Are Job Fairs Worth Going to?
Whether you're sick of your current job and would like a better one or are unemployed and can't seem to find a job opening, you may be considering attending a job fair. While usually crowded and noisy, a job fair can put you in contact with many hiring managers or HR representatives in a short amount of time. But will this up your chances of landing a job? Understanding the answer to this question will help you decide whether a job fair is worth your time and energy.
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Definition
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A job fair is an event, often held at a large venue like a convention center or hotel, that brings together representatives from many companies with job seekers. Job fairs can be local events with just representatives from area companies, or they can be national events, with representatives from companies from all over the country and even internationally. Job fairs can also be generalized, meaning that they are represented by all kinds of companies, or they can be specifically tailored for job seekers in a specific field, such as nursing or customer service, for example.
Lacking Statistics
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There are no statistics to help you decipher your chances of landing a job by attending job fairs; however, job fairs, sometimes called "pink slip parties" in a down economy where jobs are scarce, can help you indirectly land a job down the line, because they provide the opportunity to meet and network with company representatives and other job seekers, who may find employment before you and recommend you for other open positions in their new companies. In this regard alone, a job fair may be worth attending.
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Rejection
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In 2009, Monster.com held a national career fair tour that brought job seekers together with more than 475 employers. While a company employee was quoted in an MSBNBC article as saying that the companies had thousands of jobs to fill, after events in 19 cities, she could confirm that only two individuals had landed jobs as a result of attending. It's important, therefore, to prepare yourself for rejection if you decide to go the job fair route.
Preparation
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Typically, many more people attend job fairs than there are jobs available through the companies in attendance. Make every effort to distinguish yourself from the pack by dressing professionally, going prepared with high-quality copies of your resume, your portfolio for viewing, and business cards. Read a little about the companies that will be represented, so that you can seem knowledgeable about their businesses. Additionally, practice your pitch, so you make a polished first impression.
Follow-Up
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It's often what you do after the job fair with the information gathered there that can get you that job you so want. Follow-up with company representatives by sending them an email or thank you card for taking time to speak with you. This is also an opportunity to resend your resume, along with a cover letter, in case the pile of resumes they received at the job fair have been stashed in a corner of their offices and go untouched.
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References
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