The biggest Job Fair in the Coachella Valley is to be held Thursday, September 13th, at the Palm Springs Convention Center. There will be 150 (plus) employers participating in the event, including nine Riverside County departments and special programs.
While we at the County Human Resources Department have been going through a lot of preparations for the EXPO, there are also a number of things job seekers can do to get themselves ready.
Here are some words of advice for attending a job fair, from Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA Career Center at Northeastern University's College of Business Administration:
“How to prepare for a job fair:
• Prepare to sell yourself. Have an "elevator" pitch ready to introduce yourself positively to employers and to quickly give them the headlines of who you are, what you are looking for and what makes you unique.
• Prepare to present the best first impression. Wear your best business attire. A professional, conservative business suit is appropriate; exercise good personal hygiene; avoid heavy fragrances and flashy attire.
• Prepare by educating yourself on the companies. Review the list of participating companies; research each company, know what they do, who their customers are, what types of positions they are hiring for and any recent issues that have been in the press. Differentiate yourself from others by being knowledgeable about the company.
• Prepare by having an event strategy. Don't start at the first table by the door and work your way around the room; you may spend more time waiting in line and miss the companies you most need to see. Prioritize the companies you need to see and focus on meeting with those on the top of your list. Quickly scope the room to see if a top priority company has no line or a very short one, but be willing to wait for those most important to you.
• Have an ample supply of your résumé. Make sure it is perfect - no typos. Hand out your business card as well.
• Follow-up is critical. Help them remember you by sending a polite, professional thank you note within 24 hours of the event. Thank them for their time. Let them know what interested you from your conversation. They met many students that day so help them remember you, my personal preference is sending a handwritten note so you don't get lost in their long list of e-mails.”
I haven’t come up with just the perfect blog closing line (nor has anyone made a suggestion), so I guess I will just have to try some out to see if one sticks. (Here goes.)
In closing I want you to remember blog fans, “Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.” (Thumps up or down?)
For general information about the event:
Web Address: www.DesertJobExpo.com
PS Convention Center: www.palmspringscc.com