Hospitality career fairs are like a rehearsal for a job
interview. You have the opportunity to meet with prospective employers, present
your skills and credentials, and plan your employment strategy. But as with any
job interview, you must prepare properly to make the most of the fair.
First a couple definitions: there are job fairs and career
fairs. Job fairs in the hospitality industry are generally hosted by individual
organizations, like Starbuck’s looking to fill specific positions and holding
their own recruitment days, or big resorts hiring seasonal staff. Career fairs,
on the other hand, are organized by universities and colleges on the
institution’s premises, where job seekers looking for a hotel job, for
instance, can visit booths run by Starwood, Hyatt,
Delta, Fairmont
and others. If you’re embarking on a hospitality career, these fairs are ideal
for getting the right information on the industry.
“It’s all about approachability and access,” says Jordan
Romoff of Lecours Wolfson, a North American recruiter of hospitality
executives, managers and chefs. “Career fairs provide potential employees with
information, a friendly face and access to potential employers in their chosen
career. There’s a huge difference in taking your resume to the HR director at a
major hotel and possibly getting a reply or not and going to that career fair where
you can make a personal connection, show up, shake hands, get a card. You’ve already
had the first interview and can move directly to the second stage.”
Why the career fair?
The shortage of talent in the hospitality industry has made
the career fair an indispensable recruitment tool for hospitality companies
hiring both reactively and proactively – for specific positions and future
openings. Says Romoff, “Successful companies at career fairs are there
proactively. They are attending whether they need people or not. They’re
getting the message out, ‘this is a great place to work, we’re interested in
talking to you.’” In addition to scouting for talent, they are also branding
themselves, putting their companies on the map, and creating a positive buzz
among job seekers.
How can I make the most of the career fair?
You need a strategy to attend career fairs successfully so
you avoid information overload and hone your search, just as you would if you
were sifting through job postings online.
“The best way to approach a career fair is to become
prepared,” says Mary L. Douglas, Director of
Placement, Conrad H. Hilton College, University
of Houston. “That means
dressed professionally with several professional resumes and most of all,
research on the companies that you plan to talk to. I have a career fair in my
college each semester. The students get a list of the companies that will be in
attendance, and I insist that they do research. They should be prepared to
listen to the company representative, they should be prepared to ask questions
about the company as well. They should leave a resume with the representative and
get a business card. The next day or so, they should follow up with a thank
letter or note indicating that they enjoyed speaking with them about job
possibilities and look forward to hearing from them.”
Tips to benefit from your hospitality career fairs
- Get
the list of presenters before
you attend the fair.
- Concentrate
your time with potential employers who are closely aligned with your
vision. For instance, if you’re interested in a career with a large hotel
chain with properties worldwide, find out which of these companies will be
attending.
- Research
your “hit list” beforehand. Online information coupled with the career
fairs makes you a more intelligent job seeker.
- Set
your goal for the fair. Your strategy should be to come away with an
opportunity for follow-up and/or an interview. “The fair is designed to
break down the wall that might exist between job seeker and employer,
provide access and approachability, in a setting that’s less formal than a
meeting,” says Romoff. “There’s less stress, and you’re not put on the
spot and evaluated through a series of questions.”
- Make
sure your resume is up-to-date and professional, and bring several copies
to give to prospective employers.
- Engage
employers in conversation about their businesses, their possible openings,
and where you might fit into their organization.
- Don’t
forget your follow-up. This ensures potential hospitality employers know
you’re interested and available.
After attending a career fair, the door should be wide open
for you!