Maximizing Career or MBA School Fairs

I’m at the National Black MBA Conference and heading over to the Career Fair in an hour or so. Company fairs and MBA school fairs are all the same with organizations setting up shop…or booths to meet candidates and share their opportunities.

Unfortunately, most candidates don’t maximize the fair opportunity and leave a job or school fair with an arm full of promotional material, sore feet and limited leads for further follow-up. Recruiting (for a job or for a seat in an MBA program) is just like dating. Seriously! Recruiting is a courtship process and to be successful in courting you have to act appropriately in every setting. Think of a career or school fair as the bar or club. It’s loud, people are bumping you and it’s difficult to really get to know someone. You might get in a short conversation or a dance, but you are not going to achieve a deep connection in that setting. Same with a fair – you can establish some initial interest and a promise for further conversation, but you are generally not getting a long-term commitment such as a job.

So here are a few tips for maximizing a job or school fair:

1. Have a realistic goal and plan – what do you want to accomplish? Which companies do you want to meet (hopefully you’ve done your homework in advance)? In coming up with you plan, consider wait line (often there are other candidates that also want to talk to that organization), breaks for lunch and bathroom, debrief (after every strong conversation, you should be capturing notes on who you spoke with, what you talked about and the expected next steps).
2. Get into your groove early – don’t start with your top organizations. Get in your groove first by talking with the organizations that on the middle of your list. This will give you the opportunity to practice your 30-second pitch and get warmed up before heading to your top choices.
3. Cast a wide net – While you may have your eye on that “sexy thing” in the corner, you are looking for a date for next Friday so you cannot leave empty handed. By all means try to catch that special someone’s eye, but don’t put all your eggs in that one basket. They know they are the hot thing and you are going to have to bring mad game to get in there.
4. Limit your wait time with companies that have long lines – wait time should be re-termed “waste time”. Don’t spend the whole fair waiting to speak with just a few organizations. Get to fairs when they open and traffic is lower to hit up the most popular organizations. Consider hitting 3-4 additional organizations for every one where you wait for more than ten minutes.
5. Intros are good, but follow-up contact is the real prize – great to say hi, but you need a phone number, an email or an interview slot to deem that introduction as a success.
6. Comfortable shoes and a breath mint – ladies: lose the 4-inch heels (you can’t really walk in them anyway!). Opt for comfortable shoes so that you can race around the fair getting to your target organization. All: Don’t forget your breath mints (and deodorant) – feel free to bring some extras for your friends!