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 in the lobby 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:
Parking: You may park in the Bachelor Quarters’ parking area
adjacent to Club Pearl and there may be additional parking at Block Arena.
Job Fair Directory: Make sure
you pick up a job fair directory. 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.
Job Match Board: To help you find the companies that have job openings in your area of interest,
JEMS has created a Job Match Board listing 20 various work categories and
employers will be able to list their companies' names under the categories
where they have current job openings. We used this board last year and it
received overwhelmingly positive responses from both job seekers and
employers alike, so we are going to offer it again this year! The Job Match
Board will be posted in the club lobby - check it out and then visit the
companies that match up with your interests.
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 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.