Getting the most out of a job fair

We're coming up on job fair season -- when employers gather their printed pens and candy dishes and head out to school gyms and hotel ballrooms.
If you've attended a job fair, you know what to expect. There will be a registration table to include your name for drawings or to drop off your r & eacute;sum & eacute; to be copied to all attending employers. There might be speakers offering advice. And there will be a roomful of employers, standing behind their folding tables, with information and applications to hand out.
But what there might not be are jobs. When the economy is uncertain, the prospect of job openings at these gatherings is equally uncertain. So, why do the employers go? For the same reason you should: to meet people.
To get you in the right frame of mind, here is a short list of do's and don'ts for your next job fair.
DO ...
UBring lots of r & eacute;sum & eacute;s, printed on good stationery. Consider printing business cards as well. Include your name, contact information and the type of work you are seeking.
UPlan to stay awhile. If you can spare a couple of hours at least, you will force yourself into being more thorough with each interaction. Just cruising past tables to drop off r & eacute;sum & eacute;s is a bad strategy because it doesn't take advantage of the opportunity to meet people.
UListen more than you speak. This is your opportunity to learn about companies and make inside contacts.
UGather business cards or other contact information from each table.
UPlan to follow up with key companies in the next few days with a letter or phone call. Your goal is to set a meeting where you can speak with someone without the distractions of the job fair.
UAsk good questions. Not just which jobs are open, but also: What's new at your company? Where's the growth happening in your industry? How do you compare to your competitors? What do you see for your field in the future? What are the qualities you seek in a job candidate?
UNetwork with other job seekers. Ask what kind of work they're seeking, which employers they've talked with already and what resources they might have to share. Be ready to share your information, too. In fact, consider setting up coffee dates with anyone to whom you feel a connection. You need support as much as you need job leads.
DON'T ...
UDress too casually. If the job fair is in a mall, for example, don't dress as if you were doing errands at the mall. Dress to meet employers.
UGet too comfortable. Jelly doughnuts? No thank you. Gossip in the bathroom? Not unless you're absolutely certain who you're gossiping with and who's in the next stall.
USnarf up all the free stuff. Take a printed pen or keychain, but don't take a fistful. Likewise, feel free to take a piece of candy from the dish, but under no circumstances should you put it in your mouth. You wouldn't do that in an interview, so don't do it at the employer's table either.
UThink too narrowly about the companies present. A nursing home, for example, needs not only health-care professionals but also accountants, groundskeepers and salespeople. Look at every company as a potential employer, regardless of your field.
UExpect to be interviewed on the spot. In fact, that may not be in your best interest, given the distractions and time limits of a job fair. If possible, ask for a meeting later in the week, when the interviewer can spend more time with you.
UFill out applications, unless there is an interview promised. Otherwise, attach your r & eacute;sum & eacute; to the application, make a note to yourself to call later in the week to follow up, and keep moving.
Perhaps the best tip is to think of job fairs as places to network, learn and meet people. Using this approach, you will gain something from every job fair you attend. To increase your chances of a good outcome, commit yourself to following up with the people you meet.
Remember that even companies with no current openings will be hiring eventually. Your task is to be the first one in line when they do.
XAmy Lindgren, the owner of a career-consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn., can be reached at alindgrenpioneerpress.com.