How to Successfully Interview at a Job Fair

Applying for jobs is hard. You never know how many applicants are vying for the same position as you. You do not know if the employer is someone that values what you bring to the table. You do not necessarily know if the position is even open (sometimes employers open jobs for applicants before deciding to cut the job or give it to an internal candidate).

At job fairs, however, you can be fairly certain that every opportunity presented is available for the taking. This makes job fairs an idea opportunity for you to make a good impression. Yet interviewing for job fairs can be hard, because you have very little time to impress each employer. Here are several tips for improving your interview skills at job fairs.

Job Fair Interview Tips

1.       Dress Well

First and foremost, dress in your best job interview clothes. No matter where the job fair is taking place, you must treat it like any other job interview, and thus it is important that you put extra effort into your outfit. Employers will notice that you showed them respect by dressing to impress.

2.       Be Outgoing and Friendly

Job fairs are tough on the employer. They are forced to see a number of applicants that are clearly unqualified and unready for the position. Make their day easier by being kind, outgoing, and friendly. Make them like you so that you make their entire day better and more worthwhile.

3.       Use Every Opportunity

From the moment you say hello, you should be using every opportunity to try to win them over by discussing your qualifications and knowledge. Your time is short and the employer does not know you at all. Every chance you get you should be plugging yourself, possibly by preparing a pitch ahead of time to use on every employer that highlights your best points.

4.       Ask a Lot of Questions

Try to find out every company that is going to be at the job fair and don’t be afraid to ask them question after question. These questions should display that you have knowledge about the company, in addition to interest in working there. The longer you can spend with the interviewer, the better your opportunities.

5.       Bring Props

In addition to your resume, you should bring samples of your work, business cards, or anything that helps ensure that once the interviewer leaves for the day, you are remembered. If, after seeing all of these applicants, you are able to stay fresh on the employers mind, your chances of succeeding are much better.

Take Advantage

Rarely do you have an opportunity to interview with so many different locations. Be confident and utilize your time well in order to give yourself an advantage.

Take Away Interview Tips

• Treat the interview like you would any interview.
• Be confident, outgoing, friendly and interesting.

How to Stand Out in a Group Interview

Group interviews can be extremely difficult. You are surrounded by individuals whose only goal is to look better than you. These applicants are out for blood, because they know that unless they outshine you, they are not getting a call back to continue through the interview process. No one has ever received extended job interview chances by blending into the background.

From the moment you walk into your room, you need to do everything in your power to impress your interviewers. Below are some tips for standing out in a group interview.

Group Interview Tips

• Speak Up and Often

Whenever you are given a chance to answer a question, you should. Be the first to speak up (provided you have something interesting to say) and you will ensure that you are remembered. You should give other applicants a chance to speak, and you should not interrupt them to get your point in, but it is vitally important that you do quite a bit of the talking.

• Feel Free and Disagree

When a point is up for discussion, you should consider yourself welcome to disagree with another applicant. Sometimes it can be difficult to want to speak up when an applicant brings up a point that the interviewers seem to enjoy, but your willingness to challenge the opinion of others can only help to serve your caus.

• Ask Questions

Like with all job interviews, the more questions you ask, the better. Try to make the questions related to some of the content in the interview. If you have a genuine question, don’t wait until another applicant asks.

• Build On Statements

Sometimes you will find an applicant makes a point that you agree with. It is a good idea to acknowledge the great points of others (shows you work well as a team) and try to build on them with your own worthwhile points.

Quality and Quantity

Your best bet to succeed during a group job interview is to produce quality responses as often as possible. It is important to remember though that quality cannot take a back seat to quantity. Every answer you supply must be interesting and informative. Do not speak for the sake of speaking. If you dominate a conversation without producing anything of value, you are immediately going to be placed in the “no” pile.

Take Away Interview Tips

• Be confident during your group interview.
• Be willing to discuss and disagree points.
• Acknowledge good answers by others and see if you can build on them.