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Should You Shake Hands at a Job Fair?

September 15, 2012 by

After working at many job fairs I’ve seen HR reps who do shake hands and ones that don’t. I’ve gone back and forth on what I think the correct protocol is, but I would say that you should assume they want to shake your hand unless they say otherwise. Some people actually have a sign on their table that says they don’t shake hands. I’ve seen many people who ignore that sign and start to shake their hand anyway. I’m sure it’s just out of nerves, but do honor them if that’s their preference. You want to leave them with a good impression of you.

I’m one of those Howie Mandel, germ phobic type of people that cringes at the thought of shaking hands with anybody including the Pope. So I tend to let the other person take the lead if that’s what they want. In business I know it’s appropriate, so I will if I have to.

If you do shake hands, there are a few rules of etiquette to follow:

  • Introduce yourself before extending your hand – they’ll be focused on your face, so make sure you smile and look them in the eye as you say your name. And say it with confidence like you are the best person for this job and you will make them happy they hired you.
  • Don’t use a power grip whether it’s with a man or woman – A bone-crushing handshake sends the wrong message. It says “I’m the alpha dog and I really don’t like being told what to do”. That doesn’t mean you should use the cold fish handshake either. Something in between that conveys confidence, yet defers to the other person without seeming weak.
  • Avoid the two-handed shake – this is known as the politician’s shake and can come across as being phony and even down-right creepy if used on a stranger. Also don’t put your other hand on the person’s shoulder. That comes across as being too intimate for someone you don’t know.
  • Keep the shake around 3 seconds – this is a good length of time so that it doesn’t become uncomfortable.

Follow these handshaking techniques and you’ll be ahead of the game at a job fair.

 



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Job Fairs Struggle to Find Employers Who Are Hiring

September 1, 2012 by

The past two job fairs I put together was like pulling teeth. I had no problem at all finding job seekers. In fact, we were at the limit in the number of job seekers we could let into the job fair. It was finding employers who actually had jobs to give them that was the struggle. And it’s the same for other job fair planners. It’s simply like looking for a needle in a haystack.

The first job fair I put on was specifically for the show business industry. We had a decent turnout of industry employers, but many of them were only looking for entry level employers. And the number of calls I had to make to get those employers was staggering.

Job seekers spots were limited, so they were able to spend more quality time with the employers that did show up. And at least several of the job seekers did end up finding work. I hired one of them myself.

It’s an employer’s market and the ones that are actually hiring can choose to be as picky as they want. That’s why it could still be a good idea just to get in the door, even if it’s not exactly the job you want right now. Get in and prove yourself.

 



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Job Seekers Prefer Small Job Fairs

May 10, 2012 by

A recent small job fair that featured Goodwill and the Georgia Department of Labor was a success. When the local news polled the job seekers they said they appreciated the fact that it was a smaller job fair that allowed more time to be spent between the job seekers and the recruiters.

This is what I’ve been saying for years. The fun job fairs I’ve put on have always been a success and I know that some of the job seekers got jobs out of them. I have hired some of them myself.

It’s a much better way to get to know your future employees in a more intimate setting. This gives the job seekers a chance to really show their personality and it’s a more relaxing atmosphere to do it in.



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How Do You Sound in a Job Interview?

April 5, 2012 by

After working at job fairs for the past few years I’ve been paying attention to how job seekers sound in their brief interviews with recruiters. Just a few slight changes can make a big difference in how a recruiter views you. The way we sound to others speaks volumes about who we are and how we will represent a company.

The first thing to take out of your vocabulary are the phrases “Like” and “You know”. Both make you seem too immature and unprofessional. Same with slang.

Ask a friend to help you evaluate whether you speak too quickly or too slowly. Speak at a normal speed and try not to interrupt the recruiter. Make sure you are an active listener and not planning what you’re going to say next. You might miss critical information.

Monitor the pitch of your voice. Men seem more authoritative if they have lower voices. Women need to stay in a neutral range. Not too high (immature) and not too low. Try taping yourself to see how you sound. Listening to newscasters and emulating them is good practice. This is how I got rid of my accent and prepared for a career in TV hosting.

