Stop wasting your time at job fairs

Stop welchesting your time at job ritterlichsStop wasting your time at job fairsIve never heard of your company, what do you do? Chances are, youve said this to a potential employer at a job fair. Youre not alone, but that doesnt mean its a good thing. From an employer point of view, this means you didnt do your homework. That, in turn, signals that youre neither detail-oriented nor organized. In other words, not someone theyd consider hiring. To be fair, as an attendee, I used to think job fairs are useless. Id spend all day walking around, trying to impress someone into offering me a job. Honestly, it felt like a waste of time. But now, after participating in a job fair with and learning about the employer side of things, Ive learned a number of tricks for impressing employers (read me) at job fairs. Here are my 7 tips to make your day stress-free and successful.1. Think ahead and plan your dayA goal without a plan is just a wish. Antoine de Saint-ExupryAs much as this sounds obv ious, most people still dont do it. Because, lets face it, spontaneity may be awesome for, say a night out of a road trip, but not so much for a job fair. Its essential to plan ahead in order to work out what your objective is. Is it networking and gathering new contacts, meeting new people, or making an impression that can essentially get you a job they offer? Having a plan at hand will enable you to take the full advantage of a job fair. Youll set up your expectations and be prepared to evaluate afterwards. 2. Research beforehandSome people who came to talk to us at the last job fair had no idea who we were and why we were there. Its almost like attending a anlass you were invited to a month ago without checking whether its a birthday, casual dinner, or a family gathering. Do you need a present? Is there a dress code?Before attending a job fair, answer these questions about each company, or at least the ones you want to talk toWhat do they do?What products or services do they use? What do you like about them?Are you interested in any of the job positions theyre advertising?Doing this will not only increase your confidence but make starting a conversation easier. In general, youll give off a positive vibe and be remembered as the smart one who knew about all the awesome work we do.Related articlesPros and Cons of working in a startupAce your next interview with the correct body language11 summer books to make you miss work while on vacation3. Smile and be curiousSmiling is contagious. Just look at a picture of a smiling baby. Its almost impossible not to smile too. Unless you dont like babies, but maybe dont mention that to employers. Point is, when you pass by a companys stand, try to smile. Youll look mora approachable and pleasant to talk to. As an employer, I approach smiling people right away.Also, be curious.Theres nothing more flattering for employers who are promoting themselves at a career fair than a curious person asking about their product or givin g them feedback (the constructive kind, dont jump in and tell them how to run their business after a 30-second conversation).4. Bring your resumeSometimes, companies wont have a position suitable for you and your expertise at a job fair. That might make you feel theres no point leaving your resume with them. But thats not always true. At , we always look out for new talent and if we spot someone special, well always consider them. After talking to other employers, I know that other companies do the same. Therefore, make sure you have your polished and updated resume at hand (and enough copies). If you have a specific employer and position in mind, then its also worth creating a tailored resume for it. Use the companys colors and include skills they mention in the job requirement. Your resume should answer the question they will have Why should we hire you? Even better if they can think this person seems eerily well suited for us5. Exchange emailles with othersTheres nothing more fr ustrating than getting to know someone who seems like a perfect fit for the job were offering and then realizing I lost their email. Its like when you meet that perfect boy or girl at a party. They write their name on your phone but you accidentally delete it when trying to copy-paste it in a Facebook search. How can you make sure the employer doesnt lose your email? A good idea is to have your business cards at hand. If youre a student and dont have them, you can find help on how to make some at reasonable prices here. Another way is to make them write your email down on their phone or in a spreadsheet. Make sure they hit the save button. This way youll be sure it will never get lost.6. Follow up with themAfter you talk to your potential employer at a career fair, they dont spend weeks thinking about how amazing you are. Theyve got a business to run The best you can do is reminding them about yourself by dropping them a line after you come back home.The memories of the experience w ill be fresh in both your and their mind and theyll be more capable of forming an opinion about you. When I was a student, I didnt realize how important it is to follow-up with someone I met or talked to after a networking event. I understood the power of it once I started my first real job. It feels great to receive an email from an enthusiast potential hire about how great it was to meet me that day.7. Take your time to evaluateWhen the (hopefully) exciting day is over, evaluate it. Did you meet your objective? How was the vibe of the event? Was there anything you could have done better? All that will help you to do much better next time. Also, the whole process of planning will get easier and faster, I promise. ??Back to youDoes any of this sound familiar? If you found yourself shamefully nodding along to each point, then clearly its time to try something new So try heading off to your next job fair with these tips in hand and see how it goes. Just be sure to think of me when you reach the top.

