You might think careers are for doctors and lawyers, but careers in customer service offer legitimate long term opportunities for anyone serious about going professional. Jobs put food on your table today, while careers feed your family for tomorrow and beyond.
Before you even consider registering yourself for the fair, here's a few tips:
First, get your resume into order. Not only do you need to make sure it's current, you need to make sure it sells yourself in the right way, for the kind of job you're looking for. If that's customer service, then you need to demonstrate not just your academic history, but also clear evidence that you're putting yourself on a path to professionalism.
List any outside activities, training courses or seminars that you've attended that focus on aspects of customer service. Emphasize any jobs (whether part time or full time, or even voluntary) that were in the service of others. Better yet, include written references from people who can confirm your skills in this area. Don't just put "references available on request", put names and contact details to show you're upfront and honest.
Ensure the timeline of your resume is complete, and any gaps are clearly explained. Put an introductory paragraph that explains what you're looking for, why you think you'd be a great asset to the employer, and that you're thinking "long term career" rather than a "job for a year".
Keep in mind that your resume will be amongst hundreds, if not thousands, of other applicants. So step it up and make your resume an advertising tool -- don't just submit a "bio-sheet" with data. You need to tell your story in a concise and clear way so that it will attract the eye of potential employers, and make them pay attention when you get to the interview.
Remember : professionals choose their careers, so make it clear to anyone reading your resume that you're going pro. High caliber customer service professionals are sought after and in demand, and there are opportunities to make excellent money, to travel, and to do extra study -- and this doesn't mean you have to become a call center manager either. Commissions and incentives are being offered by employers to stop attrition and retain talent, so make yourself valuable and get in the game!
Once your resume is ready, register your it with JobStreet.com early because they'll have tens of thousands of applications to sift through!
Next, start to polish your interview techniques ready for the big day by doing a practice with your family or friends. Think through your answers to common questions like "what attracts you to this field?", "what qualities do you bring to the job", and "what are your strengths and weaknesses". Run through this as many times as you need until you're confident. And remember, the interviewers have done this thousands of times and have heard all the corny generic responses, so be creative, honest, and different.
You also need to be very clear about what you want -- will you work night shift, weekends? Are you prepared to travel, or even relocate? What salary expectations do you have? What do you really know about the type of job you're applying for? You need to prove you've done your homework BEFORE the fair itself.
In the DOLE May 2011 job fair, over 70,000 people attended and only 12% received job offers on the spot. Tough competition! But I can guarantee you that those 7,000+ people that got job offers were not picked purely based on their academic or job experience -- they were picked because theystood out from the sea of 70,000 other people.
On the day, dress like a professional, know yourself inside and out, and go in with a positive attitude -- and get their early! The fair opens at 10am, so be at the doors at 9am or earlier, make sure you have a good hearty breakfast, and be prepared to change your life -- and that of your family too!
Be serious and go pro...best of luck!
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