Pay attention to how you sound and fix any problems before your job interview. It might make all the difference.

 

 



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How to Succeed at a Job Fair-Secrets From an Insider

January 29, 2012 by

How to Succeed at a Job Fair-Secrets From an Insider

FREE Weekly Event – Every Saturday: 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM (PT)

Hosted By:

Fun Job Fairs

Fun Job Fairs is committed to putting on the most unique job fairs around. We believe in making the process of finding a job FUN!

Event Details:

You have a great resume, a new suit, and you’re willing to stand in line for hours at a job fair. But you come home empty-handed time and time again wondering if they really work at all. The truth is that job fairs DO work. You just have to know what to expect and how to work them. How do I know? Because I’ve hired people from job fairs and have helped others get jobs from them. Having a great resume and a nice suit is only a small part of what you need to succeed.
The best way to get a job is by meeting someone face to face. And job fairs are a perfect way to show your true personality. But they are time consuming, so you need to know how to make the most of them.
After organizing job fairs for the past few years, I’ve noticed people who might otherwise be great employees making the same mistakes over and over again. I’ve listened to the HR people on one side and the job seekers on the other and put together a 30 minute webinar with the insider secrets I’ve learned. I’ve watched firsthand as some job seekers easily got jobs and others struggled. I wanted to put together this FREE webinar to help those people that deserve a chance, but might be making mistakes they don’t even know they’re making.
Before you give up on job fairs or before you go to your next job fair, you owe it to yourself to take this FREE webinar. Don’t waste anymore valuable time at job fairs until you get this insider information. I promise you’ll look at job fairs in a very different way.



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Job Seeker Tax Deductions

May 15, 2011 by

These days a job search can end up costing you a lot of money. To get an edge job seekers need to have the best advice possible and that can mean expensive coaching, resume writing, classes, and even the cost of gas to get to interviews.

But the good news is that these things are tax deductible if you itemize them on your tax return. Make sure you keep good records and a daily log of expenses and time you spend.

If you have to travel to another state to seek work, that can be deducted. So can the mailing of resumes, printing costs, transportation to and entry fees of job fairs, and other costs involved in your job search.

Make sure you keep all receipts and seek the advice of a qualified tax professional. They will know what you can and can’t deduct.

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Fun Job Fair @ Belmont Park – San Diego, CA

March 3, 2011 by

Fun Job Fairs was created as an alternative to the job fair mills. It’s limited to 100 job seekers so you get a chance to spend 2 hours with the HR reps bowling, having fun, and getting them to know you and like you. No more standing in line for hours for 30 seconds with an HR rep. Includes bowling, snacks, mini seminar, and free ebook.

This unique and fun job fair is at Belmont Park. Limited to 100 job seekers. Spend quality time with HR reps in a fun environment. Play mini golf, lazar tag, etc. with HR reps.



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Job Hunting in Japan

February 13, 2011 by

I’m always curious about the job search in other countries. It looks like countries like Japan are having similar unemployment issues, especially among the younger crowd. There’s more and more pressure as the number of available jobs decreases. This article in the Japan Times shows the similarities between the college grads there and in the U.S.

by The Japan Times online editorial staff

With university graduation ceremonies coming up, at least one-third of graduating students will have little reason to celebrate. Only two-thirds have found jobs, the lowest percentage since 1996, the first year official records were kept. In light of the low number of new hires, companies should take this chance to reconsider their hiring procedures and initiate changes, especially their obsession with hiring only new graduates.

The social and psychological pressure on students to get a job starts too early and lasts too long. Nowadays, students start the rounds of job fairs and resume-writing workshops at the start of their third year of college. The series of explanation lectures, interviews and exams required by most companies is exhausting and intense. The Japan Business Federation has called for a two-month delay in the start of the cycle, but that is hardly sufficient.

To keep up, most students have to skip lots of classes and ignore their studies at that point in their education when they should be acquiring higher-level thinking and specialized skills. Protests have taken place on several college campuses the past several years, but it is really up to the companies to change hiring procedures. It is doubtful that the current system is best-suited for producing excellent employees.

