How to Assess MS Office Skills

How to Assess MS amtsstube SkillsHow to Assess MS bro SkillsDespite attempts by heavyweights Google and Apple to gain market share, the Microsoft Office suite endures as the most widely used set of desktop applications across industries. They are flexible and easy to use, and they have become a mainstay in every office across the nation. Its no surprise MS Office skills are required for every type of administrative position, from executive assistant at a multinational corporation to receptionist at a property management firm.Tools of the Tradegeschftsleben needs vary, but, in general, the MS Office applications required for most administrative jobs - and why - areOutlook Many admin positions involve scheduling appointments, managing calendars, and creating and maintaining contact and mailing lists.Word For many admins, the most frequent task is composing letters, documents, reports and sales material with this word-processing tool.Excel This program is routinely used in admin jobs to create and maintain expense reports as well as to generate graphs in Word documents and PowerPoint presentations.PowerPoint More and more admins are required to use this program to create slideshow presentations for meetings and online absatzwirtschaft content.The level of knowledge needed for each application depends on the job. An admin who will primarily write letters, answer emails and set up meetings doesnt need to be an expert in Excels Pivot tables. On the other hand, someone who will be entering and manipulating numerical data and generating associated reports and graphs should be talented at Excel.Finding an MS WhizAll this means that, when hiring an administrative professional, one of the skills managers must be on the lookout for is MS Office knowledge. But how do you assess a candidates grasp of the suite, especially those programs and applications that are most pertinent to the job? The candidates resume, assessments tests, and the interview are all essential tools i n evaluating a candidates proficiency, but pay attention to the following in particular1. Experience. A candidate who has already performed very similar tasks in another job likely has the skills you need. Ask not only what office applications the candidate used, but also how they were used. warenmuster for examples. Another opportunity to verify the applicants experience level is during the reference stage. As Panicia Stroski, OfficeTeam Division Director in the San Francisco Bay Area, advises, When doing reference checks, ask previous managers what applications the candidate used in previous roles and how they would rate their proficiency level.2. Courses and certifications. Be on the lookout for solid proof of a candidates proficiency. A 101 Excel course at the community college level indicates basic knowledge of the application. A course taught by an e-learning provider that partners directly with Microsoft or one that offers targeted online learning, such as SkillPort, has more credibility. The number of course hours is a good indication of the depth of the course, as is the type of content. Passing the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) test is valid proof that the candidate has been trained in the software using scenarios that closely resemble everyday situations. The MOS Championship, for the highest-scoring certified members, is evidence of expert skill level.3. Testing. In-person computerized assessments validate a candidates MS Office capabilities. There are tests for evaluating basic, intermediate and advanced proficiency in Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, as well as assessments that focus on particular features of a program. Several companies provide standard assessments, but make sure you choose a reputable one to ensure scores are meaningful. Tiffany Arcaris, Branch Manager at OfficeTeam in Salt Lake City, and Amy Keitt, Branch Manager at OfficeTeam in Baltimore, say they have been using Proveit to assess candidates with excellent results.4. Assembling a kollektiv. Recruiters specializing in finding administrative talent have the tools and experience to evaluate a candidates MS Office skills because they are familiar with the various training and assessment platforms. An admin staffing professional is able to interpret test scores and evaluate skill levels easily, says Tiffany Arcaris. They also know which questions to ask and where to look for red flags, making them ideal for conducting a thorough screening process.5. Interviewing. Once a shortlist of candidates has been selected, its time to conduct interviews in house. Be sure to include on the interview team any supervisors the new employee would report to because they would know firsthand the conditions and requirements of the job, and which specific features of each MS Office program the candidate needs to know to perform their daily tasks. Amy Keitt encourages her clients to hold working interviews, giving applicants a project to complete on software they will b e expected to use most often. She points out, Many candidates who may not necessarily articulate themselves as well during a traditional interview do much better when evaluated in action. Hands-on testing reveals not only the extent of a candidates skill level, but also how long it takes to complete a task.The continued relevance of Microsoft Office programs ensure their high demand in the administrative work world. Assessing a candidates skill set is easier than ever with a range of tools at any hiring managers disposal. Looking to hire a great admin right away? We can help you find candidates with the MS Office skills you need.Interview administrative candidates right awayIf youre hiring an administrative professional, we can help make the process easier. You can see profiles of skilled administrative candidates in your area using our online database. Tell us who catches your eye, and we can arrange an interview or placement ASAP.Find administrative assistant candidates in Austin, TexasFind executive assistant candidates in Boise, IdahoFind receptionist candidates in Charlotte, N.C.Find executive administrative assistant candidates in Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, Calif.Find administrative coordinator candidates in Tucson, Ariz.

