The do's and don'ts of a global development career fair

Career fairs are an opportunity for global development job seekers to find out more about the organizations they admire, see what opportunities are out there, and learn from other global dev professionals. Preparation and prioritization are key to making the most of these experiences and impressing potential employers. If you are heading to your first career fair or if you are transitioning from another sector and still learning the nuances of the development sector, here are a few tips to help ensure your day is a success. Do dress for the occasion The development sector tends to be more casual in terms of dress code, but in a career fair you should go more formal and “dress business,” advised Anne Steen, executive director of the Graduate Career Centre at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. First impressions really do count at a career fair, Steen continued, and dressing professionally and ensuring you are well-groomed plays an important part in this. Do prioritize your time You likely won’t be able to have one-to-one conversations with a representative from every organization and there are often lines at career fairs, said Shana Montesol-Johnson, executive, career, and leadership coach. Do your research on which organizations are attending so you can prioritize your time on the day, she explained. “It's important to prioritize the questions that you have and to use your judgment in terms of how long to keep the conversation going,” Montesol-Johnson said. You can also demonstrate emotional intelligence by letting representatives speak with another attendee, highlighting that you have the social skill set important in being an effective development professional and team member. Steen agreed that it is important to be cautious of a recruiter’s time and added that you will likely only get time to ask a recruiter three or four questions. And, while you will want to talk to those organizations you are familiar with, don’t forget about those that you don’t know yet, but could be worth visiting, Steen noted. Don’t expect a job on the spot These events are about what you can learn about the sector, its organizations, and other professionals working in the space, Montesol-Johnson said. Be realistic in your expectations and instead of looking to walk away with several interviews, focus on the interactions, she explained. Steen agreed, noting that these interactions can provide “a little bit of intelligence that can set you apart.” Representatives might be able to tell you things about a role not outlined in the job description, information to highlight in your cover letter, or priority skills for a project, she continued. In global development, particularly for consulting opportunities, many vacancies are not advertised and a lot of recruitment is done through internal networks. If you have a good rapport with a recruiter at a career fair, they may give you a referral, or will remember you and reach out to when a position opens up that would suit your profile, Steen explained, so this is something else you can look to gain from the day. Do follow up Standard CV rules don’t apply to global development and, due to the project-based nature of the sector, it’s not unusual for consultants or mid-level professionals to have a CV which is several pages long. Still, prepare a short version of your CV — one or two pages — that the recruiter can skim, Steen advised. She also recommended including a link to your LinkedIn profile or highlighting that a full version of your CV is available upon request. In some cases, recruiters will not be accepting CVs and it can be helpful to exchange business cards instead, she explained. Make sure to jot down notes on the back after your conversation, to remind you later what you discussed, she advised. This will be helpful in following up with that person, when, in addition to thanking them for their time, you can highlight what you learned from your conversation with them. Do talk to other attendees These events are great opportunities to meet other people in the sector who could be valuable contacts in unexpected ways, Montesol-Johnson said. You won’t be able to prepare for these conversations in the same way that you would an exhibitor, but think through a couple of “opening” questions to help get the conversation started, she explained. This can be as simple as asking where the person is from or what type of work they are interested in. While your fellow attendees could potentially be competition for a job, they might also be your boss or teammate one day, Steen said. Global development is hands-on and your ability to work well in teams does matter, she continued. You can demonstrate that you are a team player by how you interact with others at these events. Pass on recommendations for any recruiters you have spoken to and who were particularly helpful, or share extra copies of job descriptions you may have picked up from exhibitor booths.