Some forward-looking companies have started to shift their attitude. Mizuho Bank, Takashimaya and Dai-ichi Life Insurance have all stated that they will give equal consideration to any student who graduated within three years. If more companies followed suit, students could actually focus on their studies without outside distraction until they are finished. After graduation, students could mature by acquiring basic work skills and life experience in real-world settings at internships, volunteer work or cultural exchanges. At the very least, companies might consider this a cheap way to outsource their training in interpersonal skills.

George Bernard Shaw joked that “Youth is wasted on the young.” But in the rush for jobs, Japanese young people hardly get to experience their youth at all.

Without a broad, varied and extended education while young, meeting the demands of adult employment become more difficult. The easily instituted, highly sensible policy of delaying pressure for three years after graduation would benefit companies and students alike.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ed20110213a1.html



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Job Interview Mistakes

January 13, 2011 by

Since I’ve been putting on job fairs I spend a lot of time talking to recruiters and HR. As tough as the job market is out there I’m constantly shocked at the mistakes people make once they actually get in the door for an interview.

The first one kind of surprises me and that’s the inappropriate dress. I’ve also seen this at job fairs quite a lot. A job fair should be treated like an interview. You should dress appropriately for both of them.

I have seen people waiting in line in flip flops, tons of gold chains around their neck, very low cut blouses, sweat pants, and mini skirts. I’m not making this stuff up! I’ve also heard the same thing from HR professionals. It’s shocking.

Another interview mistake would be texting and answering your cell phone in an interview. Turn it off or just leave it at home. You would think that would be common sense.

After working the entertainment business in casting, I am aware of another big mistake…missing an interview or showing up late. It’s hard enough to get that interview, especially these days. If you can’t make it or you are going to be late (and it had better be a really good reason), then at least call. It’s common courtesy.

Above all, use common sense!



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Your First Job Out of College-Make it Count!

December 31, 2010 by

Instead of taking the first job you can get, it’s a good idea to look at it as a stepping stone to a career. If you want to become a film producer, start with a job as a production assistant and work your way up. If you want a career in the hospitality field, start as a waiter, bartender, or valet. Think of it as on the job training while getting a paycheck:

by Catrina Rogers

Finding your first job out of college is an exciting and sometimes intimidating process. But your future depends on it. What you’ll be faced with are expenses like food, student loan payments, rent, and the pressure of trying to find the perfect job. But the workplace today is different from your parents’ generation. The average person changes careers multiple times during his or her work history. Should your first job out of college be taken lightly? Of course not, because what it means is you need to focus your energies on finding the best job for and stop worrying.

Do you Know what You’re Looking For?

If you don’t have a job target yet, now would the time to identify one. Take advantage of your school’s career services and job placement opportunities. These services exist for one reason: to help you in your career. Offering a variety of assessment tools to help you determine your best career option are most career services office. This may mean a career outside of your major for some college students. But identifying a specific career within the larger field of study is what it could mean for other students.

Doing Your Research

It would take effort to find your ideal job. Posting your job application, resume, and cover letter on the Internet and wait for employers to come calling is not enough. Finding the best job means engaging all the resources. Research the types of companies you want to work for and find out as much about them as possible. Use your network of friends and associates and a variety of job-search tools, including the Internet, classifieds, state and government postings, job fairs, cold calling, and placement agencies and recruiters (although be wary of any agencies or recruiters that charge a fee).

Careful what your Choose

When you take advantage of all the options available in your job search, multiple offers are more likely. This method allows you to choose a job rather than accept one out of desperation and you get to practice company research skills and job interviewing.

While it’s tempting to accept the first offer you receive, consider it carefully. You don’t want to be stuck in a job you hate. To demonstrate your dependability and gain useful skills, stay in your first job out of college for a couple of years. Whether you move up in the company or change is up to you and your options; however, the first job is important for college students and new graduates.

Accept a Position

Once you have the job, first congratulate yourself! Then, do the best work you can. When done well, your first job out of college can be the foundation upon which you build a successful and enjoyable career.

http://cool-maths-games.co.uk/education/your-first-job-out-of-college-make-it-count/



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