This week starts the race that recruiters have rested up for, and I hope job seekers are just as prepared.

The tree and trim are put away, the turkey leftovers are gone. Stop humming Christmas Carols and Auld Lang Syne; it’s Spring Recruitment Season.

Are you ready?

Rutgers University had their Annual Collegiate Career Fair yesterday, and I heard 3500 people showed up, resumes in hand. The Big East Career Fair is held annually at Madison Square Garden, but this list of schools’ recruitment events shows just how many opportunities ther are for face to face meetings between employers and students. And alumnus.

I have read colleagues post about their frustration at the lack of preparedness of attendees. I have to agree, I have run into these myself:

- How much have you learned about the company you are approaching? Do you know their core business, and how you would contribute? I can provide several examples of companies with storied histories, who have changed business models as recently as December 2009. It is not enough any more to offer your skills and hope that there is an open job title that matches the “Objective” title on your resume. How does what you do add value to the company’s strategy?

- How are you presenting yourself? Dark business suit, check. Deordorant, check. Smart leather briefcase, got it. Resume printed on crisp linen paper…why? I am not exagerrating to say that almost every company has an online applicaiton procedure. Yes, I know, there are many who gripe at this, some who are not comfortable with computers, and a few who do not own a PC and have to trudge to the library to use one. Fortunately, you are readign this, so you not only have access to a computer but Internet access and the ability to search. You’re living in 2010. So why are you using a job search tool from 1999? Have you even visited their website to apply?

- How much do you know about the people in the company or who you might meet? The Rutgers fair invites school alumnus who work at employers to attend and identify themselves on their name badges. Refer to your school’s website and attend their job fairs. But what about other companies you want to work for? Again, use the Internet to search for people who graduated from your college (or even high school) and reach out to them.

In a future post, I’ll discuss what recruiters are told are the emerging trends, and how you can use these to your advantage in your job search.

Anything to add? Email me at CGoodwin12@gmail.com or Tweet me!