Networking

Unlike the main reason that entry-level job seekers attend job fairs (to walk away with an interview), at the executive level, you want to attend the job fair for networking opportunities. It’s not every day that you’re able to speak with hiring managers and decision makers from a huge selection of companies or even industries.

Of course, you can go to other networking functions to get the job done, like social events or board meetings. The big draw of career fairs, however, is that company representatives are there doing exactly that–representing their company, and you’re engaging them on a business level, not a personal one. They’ll have their business cards and contact information ready, and they’ll be happy to talk about their company with you.

Improving Your Interviewing Skills

On some occasions, you will find that representatives from companies will be ready and willing to interview potential candidates right on the spot. These can be great opportunities to better refine your interviewing technique. Even if you’re not looking to get the job, you’ll be able to stay sharp and on the ball for when serious career opportunities arise.

Even if you don’t run across interviewing opportunities at the job fair, you can still utilize your “elevator speech” during this time. Elevator speech is basically your 2-3 minute summary of who you are, what your qualifications are, and why someone should want to hire you – just enough information to fit into a quick elevator ride. Using an elevator speech can be more effective than business cards and other methods, and can really make a huge personal impression at a job fair.

See If You Can Gain a Speaking Spot

One way that you can benefit from the job fair at the executive level is to speak at it instead of simply showing up as a job seeker. While you can still get many of the same goals accomplished, you can provide valuable information about your industry at the same time. All types of people will look to speak with you after your presentation, rather than the other way around.

It may not have crossed your mind to visit a job fair at this stage in the game, but it’s definitely not a bad idea to consider it. There’s nothing to lose, and you can build on your contacts and get some unique opportunities. Attending a job fair might even bring you more opportunities than you’d ever thought possible.