“Job fairs for older job-seekers” |
| Job fairs for older job-seekers Posted: 09 Oct 2010 05:46 PM PDT In a rush to emphasize their tech savvy, some older job seekers may be missing out on a great way to market their skills for a second career, experts say. Old-fashioned, face-to-face job fairs are still an effective way to generate leads and stand out from your less-seasoned competition, but many would-be workers aren't making the most of the experience, said William Weightman, an administrator who runs job fairs in New Jersey. They may, of course, be daunted by the stubbornly high unemployment rate, figuring the companies aren't really serious about hiring. "We're in a difficult time. Companies aren't hiring by the hundreds but may be looking for a few people, and they're going to scrutinize every hire," said Deborah Russell, director of work-force issues for AARP. How to make the most of a job fair? Consider these tips: Slow down. "Not taking time to chat" is one of fair goers' biggest mistakes, said Weightman. A lot of participants race through a fair picking up materials and fail to engage company representatives in conversation, he said. Your ability to engage them in discussions about the company, while chiming in with a bit of information on yourself, will make them remember you. Given their experience in workplace settings long before social networking Web sites materialized, older workers can really stand out with a strong handshake, direct eye contact and a relaxed demeanor, Weightman said. Dress up. Experts disagree about how dressy job fairs should really be, with some advocating a proper suit-only dress code and others giving a green light to business casual. The trick is dressing for the type of job you want and, above all, making sure your look is fresh and updated for today's workplace. In other words, said Russell, nix the double-breasted suit. Do the homework. Try to get a list in advance of the companies that will attend the fair and research each one, a task vastly easier today with Internet resources, experts said. But don't avoid companies on the list because you've decided they wouldn't have an appropriate job, Weightman said, because "you just never know what companies are looking for." Also, be sure to have plenty of hard copies of your resume: about 40, experts said. Not all companies accept them at these fairs, but you don't want to be without one if an employer asks. Take the freebies. Finally, don't pass up the added features that some job-fair hosts tack on to the events. Some fairs offer workshops or access to career counselors, Internet cafes where participants can learn how to set up networking and other online accounts, and resume services, Russell said. Have a retirement question? Write to yourmoney@tribune.com This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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