Salesman Uses Excel to Get a Job Hundreds Wanted

Salesman Uses Excel to Get a Job Hundreds WantedSalesman Uses Excel to Get a Job Hundreds WantedBryan Stinson used Excel spreadsheets to organize his professional network and had about 100 people helping him look for a job.Bryan Stinsons approach to the job search wont work for everyone. He is methodical. He is patient. He is slow.When he began his most recent job search, he had a job and the resources to take his time. It took him 18 months to find his next position. He likes to say that he doesnt look for a job he looks for a career path.The question I asked myself when weighing the options welches, Will this company provide me with a career path that I want to be on? This job is going to have to get me my next job. He recognizes that his pace wont work for everyone, but some of his tactics can. The methodical approach he took to networking is a lesson in how to marshal your colleagues and friends to help you find the right job. By his own count, Stinson, a technology salesman from Salt Lake City, had about 100 people helping him find a job. Doing it took discipline.Stinson was working as a salesman for a technology company outside Salt Lake City, when the company was acquired in June 2008. His role changed and he was asked to relocate.I asked myself, If I dont see myself in this role long term, why take on a lot of risk, in a new role, with a new manager? It didnt make a lot of sense.Still, acutely aware of the dismal economy, he wasnt ready to leave his job just yet. He spent much of his week making sales trips and softly vorstellungsgesprching, seeing what was out there, polishing my interview skills and testing my resume to see what response I could get. It was just a casual thing, as I tried to figure out what I wanted to do.He spoke to recruiters about potential positions and joined SalesLadder to investigate openings. But because he was working, he didnt feel the need to jump at every job.Part of my approach came from a conversation I had with my broth er, he said. He told me that for every $10,000 you want to earn, you should invest a month in the job you want to find. The right company, the right pay structure - you dont find that overnight. So I wanted to take my time in coming to a decision.100 people looking for a job for meOnce he decided to leave his employer, Stinson used a Microsoft Office Excel spreadsheet to compile a list of everyone he knew.I put everyone on that list - friends from Facebook, LinkedIn contacts, neighbors, business partners I had worked with in the past - and it grew very quickly. When you do that, you think, I dont know that many people, but you surprise yourself how many people you know.Stinson then broke the list down into people to call and people to e-mail, and started contacting people.Once someone knew I was on the market, it was like someone else was working for you, he said. I had 100 people looking for a job for me.One of those people was his former boss. By April, when the company he had been working for was restructured, he was reassigned to a new supervisor, but he remained friends with his previous boss. When he made up his spreadsheet, his former boss was at the top of the list.I reached out to him and we had a general discussion, Stinson said. And about four weeks later he called me and asked if I was still looking, because he knew someone who was looking to hire an account manager.The position, with one of the top five software vendors in the country, was for someone to oversee 10 accounts in the Great Salt Lake Valley of Utah.There were hundreds of people applying for this job, but his recommendation was favored very highly. I was one of three people short-listed for the job, he said.Stinson started his new position in December, and hes happily becoming acquainted with people in Utah, he said.Its ironic, he said, that despite living his entire life in Utah, every job Ive had since graduation has required me to travel to some other location to transact busine ss. I know more people professionally in New York and New Jersey than Utah, he said.I knew I needed to build my professional network in my own backyard.After a long, deliberate search, Stinson said his career path is now clear to him.This is a company that cares about its people and their development. The path to management is clear its available. Its what I was looking for when I started this search.

