CTP Top Tips for Attending an Employment Fair

Category: Tips and Advice Publish date: 30/01/2018

An Employment Fair can seem quite daunting; there are lots of stands, and other Service leavers waiting to speak to employers. How can you make the best use of your time and find out about all the opportunities which are available?

Firstly, do some preparation in advance:

• Research ahead of the day; check the website to see which of the companies attending interest you. Identify which companies are seeking someone with your skills and prepare a target list.
• Think about the type of questions you would like to ask.
• Prepare your CV. Whilst we advise that any application made for a specific role is accompanied by a tailored CV for that particular vacancy, employers at these events will sometimes accept CVs on the day - so go prepared and take plenty of copies with you.
• As you don’t know what specific role you are aiming this CV at, it might be useful to take either a brief one-page Cover Letter and generic CV.
• If you need assistance with finishing your CV, ask your Career Consultant prior to attending.
• Dress appropriately - you don’t need to be dressed in a formal suit; however, you should make an effort to dress in smart business attire. Remember - first impressions count!
• You will usually be given a brochure at the event; take your time and read through the booklet before you go in. Take a look at the floor plan and work out your approach.

Approaching an Employer

• Start with a smile and a friendly greeting ("hello" or "hi") and introduce yourself with a handshake as this will naturally help exude confidence.
• Remember companies attending CTP Employment Fairs are there because they want to meet Service leavers like you! A good way of breaking the ice is to ask a general ‘open’ question such as:

1. Could you tell me a little bit about your business?
2. How large of an organisation are you?
3. What type of person and skills are you looking for?
   
   This will lead to a discussion where you can then suggest which skills you have that they may be interested in and briefly tell them your main selling points. Rehearse your ‘30 Second Commercial’ or ‘Elevator Pitch’.

• Be ready to briefly discuss your career goals, skills, qualifications, work experience and extracurricular activities.
• It is good practice to ask for their business card at the end of the discussion. If they give you a general company business card, make a note of their name on the back so you can remember who you spoke with. You may wish to connect with them via LinkedIn to follow up any discussions.
• Don’t forget this is a marketing opportunity, so try and highlight the relevant skills you have for the type of company you are speaking to.
• If you are asked for a copy of your CV, give them your generic CV version, but ask for a contact name and email address to enable you to send a more targeted CV later. Don’t be disappointed if an employer refuses to keep a copy of your printed CV; many will provide you with an email address or their recruitment website where you can send/upload your CV after the event.
• Remember to be courteous! In addition to representing yourself, you are also representing the military.

Finally...

Take your time; the companies are there all day, so take a pause after each discussion. You might want to make some notes to help you compile a targeted CV for a particular employer at a later date or to remind yourself of what was discussed.

Do a mental checklist. Once you have spoken to all the companies on your target list, review all the other ones in attendance. Don’t rule out a company just on face value, go talk to them all - they may just have an opportunity which matches your skills!


For more information on upcoming CTP Employment Fairs and to secure you place, click here.

Good luck and enjoy!