Job Fair Must Haves

In one of our previous blog posts, we shared tips on how you prepare for a job fair. Now that are you covered on that front, here are things you must bring.

Don't forget to take these following items when you attend a job fair:

#1: Smartphone

As you may know, Harri is all about modernizing the job search and hiring process. With that being said, you will need a smartphone at the career fair, which will allow you access to all the jobs being offered prior to the event. You can network with employers, browse to see which positions are open and easily pre-apply to the ones you're interested in right from your phone before the event.

#2: Extra copies of your resume

It's true that we are trying to do away with conventional paper resumes, however, some businesses still prefer them. At career fairs, employers may want a physical copy so they can keep track of the people they meet and use it take notes. Just prepare to bring a few extra copies, just in case a recruiter asks for one. Also, be sure to organize your resumes neatly in a folder or portfolio.

#3: Notepad and pen

Lots of information will be thrown out at you, since you will be speaking with lots of hiring managers at the event. You probably won't be able to remember all of it, so be smart and bring a notepad. Use it to jot down important pieces of information and review it when the job fair is over. (You can also takes notes on your smartphone.)

#4: Your smile and handshake

You'll be a little nervous at the career fair, no doubt. However, make sure you smile and have a firm handshake. Your smile and strong handshake will go a long way, and will definitely leave a good impression on employers.

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How to Prepare for a Job Fair

Attending a job fair is a great opportunity to meet with multiple employers and brands all in one place. But it can get pretty stressful too, especially if you're not prepared in advance. Here are some key tips to successfully navigate a job fair:

#1: Be informed about the event.

Make sure you know where you are going, and how long the job fair is running until. If you arrive early, you can prep and run through all the details once more. Also, you may have a slight advantage when meeting with the employers at an earlier time, because it is not as busy. Just don't arrive late or else you might not even get to meet with any recruiters.

#2: Research the companies.

Even though you are not having a formal one-on-one meeting with the employer, you still have to do research beforehand. You don't want to leave a bad impression and seem uninformed about the business you are looking to work for. If it helps, jot down key information on your phone or notepad. Then you can refer back to it between speaking at different tables.

#3: Dress professionally.

Remember to dress for success, and as if you were walking into a typical job interview. Even if you don't wear a blazer, at least, have on a collared shirt/blouse, pants and dress shoes. Read our blog, How to Dress for a Restaurant Job Interview, for basic job interview attire tips.

#4: Prepare an introductory statement about yourself.

Since you will only have a limited amount of time to talk with hiring managers, you want to use it wisely. If you prepare a brief 20 to 30-second introduction about yourself, you won't have to worry about it on the spot. However, don't memorize your speech word-for-word; be natural.

#5: Have a list of questions ready.

Write down specific questions you want to ask employers regarding the job and/or hiring process. For example, you probably want to know the job responsibilities, career development and growth opportunities, etc. Tip–Ask for a business card or email, so that you can continue corresponding with them.

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5 Ways to Improve Your Harri Profile

Currently looking for a new job? Before you start applying, first thing you should do is make sure to give your Harri profile a little refresher.

#1: Update your profile and cover photo.

Swap out your old profile photo, and upload a new professional headshot, if possible. (Check out our post, Tips for a Professional Profile Photo, to learn how to take the perfect profile picture.) Customize your profile even more and add a cover photo. It's a great way to show off your personality or your individual talents.

#2: Add new photos or videos.

You probably took some awesome photos last year. Add them to your gallery, so that employers and other job seekers can take a look at your work. Got videos? Sure, include those as well. (Just make sure these are professional.)

#3: List references.

Now that you gained more experience this year, ask your former employers or coworkers to be references. Once you receive approval, put their information onto your profile. These references will come in handy when prospective employers request them.

#4: Update the opportunities you are interested in.

If you want a job that is different from the one you have or previously held, make a small edit under your Basic Information. Remove unwanted positions you are no longer interested, and replace them with your desired positions. This assures you that you will receive alerts for the jobs you want.

#5: Stay up to date with your messages.