Create a Work Environment That Encourages Engagement

Create a Work Environment That Encourages EngagementCreate a Work Environment That Encourages EngagementDoes your workplace encourage employee engagement? If not it should. Employee engagement can be a powerful factor in your geschftsleben success. Engaged employees are more productive, customer-focused, and profit-generating and employers are more likely to retain them. Employee engagement is not a Human Resources initiative that managers are reminded to do once a year. Its a key strategic initiative that drives employee performance, accomplishment, and continuous improvement all year long. Just like organizations cant create employee empowerment, employee motivation, or employee satisfaction, engagement is up to the employees who make decisions and choices about how involved they want to be at work. Employees make choices relative to their empowerment, motivation, and satisfaction. These choices are not up to you, the employer. What is the employers responsibility, however, is to c reate a culture and an environment that is conducive to employees making the choices that are good for your geschftsleben. And, engaged employees are good for your business. What Produces an Environment Conducive to Engagement? Consider the following if you need your employees to become more engaged and involved in their work Employee engagement must be a business strategy that focuses on finding engaged employees and then, keeping the employee engaged throughout the whole employment relationship.Employee engagement must focus on business results. Employees are most engaged when they are accountable and can see and measure the outcomes of their performance.Employee engagement occurs when the goals of the business are aligned with the employees goals and how the employee spends his or her time. The glue that holds the strategic objectives of the employee and the business together is frequent, effective communication that reaches and informs the employee at the level and practice of his or her job. Engaged employees have the information that they need to understand exactly and precisely how what they do at work every day affects the companys business goals and priorities. These goals and measurements relate to the Human Resources department, but every department should have a set of metrics.Employee engagement thrives when organizations are committed to management and leadership development in performance development plans that are performance-driven and provide clear succession plans. What Makes Organizations Fail at Employee Engagement? If employee engagement is so crucial to an organizations success, why do organizations pursue it so ineffectively? The answer is that incorporating a business strategy such as employee engagement is hard work- work that many employers dont see as affecting their bottom line immediately. Most organizations implement engagement as a program thats ancillary to the actual business. But, by thinking about employee engagement as a planned business strategy- with expected and measured business results- employee engagement becomes possible. With this in mind, employee engagement as a successful business strategy needs effective managers who are committed to Measuring employee performance and holding employees accountable.Providing the communication necessary to align each employees actions with the organizations overall business goals.Pursuing the employee development required to ensure success.Making a commitment (in time, tools, attention, reinforcement, training, etc.) to keeping employees engaged over the long haul because they fundamentally believe no other strategy will produce as much success- for both the business and the employees. Additional Critical Factors The following factors also influence the willingness of employees to stay engaged and contributing Effective recognition and reward system. Theres valuein a recognition system that lets employees know they are truly worthy. Effective rec ognition always involves verbal or written acknowledgment from the employees manager in addition to any physical reward.Frequent feedback.The downside of the standard employee performance appraisal is that it is a one-time deal. Effective performance feedback takes place every day (minimally, weekly) and there should be interaction with the employees manager. Effective feedback focuses on what the employee is doing well and what needs improvement. It is clear and specific and reinforces the actions that the manager wants to see the employee regularly perform. Shared values and guiding principles.Engaged employees thrive in an environment that reinforces their most deeply held values and beliefs. Employees are most successful in an organization in which their personal values are in sync with the organizations stated values and guiding principles.Demonstrated respect, trust, and emotional intelligence.Employees direct supervisors need to demonstrate that they are personally interested in and care about their employees.Positive relationships with coworkers.Engaged employees need to work, not just with nice people, but with coworkers who are equivalently engaged. Coworkers who demonstrate integrity, teamwork, a passion for quality and serving customers, and are passionate about what they do, make for ideal coworkers who help fosteremployee engagement.

