Tips for Natural Supports
Tips for Natural Supports
From new graduates to those looking for their first job, the Youth Hiring Fair is an exciting time! It’s natural for the support people in our lives to want to be there for us.
Our team of experts have compiled some best practices and resources to help support young job seekers.
Support your job seeker before and after the Youth Hiring Fair
With an average annual attendance of over 5,000 job seekers, we do our best to serve as many youth ages 15-24 as possible at the Youth Hiring Fair. This means managing line ups and monitoring crowd sizes minute by minute for safety and efficiency reasons. Natural supports are always welcome to attend, keeping in mind that every person who enters the Youth Hiring Fair is considered within crowd sizes.
We’re only able to let in so many people at one time into the event. As a natural support, consider using the event time to do something else. Helping your job seeker before and after the event, as opposed to attending the event itself, helps to allow as many job seekers as possible to enter the Youth Hiring Fair. You’re also giving your youth the best opportunity to introduce themselves, learn and shine as they navigate the event themselves.
The Government of Alberta Learning Information Service also has a variety of tools and resources natural supports can access to support their young job seekers all year round.
Job seekers attending the event
Before attending and after the Youth Hiring Fair, your natural support(s) can help you with a variety of things. Here are some guiding points from our team.
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Don’t let mom get to them first
It’s important that you, not your natural support, approach employer booths on your own. This is your chance to make a first impression. Employers want to get to know you!
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Review your resume together
Whether your natural support(s) and/or the Youth Employment Centre has supported you with your resume, it’s your job to know what’s on it. Be prepared to answer questions about what’s on your resume from employers at the event.
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Make a game plan
Review the employer list together, visit their company websites and figure out who you want to talk to. On event day, either inside or waiting in line, you’ll be given an event guide. If you’re waiting in line, your support(s) can remind you of your top three to five employers you want to visit first before you enter.
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Relieve the pressure
Find ways to help yourself relax. Job seekers will have more success speaking to employers when they don’t feel pressured or coaxed to land a job from others. Be open about how you’re feeling. Make sure you feel prepared and express any concerns before the event to take some of the pressure off as needed.