June 29, 2009

After a day at the fair, don't forget to follow up

• 1 Comment |
• E-mail |
• Print
• • Share:
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

In the last couple of weeks, there have been a number of job fairs in the region. No doubt many readers have passed by the booths, firmly shaken hands and dropped off resumes with the dozens of employers that took part. For those who are content to sit back and wait for a call back from one of your prospects, here is some news: You're only halfway done with your job fair experience.

Katherine McGee, Northwest district sales manager for The Employment Guide, helped sponsor the most recent Summer Showcase job fair at Safeco Field a couple of weeks ago. She told me that one common mistake many job fair attendees make is the failure to follow through properly once the fair is over.

If you are really interested in a job, "be bold," she says. "Get your foot in the door -- literally." Pay a visit to the employer in person after the fair and drop off a resume or other references, she says, even if it means handing an envelope to a receptionist.

Many job seekers may balk at such forward behavior after seeing terse "no phone calls, no faxes, no e-mails" requests on virtually every job notice ever posted. You can't blame employers and HR people for putting up this wall -- they have enough trouble weeding through a stack of resumes without handling dozens of extra calls every day from candidates.

But personal visits -- if done correctly and politely -- are sure to make an impression, McGee says. "At a minimum, rest assured that whomever you do end up handing your resume to will tell the next person in the chain-of-command what they thought of you," she says.

If it looks like the person who greets you has time to speak, don't be afraid to be inquisitive, McGee says. "Ask them what they like about working there," she says. "Ask them how many people are being interviewed each day. If at all possible, ask a question relevant to the company or industry. Ask the hiring manager's preferred method of contact. Sometimes you'll be directed toward a Web site, but sometimes you'll be given a direct e-mail address."

McGee also recommends buying a one-month Metro bus pass that will allow you to visit several businesses without worrying about parking. The $72 cost for a one-zone, peak-fare pass, she says, "will almost certainly be less than the cost of gas driving all over town."

Such direct methods are becoming increasingly necessary to stand out from the crowd, says McGee. Many job fair attendees, she says, still harbor misconceptions about what they will find at a typical job fair. "There's a prevailing idea that there will be hundreds of employers offering thousands of jobs," she says. "The reality is that employers don't need to work as hard to recruit when the unemployment rate is so high. The reality is that every job seeker is competing against thousands of others."

When making an in-person visit, be sure to not overstay your welcome. After you're finished with your questions, "Look the 'gatekeeper' in the eye, shake his or her hand firmly, and thank them for their time," McGee says.

"Then go back in three days to follow up," she adds.

Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.

• 1 Comment |
• E-mail |
• Print
• • Share:
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Read more

1 Comment

| Leave a comment

Susan | July 1, 2009 9:34 AM | Reply

I have been using seattlejobmatch.com which is part of komonews. Craisglist is the worst....

Leave a comment

Name

Email Address

URL

Remember personal info?

Comments