What to Do If Your Job Search Is Making You Depressed

What to Do If Your Job Search Is Making You DepressedWhat to Do If Your Job Search Is Making You DepressedSearching for a job can be challenging and exasperating, but as long as they can see light at the end of the tunnel, many people manage to stay fairly positive about the process.For some job seekers, however, the difficulties of the hunt can push them into depression. Its a mora common problem than you may think, and several factors play into it.A loss of control over ones life can be a primary trigger for depression, especially if a person was in the same job for several years prior to becoming unemployed, according to an article from Workopolis. Other factors that may cause an emotional slide include feelings of uncertainty, shame, or embarrassment, as well as the rejection that comes from failed attempts at landing a new position.Then theres the challenge of making ends meet when youre out of work. Even though a persons employment may have ended, their bills and everyday expen ses arent put on hold, says an article from Career Pivot. Dealing with paying bills, maintaining a roof over ones head, and putting food on the table can be a burden that weighs heavily on an individual during a period of unemployment. If they arent able to manage themselves financially, their feelings of self-worth may be severely diminished, leading to depression and anxiety, among other feelings.Considering all of this, its easy to see why some job hunters end up depressed. If you find yourself in this situation, consider seeking professional help. A few meetings with a counselor could provide valuable insights into your situation and tools to help you through it.In addition to counseling, here are a few other ideas to help you avoid or overcome the depression that may accompany a job search.Talk to people.As their job searches drag on and their feelings of embarrassment grow, some people withdraw from their social networks. However, you need those connections now mora than ever. Make a point of communicating with family members and trusted friends. Let them know how youre feeling. Keeping human contact and real communication in your life can help you find new emotional strength during a difficult time.Establish a new routine.If youre feeling powerless or like you suddenly have no control, getting organized and maintaining a routine might help. Make a daily to-do list related to your job search, outlining tasks the same way you did while you were employed. Keep a journal of your activities. Consider your hunt for employment to be your new job, and approach it with the same energy, using problem-solving skills youve developed at work. By taking control over the search, youll feel more in control of your life.Increase your networking.Unlike your friends and family members, youre probably not going to talk to people at networking events about your feelings of depression. However, just getting out there and talking to other professionals about your skills could provide a boost to your self-esteem and mood. Again, this is a time for more interaction and human contact, not less, so move out of your comfort zone and make those connections.Maintain positivity and balance.This advice comes from a CIO article, which says, Try and stay positive as much as possible and remember to maintain a good balance between work and life, just as you would with any other full-time job. Regular exercise, volunteer work, spending quality time with friends and family in addition to networking and making career connections can help keep your spirits up.Get moving.Dont underestimate the power of exercise. The endorphins released during exercise help to relieve stress and pump up a persons mood, says the Career Pivot article. So, when the feelings of stress or depression start to loom overhead, getting in some physical activity can help nip them from the start.Manage your triggers.You know what kinds of events are likely to lead to a darkening emotional state, so use that knowledge to help stave off depression. For example, maybe youre sent into a tailspin of uncertainty when you dont hear back right away after an interview, says an article from The Muse. The longer you experience the silence, the less motivation you have to continue your search- and you might even self-sabotage by canceling other interviews. If you can identify situations or people that trigger your frustration, you can anticipate your reaction and create emotional buffers to help you cope better. For instance, you could ask your interviewer directly when you can expect to hear back- which can lessen the impact of that trigger.Consider giving yourself a break.If you cant handle the thought of pushing through one more interview or reading yet another rejection email, maybe its time to take a few days off from your job search. Yes, you feel urgency to get a new job, but chances are youll do much better at the next interview if youre in a better mental state. Give yourself per mission to relax for a few days. Consider it a mini-vacation from your new job of job seeking.Take care of yourself and persevere.There really is a light at the end of the tunnel. Give yourself time, be patient, and practice meaningful self-care. Job searching is all about endurance and mental fortitude, says an article from Medium. Brush off the rejections and keep applyingAnd remember, you should always contact a professional counselor for help in dealing with your depression. Your mental health is vital to all parts of your life, and you shouldnt ignore it, even if you are worried about trying to find a job.Need some job search inspiration?BROWSE JOB SEARCH SUCCESS STORIES

