Getting the Most out of a Job Fair ? Cici Mattiuzzi - September 27, 2024

Job fairs are back! There is no substitute for in person career and job fairs.? Getting to stand in front of a person who is hiring or who is recruiting is priceless.? In-person events are a hundred times better than virtual ones.? Universities, community centers, professional associations, government agencies, non-profits, and businesses all host job fairs.??

Career fairs happen because government and businesses are hiring.? This is a really good thing and you should definitely take advantage of the opportunity.?

Google and Facebook are great sources for information on upcoming events. When I googled CALHR job fairs I hit gold! I've also found Facebook to be an interesting source.?

Some career fairs are coming up fast.? I found a number of organizations that are hosting hiring fairs next week and others in the next few weeks.? Some require that you register before so get on it now!!!

1. America’s Job Center is hosting a SMUD job fair Monday Sept 30th . This one requires that you register in advance.?
2. Sac State is hosting a job fair on Tuesday, October 1st. ?This one may require that you pre-register.
3. SETA - Sacramento Works is having a job fair for the State of California hiring next Friday October 4th .? This one requires that you register in advance.?
4. SacJobs is hosting a job fair on November 14th ?

Employers attend job fairs not because they want to hang out and hand out ink pens with their company's logo.? They do it because they are looking to hire.? Even in the tightest market employers are scouting for talent that will take their companies and organizations forward.

Job fairs are kind of like speed dating. In-person job fairs were common before the pandemic and they seem to be making a comeback.

You have a lot invested in making a good connection with the right employer at a job fair. What we are talking about here is meeting new people quickly, making a good impression, and then moving on to the next. As with speed dating, you have to move from table to table, trying to make a connection and hope that from all the connections you make, that “one true” job offer will materialize.

The employer is equally invested, if not more-so, in finding the right people. Their mission, whether it is government or business, is to hire staff who can contribute to the success of their organization. Your mission is to position yourself to obtain the job you deserve - a job in which you will thrive.?

At each employer’s table, you need to smile, shake hands, introduce yourself, share a bit of critical information, ask questions and give them your resume. Speak up and speak clearly. And you will need to do it over and over again, all day long.

Relax. Even if you are nervous in the first few encounters, it will get easier and you will get better at it quickly.

Keep in mind that just like with speed dating, they are just as interested in finding someone as you are in being found.?

At the job fair, you are going to notice that some companies have brought a whole entourage of people to speak with you. Not just human resource people. Employers frequently bring managers, designers, officers, analysts, developers and engineers - top people - the people who are responsible for making hiring decisions. Companies hire talent when they see it, and they are usually hoping to screen candidates for interviews, right on the spot. In some cases, they will be interviewing and hiring before the end of the day.

At a job fair it is essential for you to make a great first impression. The most essential element of good impressions is your smile. With a smile you are saying a million things without saying a word. Your appearance is also really important. You need a professional outfit. Make sure it is perfect... Get help if you need it.

That is not all you need to do to do your best and feel comfortable. You need to prepare!

Research the companies attending. Most hosting organizations give you a list of the attendees up front.? Make sure you have reviewed the list and that you have created your own list of the employers that interest you the most. This is a chance to meet and greet, but you should know who they are in advance. Don't waste time. Only go to companies you are interested in.

Make sure your resume is perfect and that you have enough copies - bring extra - 20-40 copies minimum. Arrive early and plan to stay until the end. Give yourself time to meet all of the companies that interest you.

Don’t forget to breathe. Smile all day long. And remember: you are going to do just fine.`

Quick Guide on How to get the most out of a Career Fair

Use career fairs as an opportunity to gather information about the various companies that hire individuals in your field and to establish contact for future networking in companies that really interest you.

What to do before, during and after:

1. Scan the list of job fair attendees and select the companies that interest you the most and check out their web pages.
2. Identify companies attending the job fair that are relevant to your field or if you are a student - to your major.?
3. Rank the companies on your list according to the best for your situation - location, interesting work, interesting jobs that are posted on their website, company reputation.
4. Tailor your resume for the companies that you are interested in. You will probably need more than one version of your resume and you will want to change the objective as necessary. I think resumes need an objective .?
5. On the day of the fair, approach companies that interest you the most first. Make contact and get information. ASK QUESTIONS!
6. If you are interested GET A BUSINESS CARD, PICK UP COMPANY LITERATURE and LEAVE YOUR RESUME.
7. Send a thank you letter and enclose another copy of your resume to each company that you like! Then follow up with a phone call once a week until you connect with a job. Ex. - “I am just checking on the status of my application and I wanted to see if you need any additional information from me as you make your decision”.

The types of questions you should be asking

Ask open-ended questions rather than the typical "Are you hiring?" questions. This allows you to gain the most useful information. Here are some examples to pick from:

1. What types of career possibilities are there for (name the field) in your company?
2. What type of training programs do you offer?
3. What types of projects does your company work on?
4. What kinds of projects might I expect to work on in my first year with your company?
5. What kind of growth might I expect?
6. What is a typical day like?
7. What makes someone successful in your company?
8. What do you like best about your field/company?
9. What advice would you give a person seeking work in your industry?
10. Can you give me the names of anyone else I should talk with given my interests? (You will have to identify your interests at this point).
11. May I have your business card? (For future contact and to send a thank you letter ).

Good Luck! You've got this!!!

Cici Mattiuzzi is the Author of ‘The Serious Job Seeker’ and the founding director (emeritus) of the Career Services Office for the College of Engineering and Computer Science at CSU Sacramento.