Get the most from your Jobs Fair visit with our ‘Ask the Employer’ Top Tips! Questions to ask at a Jobs Fair!
Jobs Fairs really are a great way to job seek, whether you are looking for your very first position, an employer move or a change of career direction.
Here at Job Fairs South West we organise Jobs Fairs throughout the year and feedback from attendees is positive – every organisation in the room has real opportunities on offer, and you get the chance to meet the team, something that otherwise wouldn’t usually happen until interview stage.
We do understand though, that looking for a position can be a stressful time and you may be nervous at the thought of coming along, so below we have put together some ‘Ask the Employer’ top tips to help you prepare, and make sure you get the best from attending a Jobs Fair (also known as a Careers Fair or Recruitment Fair).
Don’t forget that you may not have a great deal of time to talk to each employer, as often Jobs Fairs can be busy, so it is important to make the right impression quickly – our Top Ten Tips for Jobs Fair Success blog (Link below) is definitely a worthwhile read too.
Having a list of questions prepared is one of the best ways of making a great first impression, as employers will quickly pick up on your confidence, your interest in them and the fact you have been organised in advance. Whatever role(s) a company has available, these are key attributes their team will be looking for.
1. Ask about Roles Available
This might seem like a no-brainer, and is probably something you’ve already thought of asking, so why include it here? Well, we all know the old adage ‘it’s not what you say but how you say it’, and we’ve put this point at the top of our ‘Ask the Employer’ list as finding other ways to ask this question is a great step in helping you standing out from the crowd.
>>Think about your key skills and experience, and any qualifications you have. Then frame your availability question by asking about which vacancies are on offer where these would be useful/ may be a requirement.
>>Think about the types of job activity that you enjoy carrying out, things about your current position that you relish. Then frame your availability question by asking about what vacancies are available where these tasks may form part of the role, or could do in the future.
>>Think about any flexibility of location, hours or other requirements that a new position would need to offer. Then frame your availability question by asking about which vacancies would suit your needs, or where these might best be accommodated.
>>Think about timescales – how quickly are you looking to start a new role? What plans would you need to put in place before you could take up a new role, and are there any existing commitments you would need to factor into a start date? Do you need to give notice to your current employer, and if so, how long is the notice period? Then frame your availability question by asking about which vacancies would best suit your timescales.
2. Ask about the Hiring Process
Once you have engaged with a potential employer about specific roles, don’t forget to delve deeper so you gain a good understanding of the way the organisation carries out its recruitment process.
>>Think about closing dates. Are these positions newly advertised with plenty of time for applications, or are there deadlines looming in the near future? If suitable roles are coming soon, how and where will they be advertised? Is there the opportunity for you to be contacted when the roles go live, or will you need to keep an eye out, and if so, where?
>>Think about stages and requirements, as these can vary greatly from company to company. Will you be required to submit a CV, or is there a specific application form that will need completing? How does the organisation shortlist candidates and what format do interviews take? What timescales does the employer work to for the process overall and the timings between the various hiring stages?
3. Ask about the Company
Again, this may seem obvious, but as previously mentioned, how you ask about the nature of the organisation can be a great way to show potential employers your interest and aptitude. Avoid ‘So, what does your company do?’ at all costs!
>>Think about carrying out preparation beforehand. Often Jobs Fairs advertise lists in advance detailing which organisations will be present at the event, or maybe there’s a poster showing recruiter logos? Take a look at the company profile online and then frame your question around a particular aspect of the firm’s operations or services that interests you the most.
>>Think about recent news and innovations. Taking a look at a particular organisation’s website, blogs and social media can often give you some insight into news from the recent past and plans for the near future, as well as giving you a feel for how they operate (and more on that below). This is a worthwhile exercise in building up your knowledge, and asking questions based on what you’ve seen/ read is another excellent way of putting across that all important first impression.
>>Think about USPs and points of difference. Asking questions about what makes a particular organisation stand out in their sector, as well as in comparison to their competitors, is always revealing, and is often something companies are keen to discuss. Don’t forget that being attractive to potential employees is a recruiter’s number one task, so ask away!
4. Ask about the Recruiter
This really isn’t as odd as it seems – the team members manning the stand at a Jobs Fair are representatives of their organisation, so finding out a little more about them should give you some valuable insight into what it is like to work for the company. Moreover, by asking questions about the recruiter and their experiences, it demonstrates once again that you are keen, and will make you more memorable.
Suggestions are:
>>What role do you have in the organisation and how long have you worked for them?
>>What drew you to the organisation?
>>What are the things you like most about working for the organisation?
It is also worth asking whether they themselves will be part of the hiring process, and also if they mind you making a note of their names. Mentioning them, and the Jobs Fair, would be a nice touch in any covering letter/ email you submit, or during interviews.
5. Ask about Next Steps
Hopefully by using the above hints and tips at the Jobs Fair stand you will have been able to gather lots of useful information about suitable jobs that are available, as well as getting a real feel for the organisation itself. Before you move on though, don’t forget to ask about next steps!
If you’ve taken along a CV, can you leave this with them? Can you give the team your contact details to be added to their database for upcoming opportunities? Is there an online sign up/registration process? And, for any live job vacancies that you are interested in, just double check that you have the application process clear in your mind.
Somerset Jobs have a number of Jobs Fairs coming up across the year, as well as publicising events held by other organisations we work with.
For all the latest details please check our Job Fair events guide.
