Recruitment Forums: How to Prepare
15 April 2008
Read by 1733 persons
In professional attire, armed with your resumes, a smile on your face, and feeling confident... You're ready to meet companies. The brief conversations you have with recruiters are crucial. The job interview has already begun.
Before the forum.
Prepare your visit. Find out which companies will be there by visiting the organizer's website. Look for information about those that interest you (activities, positions available, etc.) and refine your arguments accordingly. Bring enough resumes for everyone you plan to contact. Print out a few business cards. Pay attention to your appearance! It's less about the resume and more about the impression you make.
During the forum.
Be professional. Handshake, smile, attitude... Don't act like a tourist. You need to project an image that makes people want to work with you: motivated, determined, dynamic! Ignore the world around you. The salon's sound system is too loud, other candidates are waiting behind you to speak to the recruiter, you'd prefer to chat sitting down rather than standing up... Make do. Even if the setting isn't what you picture for a job interview, the interview has already started. Highlighting your qualifications is good, but understanding the recruiter's needs is better. The informal nature of the forum makes it easier to ask questions like: "What kind of profiles are you looking for?", "How many people are you hiring?", "What skills are needed to work in your company?" After this short conversation, the recruiter already knows whether or not they will call you back for a full interview. On your end, get their contact information and find out when you can follow up.
After the forum.
Wait a few days (no more than a week) to contact the recruiter by email or phone. And if your application wasn't successful, try again later.
Published January 25, 2008
emploi.france5
Before the forum.
Prepare your visit. Find out which companies will be there by visiting the organizer's website. Look for information about those that interest you (activities, positions available, etc.) and refine your arguments accordingly. Bring enough resumes for everyone you plan to contact. Print out a few business cards. Pay attention to your appearance! It's less about the resume and more about the impression you make.
During the forum.
Be professional. Handshake, smile, attitude... Don't act like a tourist. You need to project an image that makes people want to work with you: motivated, determined, dynamic! Ignore the world around you. The salon's sound system is too loud, other candidates are waiting behind you to speak to the recruiter, you'd prefer to chat sitting down rather than standing up... Make do. Even if the setting isn't what you picture for a job interview, the interview has already started. Highlighting your qualifications is good, but understanding the recruiter's needs is better. The informal nature of the forum makes it easier to ask questions like: "What kind of profiles are you looking for?", "How many people are you hiring?", "What skills are needed to work in your company?" After this short conversation, the recruiter already knows whether or not they will call you back for a full interview. On your end, get their contact information and find out when you can follow up.
After the forum.
Wait a few days (no more than a week) to contact the recruiter by email or phone. And if your application wasn't successful, try again later.
Published January 25, 2008
emploi.france5
