Arianna's Recruitment Fair Top Tips!

What are recruitment fairs?

Camp America recruitment fairs are an annual event that brings hundreds of camps to the UK, across SIX different venues and dates, generating thousands of placements. It’s an event not to be missed if you want to spend summer ’18 living and working on a summer camp in the USA.

What can I expect on the day? 

Let’s be honest, you need to be prepared for what could be a long day. With thousands of hopeful applicants wanting to secure a place at a camp, the queues outside before the event starts can get pretty big; so wrap up warm, get there early (so you’re one of the first ones in), and make use of your time by socialising with the people around you - you’re all in the same boat so why not start the friendships rolling!

Camp America staff will be inside and outside to give you everything you need, be there if you have any questions but more importantly be there to just talk with you in the queue  and entertain you. You may notice the performances of camp songs on a megaphone, you may notice some excitable dancing and cheering, you may notice people walking around with props and a camera – don’t be alarmed, this is all normal behaviour of people who’ve been to camp, so join in and have fun!

At each venue, Camp Directors will have their own station/stand. Alongside the pre-published list of camps and map showing the location of each camp inside the venue (which will be given to you when you arrive), throughout the day, inside the venue, each camp will update hopeful applicants as much as possible on what positions they are recruiting for there and then, by writing/erasing positions on a white board/paper that will be visible for you to see as you walk around. This is to ensure the right people are speaking to the right camp and avoids you spending time on a camp that doesn't match your skills. 

How should I prepare?

DO YOUR RESEARCH! Know what camps are attending the fairs, make a list of your top 5 or so (or more - you can never look into too many camps) that best match your skills, personality, availability, etc. Have a look at the camps websites so you know who they are, what they offer, and you can tell them how you’d fit in and why you want to work there! If you don’t get placed at some of your top camp choices then keep going and talk to as many camps as possible – the more camps you talk to, the highest chance of placement! Just make sure you don’t get disheartened if you don’t get placed straight away. Keep your energy levels and positivity up and be yourself.. that’s what Camp Directors want to see!

When you’re speaking to Camp Directors sell yourself and show off! If your application says you can sing, what’s stopping you from giving them a little snippet? You can do magic? Show them. Camp directors love to see you as what you’ve written on paper and your confidence. If you learnt a camp song in the queue outside, what’s stopping you from going for it and breaking out into a song for the directors? It’d go down a treat!

What should I bring?

Have your application printed out and ready to show to Camp Directors and bring whatever trophies/medals/certificates/awards/qualifications you have that reflect your skills! It’s also a good idea to bring along photos of you doing your activities or even some videos on your phone/tablet – show off! It doesn’t matter if not – you’ve got your application and yourself to sell, but whatever reflects your skills and is portable to the fair, bring it along. It’ll be in your favour!

What happens after the fair?

Got placed? Start the countdown to summer and keep an eye on your online Camp America application to make sure you complete your ‘things to do list’ such as payments.

Didn’t get placed? Don’t be disheartened! It’s still early on in the season, and hundreds of camps still recruit right up until May! Good things come to those who wait.

So, if you are free on one of the following days and want a placement on a summer camp in the USA, register online and I'll see you there!!

Leeds:

11th November (12pm) Leeds Marriott Hotel, The Thomas Ambler Suite, 4 Trevelyan Square, Leeds, LS1 6ET.

Birmingham 

12th November (1pm) The Studio Birmingham, 7 Cannon Street, Birmingham, B2 5EP. 

When are the other Recruitment Fairs? 

Our Recruitment Fairs in London, Manchester and Edinburgh will be in January and February. More details will be announced shortly! 

See you at the fairs!