We’ve all been to career fairs where the company reps can’t genuinely or accurately answer our questions. Most commonly, it happens at tabling events when stressed soon-to-be graduates are inquiring with dozens of HR reps for companies. These are the type of conversations some can quickly peg as fruitful or a waste of time.
For me, the career fair phase passed, and, yes, my Atomic Object encounter was the turning point. Unlike a lot of companies I looked into post-grad, Atomic does young talent hiring the right way — the way a lot of big names either refuse to or are in too deep to realize what they’re missing out on. I’ve now had the pleasure to experience both sides of tabling Atomic Object style. These three takeaways are a great starting point to turn your employee’s career fair performance from dry and automated to fulfilling and effective (for both parties involved).
1. Dress to express — not just impress.
Close your eyes and picture a networking or career tabling event: well-dressed person after person, a room filled with blazers, neutral tones, blue collars, or mandated company polos. We’ve all heard the phrase “dress to impress” or even “dress for success.” Don’t get me wrong, there is merit in that advice – enough that it has been ingrained into the professional world. But regulating what is “acceptable” or “professional” has also created a uniformity that can feel stale.
One thing we can all agree on is that you should want to stand out. Everyone wants to be noticed, heard, liked, and, most importantly, remembered. So as an Atom, I see your “dress to impress” standard and raise you one higher: dress to express. You can still look professional while showcasing your personality. We’re just humans talking to other humans, each with unique passions and personalities. So, next time you’re getting ready for a career fair, wear something that makes you smile—a fun tie, a cool patterned shirt, or quirky earrings. Who knows, maybe they’ll remember you as “the person with the dope shoes and pink hair.” It makes a lasting impression and shows that your company has some personality too.
2. Get real experience, beyond general HR reps.
No one wants to waste their time, especially at a career fair. But too often, you find yourself talking to HR reps who don’t know much beyond the fact that they’re hiring for a certain role. You ask specific questions, and they can’t offer anything deeper than, “Yeah, we have an IT department.” It’s frustrating. We all want to have a beneficial (hopefully interesting) conversation with the person on the other side of the table.
Atomic does it right. At our career fairs, the people at the table are experienced professionals who know the ins and outs of the job. When I first met Atomic employees, I was talking with a real developer, someone I could see myself following in the footsteps of. They were personable, transparent, encouraging, and had first-hand details about the open positions! Once hired and actively in the Accelerator Program, I got to pass it on. I tabled a career fair with one of Atomic’s Accelerator Managers – someone who is deeply educated about and truly cares for this process. Having employees who can speak directly to the candidate’s future role is a game-changer in reaching the right candidates.
3. Get Them In the Pipeline—Resumes Are Only the Beginning
When you’re handed a paper resume at a career fair, be honest, what does the rest of its life include?… More often than not I think we can admit that it ends up in a dusty stack of papers or the final resting place of a recycling bin. In the best case scenario, it helps to remember a name, face, and add some brownie points if a real application follows it. Nowadays, paper resumes being handed out at career fairs are only useful for three things: potential conversation topics, scattered note-taking, and a speckle of shown effort on the candidate’s part.
At Atomic, we’re transparent about what really matters: getting into the pipeline. There is value in the commitment of a candidate. And a greater showcase of it than paper resumes is seeing them take the tangible step of applying, and getting into the hiring pipeline. Career fairs are a way to get our name out there, a way to find talent and seek potential matches. But if we want to track the talent that comes along, they’ll need to take that extra effort to get in the system. So, yes, resumes are nice, but what we’re really looking for is follow-through.
Best Practices for Career Fairs
After working my first career fair with Atomic Object and the legendary Dylan Goings, I’m confident in the value of these practices. And after attending career fairs as a student and now as an employee, I’m also confident that there are so many companies doing it wrong. We owe it to ourselves. To the success and investment of our businesses. And (most importantly) to the students and graduates working their asses off to impress and connect with the right fit for their future. The least we can do is be transparent, informative, and personable in the process.