Artisan Creative is celebrating 20 years of recruiting and being part of the Los Angeles creative community this year. In this time we have learned a thing or two that we’d like to share with you in the first blog of our 20/20 series. 20 blogs celebrating 20 years of creative recruiting! Enjoy.
Do you find job fairs are a whirlwind of elevator pitches and business cards? You’ve given your pitch to an employer, now what? We’ve put together a checklist to guide you and ensure you get the best out of the day.
This Saturday, Artisan Creative will be joining TechJobsLA for a job fair aimed at creatives and developers. We have sponsored and participated in this event for the past several years and look forward to seeing you there.
411 on TechJobsLA
TechJobsLA is a specialized job fair aimed at designers and developers including a series of incredible workshops and speakers. This year Artisan Creative’s founder, Jamie Douraghy will be holding a workshop on Discovering your Why. We all know what we do, and how we do it…do we know why we do what we do? Come join us.
TechJobsLA is an opportunity to meet recruiters, hiring managers, startups and companies as well as a chance to network and learn new skills. This year’s event will have a dedicated digital entertainment panel. They’ll be discussing trends and answering questions. Artisan Creative founder, Jamie Douraghy will be holding a Discover Your Why Workshop.
Here are 20 tips to prepare for this and any future job fair:
BEFORE:
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Modify your resume so you have tailored versions to suit specific industries and companies.
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Print out your resume. Make a lot of copies, and we mean a lot! Keep them in a folder.
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Make a one-sheet of your best projects to go with your resume.
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Research beforehand to see what companies will be there.
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Dress well. Dress as if you’re going for an interview. We’re in the creative industry — suited and booted isn’t always necessary, but do dress well.
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Be early. Get there early so you can mingle before the crowds come in
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Volunteer. Where possible volunteer to help out during the day. You’ll get a first chance to meet the exhibitors, have one one one conversations, and make an impression.
DURING:
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Skill match. Each booth has a focus. If a booth doesn’t match your skills thank them and move onto the next one.
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Open jobs. At each table, ask about their open jobs and see if there’s anything that’s a match for you. This is a perfect opportunity for face-to-face time with hiring managers and recruiters.
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Collect business cards to keep track of who you have met. If you work in design, make sure your card is unique. At the last TechJobsLA, Artisan Creative received a scratch and sniff card! Loved it! How’s that for making an impression?
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Have your elevator pitch! Don’t be vague when you’re asked: “What is it that you do?” Give a concise and clear answer e.g. “I’m a visual designer specializing in entertainment and technology. I’ve worked with XYZ and now I’m looking for a senior position.” It’s much more valuable to both you and the employer.
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Attend workshops. What you can learn from workshops can be invaluable to your personal and professional development.
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Ask questions of the speakers and companies – it’s an easy way to stand out.
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Take a notebook to jot down any job leads and next steps.
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Handshakes & Eye contact. Be firm. Make a connection.
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Phone usage to be kept to a minimum. Emails and Instagram will have to wait.
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Be friendly. Talk to the other attendees. You never know where your next job lead can come from.
AFTER:
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Follow-up b y emailing a copy of your resume and thanking them for their time.
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Jobs Alerts. Sign up for RSS feeds and job alerts of companies you met.
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Reflect on the day and what you did well.
Are you attending this Saturday’s TechJobsLA at BLANKSPACES DTLA? Come and have a chat with us at our table. Please review our open jobs page ahead of time, and follow us on social for tips on interviewing, resumes and job search best practices.