Tips for a successful 2011 HACE Career Conference

It goes without saying that a job candidate must bring multiple copies of their resume to a career fair. The real question then is ‘how should you hand them out, and who exactly should you hand them to?’ This article will give you an effective game plan for seeking employment at the 2011 HACE Chicago Career Conference and your overall search for the right job.

In 2010, I drove 1800 miles from Arizona to Chicago in search of a job. Before leaving Tucson I did some research and focused my attention on the HACE Career Conference. Without knowing anyone, or the blessing of having a single employment prospect, I was able to land several successful job interviews in my first few days, and a very good offer of employment (which I accepted) within 2 weeks of the start of my search.

I am going to share with you the secrets of my employment tactics, with the goal of helping you achieve the career objective you are seeking. This article will give you a strong game plan for seeing employment. Feel free to leave notes and comments below, with the goal of helping others with their search. Best of luck during the 2011 HACE Chicago Career Conference!

Research the companies ahead of time-

Look for open positions on the companies’ websites and print the detailed listing with you to the event. Having pre-knowledge of the open positions will make for a better conversation with the HR associates. If you utilize nothing else but this step, you will have more success than most of the other conference attendees. Also, be familiar and knowledgeable about the organization and that companies’ industry; don’t be afraid to use this information to your advantage by saying how your previous experience makes you the ideal candidate!

Perfect yourself before attendance-

Practice a 30-second pitch to keep the HR professional’s attention when you meet them face-to-face. There is will many distractions in the forms of other job-searchers seeking attention, and loud noises from the crowds, you have to establish a quick and effective conversation hook to keep the companies’ spokesman involved. A good way to practice is to loudly play the radio with some vocal filled music and start talking to someone with the goal of maintaining eye contact and conversation flow. You know this will be mastered when your smile shows on the face of the person across from you.

Make a plan of attack at the convention-

With a list of the key employers you want to visit first, plan to see them last. If you are like me the day of the career fair, you will be nervous. Use the employers you don’t have that much interest in to strengthen your conversation skills and build your confidence by practicing first on them. This strategy will make you more relaxed and confident when you do approach the firms you are targeting. Always dress for success and NEVER forget to wear your smile! Another important point: keep your eye open to opportunities that only become apparent to you at the event; such as an employer/industry you overlooked which now looks interesting, or other job-seekers/groups who can help future long term career success.

Post event analysis and Strategy-

The best use of your time after the event is to start exploring positions at other employers within the same industries of the companies you showed interest in at the event. Your strength in this approach is that you now have industry knowledge direct from the HR representatives themselves (by asking the right questions): which can be used to strengthen your applications and interviews in the future. Remember to assess your strategies and use of the above skills and adjust as appropriate. Dedicate yourself to be the best job seeker you can by perfecting yourself for the task- your future employer will notice.

You now have a strategy that will give the career search advantage you are looking for. Keep focused and show confidence that success will come your way- and it will! Good Luck in your search at the 2011 HACE Career Conference! Leave your personal career search tips and suggestions below!

--Steven Gonzales

Banker, Bank of America