career fairs

Post Reply New Topic

Has anyone been to one? I've only gotten jobs through job listings before, and I'll be finishing up a Master's in May.. I thought I should explore other options other than just job listings through employer web sites and craigslist, etc.. I was wondering what the point of career fairs are, it seems to me that you basically have to do a brief impromptu interview-type chit chat and exchange info with the potential employers, but is there any advantage to get a job this way other than through web sites? Like could you get jobs that aren't posted?

It puts your name in more places, so you'd have a higher chance at getting a job if you talk to the company at a career fair and then apply online.

Also, if the recruiter likes you in person it can help a lot.

I went to one last year, and it was the stupidest thing ever. Either the company didn't want juniors, or they just told me to go to their website... What's the point of having a booth at a career fair if you're just going to tell everyone to go to your website?? I ended up giving a few places my resumé, but none ever called me back.

It's kind of funny that you post this, because I'm going to another one tomorrow... Hopefully this one is better, but we'll see...

I have N-E-V-E-R went to a job fair that was worth my time.

As others said, most just sent reps who handed out paperwork and applications. None of them had the ability to fast-track the applicant. Why bother going when I can have the papers mailed to me.

One place did do testing for a police officer position, but they were too politically correct. They could have done more screening to save me a day-long trip to where the PD was just to be told I was not being considered further (without any reason for why). I suspect I know why I was eliminated, but the people who could have told me not to bother applying weren't going to say that to me.

Some job fairs are employer-specific...those are worth it because they are basically doing an off-site hiring fair because they need lots of people or anticipate a volume of applicants too big to handle at their offices.

I'm hoping to be at a booth at a job fair for my company in a few weeks (it's at my old college, alum connect).

I can already tell you that these are far more important for small companies vs. big ones. Say you want to work in insurance, for example. Liberty Mutual likely gets 100+ resumes a day, but a smaller one might get much less, and they may only have 1 recruiter on staff looking to hire 1-3 positions at a time. Since that recruiters' higher up is almost always C-level management (in a company of around 50 people, it would make sense for C-level to be engaged in hiring), it's usually someone that can get you noticed if they like what you have to offer.

Word of advice, be sure to research the companies that are there. Get a list of around 5-10 (or more if you want) and have a useful elevator pitch ready for each.