Keeping Trade Secrets Safe 8 Tips to Thwart Loose Lips

Keeping Trade Secrets Safe 8 Tips to Thwart Loose Lips Keeping Trade Secrets Safe 8 Tips to Thwart Loose Lips Employee turnover is a fact of life, especially during protracted economic slumps like the current one. Whatever their reason for leaving, departing employees often take valuable experience and company knowledge with them when they go.Its tough enough losing a well-trained engineer, but losing a closely guarded trade secret to the competition can be far worse.Fortunately, you can take some steps to minimize your risk. Below are eight things you should know or steps you can take to help plug intellectual property leaks.1. Know the LawFederal and state laws protect trade secrets, and many states laws conform to the standards of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act. But be sure to learn the laws that apply to your business and your state.The federal government can impose criminal penalties on people who steal trade secrets for economic gain and knowingly harm the original secret owner. Most states allow a company to sue if it believes valuable secrets have been improperly disclosed, and winning parties may obtain significant civil payouts.In addition to federal and state laws, courts may also consider other factors in deciding if a trade secret has been violated, including how well known the information is both within and outside your business, the value of the information, the degree of difficulty to duplicate the secret, and the steps youve taken to safeguard it.2. Classify Your InformationCatalog your trade secrets and sensitive material in a central register or secure computer database. It may also be useful to consider classifying trade secrets based on their value and sensitivity. Specific classificationstop-secret, ultra-strict security, or for internal eyes only make it clear who is and is not allowed access to certain information. At Krispy Kreme, for instance, only key employees may know the ingredients of the doughnut glaze while the ingredients of the doughnuts may be mora commonly known among employees.3. Disclose Less InformationStatistically speaking, the more people who know a trade secret, the more likely it is to be disclosed. Even high-level associates like business managers, senior officers, or board members may not always need to know every piece of intellectual property. Some companies compartmentalize different aspects of the trade secret so that only a few key employees know how all the pieces fit together.4. Get Signed AgreementsIndividual secrecy and non-compete agreements make key employees personally liable for unauthorized disclosures. Requiring such an agreement can remind employees of the continuing need to keep sensitive information secret. But when it comes to enforcement, many judges will weigh a claim against an employees right to earn a living based on industry knowledge and experience. The most effective secrecy agreements take this into account.5. Keep Good HouseCompanies must regularly review their tra de secret portfolio to remove or reclassify outdated items. Keep key employees who signed secrecy agreements up to date on a trade secrets status and any recent legal action taken to protect it. Its a great way reinforce the seriousness of maintaining secrecy.6. Educate Your Employees If employees know the importance of maintaining secret informationand the consequences of leaking ittheyll be more likely to guard your trade secrets. Build a corporate culture of diligence through periodic educational programs on confidentiality.7. Conduct Exit InterviewsUse the exit interview to remind departing employees of their ongoing obligation to keep company secrets. Remind employees of the possible consequences of violating secrecy agreements. Consider asking them to sign a written affirmation of your policies.8. Monitor Your CompetitorsWeb sites, trade shows and white papers are good ways to keep an eye on your competitors activities in a period of high turnover. If a competitor recruits sev eral of your top engineers in a short time frame, you may have cause for alarmespecially if the competitors new products bear more than a coincidental resemblance to your own recent releases.Adapted from Keeping Secrets, by Daniel Staley, Fennemore Craig, P.C., for Mechanical Engineering, August 2010.If employees know the importance of maintaining secret information and the consequences of leaking it theyll be more likely to guard your trade secrets.

Whatever They Told You About Surgical Tech Resume Is Dead Wrong...And Heres Why

Whatever They Told You About Surgical Tech Resume Is Dead Wrong...And Heres Why You need to be able to state your requirements and requests in a way others will understand. Whenever your job duties could consist of holding a strangers organs in place, being intimately acquainted with each and every purpose of the body is a must. Your capacity to comprehend others speech is just as important. Your ability to remain in control and continue being focused is crucial during surgery. ur article is likely to help you produce your own surgical tech resume by providing two downloadable surgical technician resume samples to examine. In case you have any surgical tech resume tips you want to tell us about, dont hesitate to share them down below. Fully being a surgical tech isnt straightforward. Some surgical techs specialize, while some prefer the wide range of working in many places. Surgical Tech Resume No Longer a Mystery Then, the sample gives an overview of the absolute most r elevant responsibilities and obligations performed. Maintains ought to be constantly improved, personalized and edited in order to satisfy the prerequisites of the work hunter. Usage of effectual titles ought to be considered. You may also incorporate the URL of your professional site or a fax number, if youve got them. Nowadays, the range of absolutely free online resume templates is astonishing. You have to offer relevant, concise info. The Little-Known Secrets to Surgical Tech Resume To learn more on what it requires to be a Surgical Technologist, have a look at our complete Surgical Technologist Job Description. Surgical technologists play an important function in the operating room. In preparing operating rooms, surgical technicians ensure that each one of the equipment required for the procedure is suitably disinfected and assembled. Do you understand what to put in your hospital pharmacy technician resume. There are invariably a few things you must know on the be st way to compose a curriculum vitae. Hence, no 2 resumes will probably be the exact same. Examples of good performing resumes are available online. Our practice tests are made to force you to get familiar with the actual test. If You Read Nothing Else Today, Read This Report on Surgical Tech Resume Free resume templates dont need to sacrifice quality. Cna sample resume is among the pictures inside the category of Resume and a lot more images within that category. It resume is one of the design ideas that you can use to reference your Resume. The Hidden Secret of Surgical Tech Resume If youre constructing a resume for the place of a surgical technician, you may require first to pick out power words from the work description. A term design has become the most perfect sort of protection and is an obvious assurance strategy. Grow that article it could assist you to find information people provide. With regard to CNA classes, online services supply you with all the crucial k nowledge that will help you ace the written area of the certification exam, and a number of the far better programs out there even offer students chances to get practical clinical experience although not from home, obviously. Seeking a fresh job may be an intimidating undertaking, but in the event that you take the option to art a resume geared to the specific job, you can procure the medical care information specialist position you want. This choice depends on your field of study, academic and professional abilities and career program. The work market is anticipated to be highly competitive. Use technology that will help you develop a perfect reaction to a work advertisement. What to Expect From Surgical Tech Resume? Know the skills necessary for the work which youre applying. Under your Work Experience heading you have to abflug to your existing position or your most recent job if youre not currently utilized. Occur to be quite very likely to have more transferrable skills than you believe. Making certain it has much to say in regard to qualifications and skills is vital. The OR may be an intense and intimidating atmosphere. Companies like to understand that you are continually growing and working to boost your abilities. Aside from the forementioned details, its important to realise that its good to produce the look and feel of your resume attractive, it shouldnt be overdone in order to defeat its objective. Lots of people make the error of putting all their time and attention toward developing a perfect resume. The very first thing you ought to do is to place work experience in the center section of your resume. A whole lot of folks get anxious at the idea of writing a letter for resume. Type of Surgical Tech Resume The employers ought to be in a position to easily get in quntchen with you. Certification can enable a surgical technologist in locating the ideal position. Concerning qualifications, getting the correct education and certifica tions ought to be in your Surgical Tech skills list. Bear in mind that while enrolling in Certified Nursing Assistant classes on the internet can go a ways toward your CNA license, some sections of your training has to be carried out in person. If youre applying to various businesses, you have to make sure your resume objective is tailored to each position separately. Sample Cover letter for Surgical Tech It is critical to understand the significance of cover letter for Surgical Tech as a way to stand yourself different from several other candidates. Candidate displays his relevant certification at the start of the resume. When in doubt, return to our Surgical Tech resume sample to be certain.

