What to do after the career fair Published Nov. 2, 2007 By Steve Auld Family Support Center TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- A week from now, the Tinker and the Primes Career Fair will be history. What did you gain from attending? You probably picked up a whole bag full of information on different companies. Maybe you completed several application forms. You probably exchanged your resumé for business cards. But is it really over? It is up to you. The key to being able to use the information from the career fair in the future is organization. Get a three ring binder and categorize it by companies you have information on. If you left them a resumé, include a copy of that resumé with the company information section. Then when called for an interview later, you'll know what information you included in your resumé for that particular company. Nothing worse than trying to remember what you told them in your resumé while fumbling through an interview. Include the company research you gathered before attending the career fair. Here is where you can also include any notes you took following the career fair such as who you spoke with, comments the representative made and any other pertinent information. Now that information is organized, it is time to start your follow-up. A brief thank you note expressing appreciation for the opportunity to have met with the company representative at the career fair is not only appropriate, but pays big dividends. Fifteen percent of hiring managers surveyed by a job search Web site said they would not hire a candidate who did not follow up with a thank you note. And 32 percent said they'd think less of the person who did not write. Consider preceding the "snail" mail thank you with an e-mail or phone message immediately following the career fair. The point here is to get your name in front of the employer once again. This extra courtesy can be just the thing to get you noticed above other candidates. Also, don't forget to immediately send any necessary information that may have been requested by the company representative on the day of the career fair. Thank you notes can be handwritten or typed. Express your appreciation for the time the representative spent talking to you. You can also mention a topic discussed, a problem you can help solve or something you forgot to mention at the career fair. Do remember, this is a note, not a cover letter. Be sincere and be brief. Give an employer about two weeks after sending the thank you before starting any further follow-up. Contact the employers you met at the career fair and ask if they have had a chance to review your resumé or application. See if there is any other information they need about you. If they haven't had a chance to review your resumé or make any decisions yet, ask when would be a good time to check back. Take notes on the call and include it in your company information section. Also, make a note when you will call back on the calendar you include in your binder. Continue researching the company and include new information in your binder. You've navigated the research, career fair and application process. Endured the long lines, successfully delivered your "three-minute commercial" and completed the essential follow-up. Next up, the interview. The job interview is the single most make-it-or-break-it part of the job search process. What can you do to start preparing for the best interview possible? Call the FSC at 739-2747 to make an appointment for the interviewing workshop. Attendees will learn the guidelines for preparing for the interview, the different types of interviews, interview stages and much more. For more information or to sign up for a interviewing workshop, call the FSC at 739-2747. The FSC and Workforce Oklahoma will host the Tinker and the Primes Career Fair from 2 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Reed Center, 5800 Will Rogers Road in Midwest City. The career fair is open to all active duty and retired military personnel, current and retired civil service employees and all U.S. armed forces veterans and their dependent family members. Registration is required. Go to www.tinkerandtheprimes.com to register. Admission is free, but appropriate identification is required on the day of the event. "Three P's" for success Preparation -- the key to successful endeavors. · Obtain a list of employers and plan your strategy for which companies you would like to visit. A list is available at the Family Support Center, Bldg. 6001. · A perfect resumé is a must. · Learn how to sell yourself fast. Professionalism -- a must at the career fair. · Now is not the time to stand out and be noticed with unusual clothing or resumés. · Be polite at all times. · Recruiters see candidates as possible future representatives of their organizations. Display confidence and enthusiasm. · Get the recruiter's business card and discuss how and when you should follow up with them. Patience -- a virtue taught by moms everywhere · Remember: lines will be long, so wear comfortable shoes. · Make notes after speaking with a recruiter. · Statistics indicate 49 percent of candidates receive interviews from career fairs and 65 percent of those eventually receive offers. This process can take three to four months or longer. You might feel apprehensive now, but if you follow the "Three P's" you can have a successful career fair experience.