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Standing out at a Career Fair can make a difference in your job hunt. Career Fairs are starting to pick up, and Dice is running some nice ones, called Targeted Job Fairs. At a San Jose Area Career Fair in January, 10 companies as showing up, and a major job search company has 82 job faires scheduled for 2010 across the US.

How do you get to the real interviews at a Career Fair? The rivalry can be substantial, but you can help yourself leap out from the crowd with early preparation. At AA-Careers, we have a simple 6-step process to get ready. Planning to go? Here’s how to prepare:

First, research the companies that are going and pick your objectives. Use the internet to research the organizations that are there beforehand. Go to their websites and see if they have their openings listed. Pick a sensible number to go after, and get ready to spend an hour or more researching each one. It’s hard to do more than ten in a day, and five or six is a much more reasonable target. For each company, you want to know: recent news, key product lines, and exectuve names. Try to see if you know anyone at the target companies. You should end up with a page or two of research for each company/job.

Second, if there are job postings on the web, read them to see what the organization is looking for. Create a mapping of your achievements and skills to the prerequisites of the job. Make the nomenclature match. If the hiring company calls customers "clients", your resume should do the same thing. The accomplishments should be written in the style of the hiring company.

Third, create a ‘brief sales pitch’ for each likely organization/position combination. Write down a 90 second ‘thumbnail’ that you can repeat out loud describing why you are a key prospect for that position. You’ll use this in your resume and when you meet the company at the job booth.

Fourth, modify your resume for each position. The objective on your resume should exactly match the position you’re want. The executive summary should be a written form of your “mini sales pitch” for the job. Then choose the achievements and skills that most clearly match the job description. Especially at a Career Fair, the purpose of your resume is a sales tool for you – to get you on-site job interviews. It should be a no-brainer to see that you’re a match based on your resume.

Fifth, dress and prepare as if you’re doing on-site interviews. Dress well and be fittingly groomed. Don’t overdress (this isn’t a date!) and don’t underdress (no jeans or t-shirts, no matter how much you paid for them). Avoid strong cologne or perfume.

Finally, practice your ‘mini-sales-pitch’. Collect your research and the resume for each opportunity - bring a couple of copies for each – and put each in a distinctly labeled folder. Keep them in a light briefcase or folio.

Remember to smile, and good hunting!

Last April 16, 2008, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. proclaimed that Ken Mehlman, noted counselor on public affairs and national legislative initiatives, joined the firm as Managing Director and Head of Global Public Affairs. His new position focused on constructive outreach to the myriad stakeholders of KKR and its portfolio companies around the globe, including relationships with NGOs, governments, and third parties.

KKR is impressed with Ken Mehlman’s innovative approach to stakeholder issue. He has been admired and respected by Democrats and Republicans alike for his professionalism and integrity. With all these qualities that he possesses, the firm believes his guidance of a strategic public affairs function for KKR is a vital step in the company’s continuing growth and evolution. This provides the company with competitive edge in the future.

Ken Mehlman spent many years in public service. He was the 62nd chairman of the Republican National Committee from 2005-2007. He was also the campaign manager for President Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign.

Forty-one years old Ken Mehlman received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1991 and his B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College in 1988. He is also member of the District of Columbia and Maryland Bars. Mr. Mehlman is a trustee of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Franklin & Marshall College, and the Strong American Schools Foundation.