Make sure the hard work you put into updating your profile isn't in vain. Remember to respond promptly to employers when they message you. If you don't do so, your profile score can drop and hurt your chances of being spotted by hiring managers. Inform employers that you are no longer interested by politely declining via messaging. For more information about how your message response rate effects your profile score, click here.

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Tips for Job Searching During the Holidays

 

Based on past trends, December is historically a slow hiring month. You can still find a short-term gig, holding a position that is limited to just the winter and year-end holidays. However, if you're not interested in such jobs, use your time productively when demand is not so high, and prepare for the upcoming job hiring season ahead.

Here are some tips to help you with job hunting for 2016:

Refresh your profile, experiences and skills.

You may have been busy the few months prior, so this is a great time for you to update your Harri profile. Add any new work experience and include any extra skills you have learned. Did you take any photos or videos of your work? If yes, showcase it on your Harri gallery.

Reconnect with contacts and references.

Reach out to the people you have met and connected with throughout the year. Whether you are contacting them because you want to say a simple hello or thank you, aim to email them a few days to a week after the new year. For one, they will most likely be occupied with urgent priorities during the holidays. You certainly do not want your message to be lost in a sea of other emails. If you want a reference, have a draft email prepared and ready to send out.

Clean up your social media.

Like how you do research on companies, employers may do a background check on you. They could possibly see your social activity on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Make sure to clear off anything that could hurt your chances of earning a job. To be safe, make changes to your privacy settings.

Look through job boards and career pages.

Even though you don't see the job you want listed just yet, you can get a head start by skimming through the job boards. Go through the jobs and read the descriptions that seem similar to your dream job; keep note of such job titles. This will be really helpful when you do another job search in the future. Also, you should sign up for notifications for the types of jobs you want to apply for. On Harri, we make it easy for you, since you receive automatic alerts on certain jobs, including front-of-house or back-of-house specific positions, and more.

Best of luck to you and your job search in the new year!

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How to Answer the Most Common Hotel Job Interview Questions

 

We previously went over how to answer the most common restaurant job interview questions. To continue on with the series, today we will be reviewing how to approach the questions typically asked in a hotel job interview. Do keep in mind that there can be some overlap between restaurants and hotels, since after all, both are part of in the hospitality industry.

What do you know about our company?

Again, research is a must when preparing for an interview. There are a lot of people that work in the hospitality field, and they are proud of what they do. Hotel hiring managers are aware of that, so when they are looking to recruit, they want to find someone who is also as passionate about the job they are applying for and the company that they will be working for. Things that you may want to know in advance include, names of senior staff members or decision makers, big accomplishments that the hotel has achieved, and such.

Why do you want to work for our hotel?

Most likely this will be a follow-up to the prior question. HR wants to see if you will be a good fit with the company, and whether your values align with the organization's culture and vision. Be genuine when replying, and mention key items that you look for in a workplace, for example, the hotel's management style, treatment and service towards customers, reputation in the industry, amongst other responses. You can possibly talk about how the company is known to thoroughly train and guide employees to become successful hospitality professional.

How would you handle guest problems/complaints?

This question is designed to test your customer service skills, and how well you can handle difficult situations. This is a great opportunity for you to share a story of a time when you were able to calmly deal with an unhappy customer. You can also say that it was a valuable learning experience.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

As mentioned before, the hospitality industry is a really tight knit community, where everybody knows everybody. So oftentimes, people will leave positions for jobs that friends or family have suggested to them. That's why hiring managers prefer to take in individuals that are stable and are willing to stay with the company for a greater period of time. Let your interviewer know that you are interested in working in long-term position, and how you are not one to jump from job to job.

Do you consider yourself a leader or a follower?

This is a very good question, but also somewhat challenging to answer, since it really depends. If you say 'leader,' it might mean that you are not a team player. But if you say 'follower,' it can suggest that you are not very independent, and will have to constantly rely on directions. There is no one, set-in-stone, correct answer for this, so just be honest. Explain why you chose that label, and back up your answer with some convincing and supporting words.

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 Looking to work in Hospitality?

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