Making the Most of the Fair
The Guardian London Graduate Fair from The Careers Group has been helping people launch and develop their careers for over 30 years. So how can we help you?
Meeting the right people
The majority of job-seeking is now done online, but the advantage of coming to the Fair is that you get to meet the recruitment teams from the companies you are interested in applying to.
This is a unique opportunity to get the information you want to know, not what their website tells you. You can make a lasting impression, putting yourself ahead of other candidates.
If you’re a bit shy about approaching exhibitors, don’t worry – they are there to help you. Here are some tips:
1) As you approach, make eye contact so they are ready to talk to you
2) If they are busy, don’t be afraid to stay a close distance so they know you are waiting.
3) If you know what sort of job you are looking for, tell them and ask if they have anything similar.
4) If you don’t, tell them your academic (and professional) background and ask them what they have on offer.
5) Don’t forget to exchange contact details, should you wish to ask more questions or submit an application.
CVs
Don’t forget to bring plenty of CVs to the Fair to hand out to the companies you are interested in. They may not accept them as job applications but they will at least have your contact details should they want to speak to you further.
You can of course also take it to our CV Surgery to get it checked, for free, by a professional careers adviser.
Plan your day
Exhibitors, presentations, workshops, application form checks, C2 appointments… With so many services available at the Fair you should try to plan your day in advance to make sure you can squeeze everything in.
Here are some suggestions for things you could do to prepare in advance:
1) Research some of the exhibitors to see which are the ones most relevant to you
2) Identify which presentations and workshops you want to attend, and plan your day around those
3) Book a C2 appointment in advance so that you get to pick the best time
4) Beat the queues and get your CV checked in advance either at your college careers service or using the C2 Careers e-Advice service