You walked into the Cleared Job Fair with a plan. Maybe you have a few companies you’ve been hoping to meet. Maybe you’ve already researched their open positions and know exactly which recruiters you want to find.

That’s a great start.

But don’t let your list become a limit.

One of the biggest mistakes job seekers can make at a Cleared Job Fair is spending all their time talking to the companies they already know and walking right past employers they don’t recognize.

The company you’ve never heard of could have the exact opportunity you’re looking for.

Look Beyond the Household Names

It’s natural to gravitate toward companies whose names you recognize. You may have seen them in the news, worked with them previously, or simply heard about them from other cleared professionals.

But the cleared contracting world is full of companies doing interesting work that may not have the same name recognition.

Some of these employers are smaller. Some specialize in a particular technology, mission area, contract, or government customer. Others may be growing quickly and have significant hiring needs that aren’t obvious from their name alone.

If you only approach the companies you already know, you’re limiting your own opportunities before you even start.

Give every employer in the room a chance to surprise you.

Do Your Homework Before You Arrive

That doesn’t mean walking up to a recruiter and asking, “So, what does your company do?”

While recruiters expect questions and are happy to talk about their organization, that particular question can signal that you haven’t done any preparation.

Instead, spend a little time researching the employers before the event.

Look at their website. Check out their open positions on ClearedJobs.Net. Find out what government agencies or mission areas they support. Look at the types of positions they typically hire for.

Then, when you approach the booth, you can start a much more meaningful conversation.

For example:

• “I saw that you have several positions supporting the intelligence community. What types of roles are you expecting to hire for over the next few months?”
• “I noticed you’re hiring for several cybersecurity positions. Are you also looking for candidates with a background in systems administration?”
• “I’ve worked in this mission area for several years. Are there opportunities on your team that might align with that experience?”

Those questions show that you’re prepared, and they give the recruiter something specific to work with.

Don’t Judge a Company by the Job Titles In The Handbook Alone

There’s another important reason to talk to employers even when you don’t see an obvious match in the job seeker handbook.

The handbook only has a sampling of the jobs available from participating employers.

Employers may have many more positions that aren’t included in the printed handbook. Their hiring needs can also change quickly.

So if you’re a network engineer and you don’t see “Network Engineer” listed under a particular company, that doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t interested in network engineers.

The same goes for almost any cleared career field.

Your exact job title may not be listed, but there could be a related position, an upcoming opening, or another opportunity that a recruiter can tell you about.

Don’t eliminate an employer based on one page in the handbook.

Think of the Job Fair as Networking, Not Just Job Hunting

A Cleared Job Fair isn’t simply a room full of job openings. It’s a room full of people who know about opportunities.

Maybe a recruiter doesn’t have your perfect position available today. They may know about something coming soon. They may have another team that needs someone with your background. They may remember you when a new contract starts, or when they move to a new employer themselves.

And even if there isn’t a fit right now, you’ve made a professional connection.

That’s why it’s worth having a conversation with every employer you reasonably can.

You don’t need to spend a ton of time at every booth. A quick, prepared introduction and a few thoughtful questions can be enough to determine whether there’s potential.

Make the Most of Your Time at the Cleared Job Fair

Before the event:

Research the employers. Know who is going to be there and identify companies that interest you, including some you may not recognize.

During the event:

Talk to everyone. Make your way around the room. Don’t skip an employer simply because the name isn’t familiar or you don’t see your exact job title in the job seeker handbook.

And most importantly:

Stay curious. You may walk into a Cleared Job Fair looking for a specific company or position and walk out having discovered an opportunity you never knew existed.

That’s the real value of talking to every employer in the room.