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Job fairs are excellent places to learn, network and land a job, but it is very important that you prepare before attending the event. The big job fairs can be overly-crowded, competitive, confusing events. It's also hard to leave lasting impressions when hundreds of job seekers were at the booths before you, with hundreds more after. Follow these simple tips to increase your chances of landing that right job!

Know which employers are attending
Conference web sites are a wealth of information. You'll see links to the job fair on most sites with a list of the attending employers and other relevant information such as open positions and majors sought. Some events, like SIGGRAPH, advertise the jobs weeks prior to the event so job seekers and employers can connect prior to the show and set up interviews at the job fair. If there's no information within a month of the fair, contact the sponsor and ask.

Do enough research to make "A" & "B" lists of employers to meet
Depending on the fair and how many employers interest you, you might not have time to speak with every one (and every employer may not be offering what you seek). You don't need to study a company’s financial reports to prepare, but you do need to have some sense of what the organization does, and if there is a fit between your skills and interests and the employer's needs. Also, if you're looking for more than one type of job you'll need to know which employers are looking for what so you can give each employer an appropriate resume.

Bring plenty of copies of your resume. You might need to prepare more than one version. Creative job seekers should also bring copies of their demo reel and/or portfolio.
Always take paper resumes to a job fair, even if you submitted your resume in advance to an employer. Even if the employer has a print resume book in hand, they won't have time to look up yours. And if you're looking for more than one type of position, each being significantly different, you may need two different versions of your resume, each tailored to support the different objective. If you are in a creative role (e.g. artist, designer, animator etc.), bring copies of your portfolio and/or demo reel so companies can see a sampling of your best work on the spot and review it after the event. Seeing your reel/art files will go a long way to convincing an employer you have the right skills for a specific creative job. Similar to having multiple resumes for significantly different roles, if a creative job seeker is interested in say animation, as well as modeling opportunities, they should have multiple demo reels that spotlight the relevant skills and work.

Prepare a 20 to 30 second “elevator” introduction to use with employers
You don't want to sound like a telephone solicitor reading a script, but do want to sound like you thought about why you're there. Keep it brief and mention your full name, current and/or past roles, job(s) you’re interested in and a key project you have worked on. Something like “Hi, I am Joe Smith, an animator who has worked or is working at ABC company on X project(s). I am interested in your Lead Animator position, and have copies of my resume and demo reel for your review.” Keep in mind that some employer representatives may take control of the conversation quickly and you may do more listening than speaking, but you do want to be prepared to be proactive rather than passive.

Know the dress code
Each fair has its own styles and traditions. Some are casual, others are business casual; some even suggest or require interview attire. Again, see what the fair sponsor says about attire on their web site or other promotional materials. If they don't tell, contact the fair sponsor and ask.

Whether you have 10 years experience or are just starting out, you will need a great demo reel to help advance your career. Employers can literally get thousands of demos for a single position, so how do you make yours rise above the rest?

Start by following these simple guidelines:

• Stick to your strengths! This may sound obvious but if you’re a modeler, don’t try to animate your models. While it’s good to show you have a variety of skills, be selective on what you choose to showcase and always highlight your strengths.

• Always give credit where credit is due! Be sure to convey your skills throughout your reel with a shot breakdown. Don’t include a 30 second movie or cut scene without explaining your part in it because if a hiring manager has to request a breakdown, this will hold up your review process and possibly get you passed on all together.

• Keep it concise! Hiring may be a low priority on a hiring manager’s plate and the amount of time he/she can designate to reviewing demos limited. It’s likely the ‘keep’ or ‘toss’ decision will be made within the first 30 seconds so put your best work first and keep the total running time under 3 minutes.

• Show diversity! Staying within your area of expertise, mix in realism, stylized, and classic examples in your portfolio to show you can work in any genre or style asked of you.

• Keep it updated! Don’t be caught off guard looking for work without access to your most recent and possibly best work.

• And lastly, be respectful! You don’t know the tastes or demeanor of the person reviewing your demo so avoid obnoxious music or crass humor. Just because you like it or find it funny, it’s no guarantee the reviewer will.

A website is ideal to showcase your work. CreativeHeads.net is a great online resource that offers free demo reel hosting and many other career related services. Your media can be easily uploaded to the site for simple access. http://www.creativeheads.net

Finally, be sure to bring hard CD copies of your demo reel to all interviews. The idea is to open the door with a great demo, and slam-dunk the interview with your work ethic and positive attitude! Happy hunting!