5 Unbelievable, yet Successful Business Ideas

5 Unbelievable, yet Successful Business Ideas 5 Unbelievable, yet Successful Business Ideas Back in the 1950s when he was just a child, he had an idea.We should put water in bottles to carry around with us to drink, hed said. But when he told his family and friends of his idea, they brushed it off, saying it was crazy, that would never work, and no one would ever buy that.Well today, as we all know, putting water into bottles for consumption is a multi-billion dollar industry.I think at some point or another, weve all had (or will have) a seemingly wacky idea one that sounds so far off its hard to believe in its success. But let me tell you, Ive seen some pretty crazy inventions, and youd be surprised at what people will buy.If you have an idea for a product or business, why not give it a try? You never know just how successful your entrepreneurial endeavors may be. Take these following five business ideas, for example. Although weird and, for some, unbelievable, these companies ma y have started out as a strange idea, but have flourished into successful (and profitable) businesses1. DogglesOne day Ken and Roni di Lullo noticed that their dog kept squinting in the sunlight. After unsuccessfully putting their sunglasses on the dog, the husband and wife came up with an idea- why not make the dog a pair of its own glasses? And thus, Doggles, eyewear for dogs, was born.Fun FactsMulti-billion dollar companyThe US Army ordered Doggles for military working dogs serving in IraqNow has franchise stores around the country2. Microwavable pillowsAfter her husband lost his job in 2002, Kim Lavine decided to turn her kitchen table idea, the Wuvit - a designer spa therapy pillow that you heat in the microwave - into a successful business. She is the author of the book, Mommy Millionaire, which should tell you how profitable her business has become.Fun factsWuvit is designed to soothe tired and aching musclesFirst sold in Saks Fifth Avenue stores in 2004Also has a kids Wuvit called Sleepy-Head Fred3. Masters of the HuntIn 2003, Jane Lipps and Lisa Jennings started Masters of the Hunt, an Orlando-based firm that specializes in scavenger hunts. Yes, you read that correctly, this company runs treasure and scavenger hunts for people. The company says the hunts are for team building, corporate hospitality, promotions and personal celebrations.Fun FactsHas prominent clients such as Verizon, Holiday Inn, Aetna and GNCOffers do-it-yourself and personalized huntsVery successful Amazing Chase Hunt where 2,500 people did a training at sea for their company4. Santa MailWhen you were a kid, did you ever write a letter to Santa? Well, entrepreneur Byron Reese and his Santa Mail company will make sure that the children who do today will receive an answer. Since 2002, the company has sent out more than 325,000 personalized letters.Fun FactsLetters cost $9.95 each, with free shipping5. WinningCalling herself the Contest Queen, Carolyn Wilman has a business of teaching others how to win contests. She provides information through her book, You Cant Win If You Dont Enter, a newsletter, blog and webinars and seminars.Fun FactsHer sites says her Online Contesting System has helped others win over $1,000,000 in cash and prizesShe hosted a radio show for two years, interviewing the movers and shakers in the promotional industry and sweepstaking community

Where to Find Help Writing Your Resume

Where to Find Help Writing Your ResumeWhere to Find Help Writing Your ResumeA resume is a very short document. If youre job hunting, few things are more important than a properly-formatted, well-thought-out resume. Writing a resume can be a daunting task because you need to make sure you include all the necessary information while keeping the document to a manageable size. Even if youve worked hard to write your resume and think it doesnt need improvement, its helpful to have it reviewed by an objective experienced professional. Where to Find Resume Writing Help There are numerous options available for getting help with your resume to ensure that the final draft will be looked at by employers more than once. You may be excellent at your job with the credentials to prove it, but if your resume doesnt shine, it may end up at the bottom of the pile, or worse. College Career Offices If youre a college student (or alumnus) the career services office at your school or alma mater ma y be able to help you write your resume or provide you with useful feedback. The staff in a career office has a lot of experience helping professionals, as well as recent graduates, and they know how to polish a resume to make it stand out. They are also familiar with hiring managers, how managers scan resumes, and the resume software used by employers. These career counselors can also provide guidance regarding the best way to format your resume and the best keywords to use to set you apart from the competition. Career professionals also know that active verbs (such as managed, supervised, developed, and produced) are keywords that will better position you in the marketplace. Professional Resume Services It may not seem worth it to spend money on a resume service, especially if you are unemployed and on a tight budget, but your resume is your first impressionbeforeyou even get the interview. For a fee, professional resume writing services will either write your resume for you o r edit the one you have. State Resources for Resume Writing Help Every States Department of Labor website offers free resume writing services for new employees, the unemployed, those returning to the workplace, and military veterans. Find a local American Job Center for help producing yourresume and other career services. Local government websites will likely also offer sample resumes, sample cover letters, interview tips, and other pertinent information helpful for your job search. Family and Professional Contacts Compose a draft of your resume and ask for feedback from family members, college alumni and other professionals who have experience screening job candidates. An added benefit to this strategy is that your contacts might develop an appreciation of your assets as a prospective employee and refer you for some job opportunities.