Career Fairs Aren#8217;t Just for Kids

Career Fairs Aren8217t Just for Kids Yesterday, I found myself saying something I often say this time of year One of my all-time favorite things is to go to a job fairThe response I received to this was not unexpected. The job seeker I was talking to hadnt even thought of attending a job fair since college. They seem so juvenile on some level, dont they?Go Big The Benefits of Large Job FairsI will admit tiny job fairs arent always everything theyre cracked up to be. Ive been to fairs with 10 or fewer employers who have tiny booths and very few actual jobs. ansicht events add little value to your life and could eat up an otherwise perfectly good afternoon.But a good job far can be worth its weight in gold. On more than one occasion, Ive successfully landed a job as a result of attending one of unterstellung events.Large fairs can have as many as 300 or more employer booths. Often, the companies represented are the ones youve been dreaming of, such as F acebook, Google, and FedEx. Each employer has a booth thats manned by someone from the companys recruiting team. Theyre there to answer questions, collect resumes, and in some cases, conduct interviews.You heard me right The recruiters often conduct first-round interviews at large career fairs. Can you imagine how much time you could save in your job searchif you could simply walk from recruiter to recruiter in person?Where to Find Job Fairs Near YouFinding the right fair can take time, but it is worth the effort. Start by looking on local chamber of commerce websites and the websites of young professional groups. They often help career fairs get the word out.Then, check out the websites of various national organizations, such as the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, the Society of Women Engineers, or Net Impact. These groups have huge annual conferences. As part of these conferences, they typically host large career fairs. The organizations will often sell career fair-only passes for $100 or less much cheaper than the full conference price.If youre not sure which organizations to look up, try checking out your local convention centers website. You can usually find a calendar of eventsthat will contain a listing of all upcoming fairs and conventions.Keep in mind that the same recruiters attend many different job fairs all year. The particular fair you attend is not as important as the specific employersyou meet.Attending the FairOnce youve found the fair you want to target, prepare four things your outfit, your resume, your business cards, and your elevator pitch. Study the job fair map provided and decide which employer booths you want to stop by. Look up those companies online to see which open positions they are currently promoting.On the day of the event, arrive early. Prepare to stay all day. Feel confident when talking to recruiters about your job search, and dont be afraid to ask for their business cards. After the fair, follow up through schmelzglas and LinkedIn.With a little work, youll find job fairs can beinvaluable no matter how old you are.A version of this article originally appeared on The Memphis Daily News.