How to Screw Up at a Career Fair

I recently attended a career fair here in Delaware and saw or heard many of the scenarios outlined below. A few I added from other career fair experiences, but not many! This is no commentary on Delawareans or those seeking to work in Delaware – I commonly see and hear many of these egregious examples at job fairs I attend across the region.

If you don’t want to be hired by attending a career fair:

• Bring your child/children (no matter how young, old, cute, well behaved, calm, mature). No one, not the children, you, other attendees, or employers will benefit.
• Bring your dog. Everyone can hear it barking from the car in the parking lot, including you! It’s never a good idea to leave your dog alone in the car anyway.
• Ask about benefits and raises. Everyone wants them – this can be discussed closer to the job offer.
• Wear knee high stockings with a skirt, even a long one – the split is above the stocking line and clearly visible from behind, in case you wondered.
• Tell a recruiter/potential employer you don’t want to “waste” a resume on them – bring enough to waste on every employer there and then some. You don’t know from where your next job offer will come yet.
• Wear jeans, shorts, t-shirt, muscle shirt or ill-fitting, or bad looking clothing. Ask someone whose opinion you care about how you look – they will tell you.
• Wear pink sunglasses to match with your capri’s that have a large embroidered pink flower on the leg. This is good advice on any day.
• Wear perfume or smoke what smells like an entire pack of cigarettes before attending. Many people are allergic to perfumes and no one likes the smell of stale cigarette smoke.
• Leave your glasses at home if you need them to read. What? You really didn’t think you would have to read anything at the job fair?

I hope this clears things up!

For some positive tips on making the most of out a career fair, you may also want to review the following sites:

• http://www.quintcareers.com/career_fair_resources.html
• http://www.quintcareers.com/job_career_fairs.html
• http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobseeker/careerfairs/careerfairtips.aspx

This article was meant to be tongue in cheek and not to offend anyone. That having been said, if you are guilty of any of the preceding: Don’t do it again! Good luck on your job search.

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