the topic of later conversation between possible
employers. You have wasted their time and yours and gained nothing for the
effort. That is the same as taking yourself out of the market, and it is very
negative karma.
Maybe you didn’t provide your information to the people
with whom you spoke at the fair, but you have their names and contact
information. Did you contact them to discover what possibilities they may have
available? Maybe something opened up with them after the fair; maybe they are
willing to discuss your abilities and experience even though you are not their
exact candidate. You will never know unless you call.
If the prospective employer does not contact you or does not
have your information, contact them. What do you have to lose? The possibility
of making a successful contact should outweigh any “inconvenience” on your
part. If they react badly, what have you lost? If they react positively,
congratulations, you are networking and marketing yourself correctly. If you
don’t succeed with them, they may refer you to someone.
Follow-up conversations might result in your being the
perfect candidate for the person with whom you speak. You may not be their
perfect match, but they might know someone else for whom you may be a
candidate. It never is wrong to ask for that referral. However, unless you have
the follow-up conversation, you never gain that advantage because they don’t
know you, decide if they like you, or trust you.
Job fairs are very powerful tools for employers to use to
fill their ranks of personnel. They can be equally powerful tools for
candidates to market themselves. Both must do their follow-up and have those
conversations after the fairs to learn whether they know, like, and trust each
other. Information gathering works both ways and can benefit both parties. But
both parties must follow-up to gather that information.
Please leave me your comments, or email me at Jim@JimTeasley.com, or call me at 360-314-8691. Appreciation Marketing applies both during and after
job fairs. Utilize it to maximize your career search and eventual success. You have
nothing to lose by trying?
Great advice Jim. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jim, very good!
ReplyDeleteSagi Brin