Be sure job fair contacts aren’t forgotten Fort Knox TAP Staff Six years ago, a former staff member of the Fort Knox TAP office (Ms. Julia Park) composed an article for the 2008 Job Fair and reminisced about her first job fair experience at TAP. It bears as much relevancy today as it did then. “I don’t remember a lot from the first job fair I attended more than 10 years ago. As an Army Career and Alumni Program staff member, my duties were to assist with directing attendees and employers to the correct tables and providing basic information. I was a little overwhelmed. Outside the building, the parking was atrocious and inside the job fair was extremely noisy and crowded. In our after-action report, attendance was listed at more than 1,400, employer critiques were positive, and it was considered a success for our office. But the one thing that I really remember occurred after the official end of the job fair. Two corporate recruiters were clearing out their booth. It was at the end of the day and they had a plane to catch. In their hurry, the water pitcher was bumped, spilling its entire contents onto the table covering the pile of resumes they had collected. They quickly wiped off dripping wet resumes, shoved the messy pile into their cardboard box, and left. For those attendees who had given this company their resume, their information had probably been lost in a blur of ink, and the job fair was not a success. While you can’t ensure that accidents won’t happen, you can ensure that your name won’t be lost and increase your chance of success by sending a “thank you” letter. The business cards you collected during the job fair should provide you with a physical mailing address or an e-mail and the corporate recruiter’s name and title. Sending an e-mail or a hand-written note by mail is a matter of personal choice. Regardless of which method you choose, thank you letters are very short and to the point and should always be addressed to an individual. If you apply the five W’s (who, what, where, why, and when) then you should be able to cover everything in a few sentences. • WHO: Your first line should be addressed to the person with whom you spoke. • WHAT: Your next line can cover what and where by thanking the individual for taking the time to speak with you at the job fair last week. • WHERE: Be specific which job fair you attended, since he or she may be traveling on a circuit. • WHY: Your next sentence can address why you’re interested in the company and why you’re the best qualified. • WHEN: End your thank you letter with when you can be contacted. For example, I can be contacted at this number or by e-mail. You’ve taken the time to prepare for this event by creating your resume, practicing your introduction speech, reviewing interview questions, researching company information, and purchasing appropriate apparel and miscellaneous items such as a portfolio. So you should ensure that your transition to a civilian job is not a wash-out but a success by scheduling an appointment with an TAP counselor for assistance with the thank you letter.” To help you prepare the 22nd of OCT Job Fair! Saber and Quill club from 10am to 3 pm, we are offering a series of three short seminars preceding the Job Fair. The seminars are short 3-hour classes that discuss the various aspects of: How to Prepare for the Job Fair; What to do at the Job Fair; Difficult questions to prepare to be asked; How to Dress; and What to do after the Job Fair. The seminars are scheduled on 03 OCT, 10 OCT & 17 OCT, from 0900 to 1200 in building 1378, basement floor classroom #2. Call us at: 502-624-5222 or 624-2227 to make appointments to attend. There are only 50 seats in each session so the sooner you make an appointment the better the odds you will be able to reserve a seat.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Sep 2014 01:22:46 +0000
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