1.  Dress Professionally:   Clothing should fit well and be clean and neat. In general, your clothing should be appropriate to the position you hope to attain. In Hawaii, an aloha shirt (always tucked in) and dress slacks for men and a dress or skirt and blouse for women are always appropriate. Rubber slippers, T-shirts, jeans or shorts are never appropriate. Club Pearl is not air conditioned so it is especially important to stay away from fabrics that wrinkle easily--instead choose light weight materials that breathe well in our tropical climate.

2.  Things to Bring:  If you have a resume, definitely bring plenty of copies. This will save you a lot of time filling out applications and enable you to show off the skills you want an employer to see. If you don't have a resume, at the very least, bring a copy of your work history to include company name, address, phone number, supervisor’s name, your job title and the salary you received. In addition, have a list of your educational and professional training, with dates completed, and at least three references with addresses and phone numbers (make sure you ask them first!). This information will allow you to fill out job applications right there at the job fair. There is usually seating available around the club for job seekers to sit down and fill out applications. Always make sure you provide the employer with a way to contact you, both now and possibly three to six months into the future.

If you have business cards, bring them -- these are always good for networking. Bring pens, a note pad and an appointment calendar to schedule interviews. Keep in mind that many of the mainland companies attending the JEMS Job Fair conduct interviews or administer tests at a pre-arranged location the day after the job fair, so you may want to keep that day open in your calendar. Our local companies will usually be able to offer a more flexible interview schedule.

3.  Arriving at the JEMS Job Fair:  You may park in the Bachelor Quarters’ parking area adjacent to Club Pearl and there may be additional parking at Block Arena. You may be asked to show your military identification card at the door as well as filling out a short registration form. Make sure you pick up a job fair directory at that time. The directory will contain the room layout with each company’s location. In addition, the directory has an alphabetical listing of the participating companies with their address, telephone number and/or website, the locations were they are recruiting for and the names of the company representatives. Use the directory to assist you in making the most of your time by planning which companies you most want to establish contact with. The directory can help you find the companies you want to talk to at the job fair and provide you with a valuable networking resource after the job fair. If at any time you need assistance, please stop by the information or registration tables and someone will be able to help you.

4.  During the JEMS Job Fair:  Networking is basically establishing a one-on-one contact with another person (in this case, the company representative); therefore, if you come with friends you should split up and arrange a time to meet after you have finished. Be prepared to make a 30 second introduction that includes information about your skills and talents that will be of interest to the company’s recruiter. Be prepared to answer questions as well as ask some of your own. Definitely take notes on who you talked to and any pertinent information you will need to know on how to follow-up with the company for possible job openings.

5.  After the JEMS Job Fair:  Follow-up on all leads and show up for all appointments you make.

6.  IN GENERAL:   JEMS Job Fairs are very popular and, therefore, very crowded, so please keep in mind: Expect a crowd and plan for it. Parking can be a hassle, so plan on spending some extra time to find a parking place. Carpooling is definitely encouraged.

Maintaining a positive attitude is extremely important. Your patience, understanding and friendliness in this crowded area, a well-written resume and your “sharp” appearance will serve you well. Assuming you are qualified for a position, these intangible characteristics may actually be the deciding factor in getting you an interview and job offer. Always be professional and always be prepared.

JEMS WISHES YOU SUCCESS IN YOUR JOB SEARCH EFFORTS.