Dressing the Part at Job Fairs

01/15/2013

Curtis Burk -- Job fairs can be your first opportunity to interact one-on-one with employers. But in order to be perceived as a potential job prospect, you need to look and act the part.

Here's what to wear:
Your guide to job fair preparation

Job fairs are a wonderful place to make contact with a multitude of industry professionals. You can meet members of prominent government offices at a DC fair, for example. But in order to be perceived as a potential job prospect, you need to look and act the part. The following is a guide to dressing the part at fairs.

The blazer
While they impart a sense of authority and responsibility in a way that no other article of clothing can batch, wearing a blazer can, unfortunately, be subject to the temperature. If you are attending a Boston fair in January, a blazer is definitely a viable option. And even if you are attending an LA job fair in August, there's always the chance that the venue is well air-conditioned. But nobody likes a sweaty job applicant, so if you feel remotely uncomfortable wearing a blazer, you shouldn't feel bad about taking it off to maintain a polished appearance. Just make sure the rest of your ensemble "works" without the blazer.

The top
Women have a lot more leeway when it comes to clothing in general, so it comes as no surprise that women can wear a number of different tops... underneath a blazer. If, as mentioned above, a blazer is impractical, women will need to try a little harder. Even LA fair attendees shouldn't wear a camisole to a fair. A button-down top is always an option, as is a modest blouse in a neutral color. Men, of course, have it easy -- just wear an ironed button-down top and a conservative tie. Make sure all clothing fits properly, even if this means visiting a tailor before a job. Baggy clothes look sloppy and tight clothes are inappropriate for most professional environments.

The bottom
Men can wear slacks in black or another dark, neutral color. Women may wear trousers or skirts in a neutral color. Make sure skirts are not too short -- they should hit around the knee. If you are attending a Boston fair during the colder months, make sure you wear stockings so you legs don't freeze between your car and the career fair.

The shoes
Wear shoes that are polished and completely unscuffed. Women should limit heel heights to one or two inches.

The extras
Bring several copies of your résumé, carried either in a briefcase or a folder. Bring a legal pad to take notes. And smile -- likeability can go a long way toward getting your foot in the door.

Attend United Career Fairs and meet with hiring companies and their decision makers in a Boston job fair. We are also provide DC job fairs and LA job fairs for job seekers. Set yourself apart from other candidates and enjoy the career of your dreams.
© 2013 Curtis Burk

By the Book By: Joshua Casto

It's important for employees to respect the rules that govern employment, but employers must also do their part by having sensible, clear, and updated polices.

What's it cost? A 2011 Cisco survey showed that 70% of employees broke company IT rules. One third said they didn't understand the rules. Another fifth of them said they expected no consequences or rewards for breaking or following the rules.

There are valid reasons behind your rules and policies. Establish respect for them. Here are a few steps you can use to get your employees to conduct themselves "by the book":

1. Clarify the expectations up front. Introduce the rules in the hiring phase. For existing employees, announce rules and consequences in company meetings. Creating a new rule or enforcing an old one, especially one that's been abused for some time, starts with clarity.

2. Establish the rules' relevance. Explain the reasoning behind your rule, and be prepared to back it up statistically or, at least, anecdotally. Show how the rules are not just arbitrary, but help the company maintain its profits and its brand as well as fairness among employees.

3. Mentor employees throughout the process. The more you explain, illustrate, demonstrate, and model compliance with the rules, the more likely employees are to adhere to them. If you just hand them a document with the rules, they will likely apply their own interpretation to which are necessary and which aren't.

4. Reward Compliance. Your policies should cover the consequences for breaking the rules. But you should be equally prepared to reward compliance. Acknowledge an individual's respect for the rules by thanking him or rewarding him. On a grander scale, you could create positive peer compliance by scheduling celebrations for periods without an infraction and providing doughnuts, pizza, etc.

(Hint: Be sure to use the "platinum" rule for #4. Instead of rewarding others as YOU would want to be rewarded, reward others as THEY would want to be rewarded. A gift card to a coffee shop is useless to someone who doesn't drink coffee. And pizza won't be much good to someone who is on a diet. Know what motivates and is appreciated by those you work with. This will help your acknowledgements go much further.)

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Employers should expect employees to follow the rules. Employees should expect that rules and consequences be clear, relevant, and sensible. Employees also deserve to have the rules explained and modeled by their supervisors.

Someone once said... "We have the means to change the laws we find unjust or onerous. We cannot, as citizens, pick and choose the laws we will or will not obey." - Ronald Regan

___________________________________________________________________________________ The Center for Work Ethic Development 2525 16th Street, Suite 214 Denver, Colorado 80211 United States (303) 433-3243