How to Start a Job Fair
A job fair is an event where employers who are looking to hire new employees come together in one location to meet with job seekers. Starting a job fair in your community can provide a valuable service to college students, recent graduates and other job seekers who are currently looking for a full- or part-time internship or position. Starting a job fair requires a lot of time and commitment, not including the manpower and budget it also takes to reserve the space for the fair, advertising and other additional costs.
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Things You'll Need
- Committee
- Budget
- Advertisements (online, flyers, in print)
- Meeting space
Instructions
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Form a committee. Find organizations and individual volunteers in the area who will be willing to help organize and run a job fair. These may include employment or temp agencies, college or university employment offices, or corporate sponsors who are invested in community development. (Target, for example, contributes a percentage of its income to schools in the community.)
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Find a location for the job fair. The location usually needs to be a large open room where employees can set up their tables and job seekers are free to walk around and network with recruiters. There are many places that would be ideal for job fairs, including hotel ballrooms or meeting spaces, community meeting centers, and high school or university gymnasiums or student unions.
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Figure out booth rental rates. After picking out a location for the job fair, figure out how much is needed for the event and estimate how many employers would be able to set up tables in the event space. Calculate a booth rental rate to charge employers. Also, take into consideration any table rentals that may be needed during the event. Some locations have tables that are included in the room reservation.
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Send out letters to prospective employers. Send out informational letters to several employers in the area who might be willing to attend the job fair. Be sure to include large corporations who are consistently hiring, along with employment agencies, military recruiters and any organizations that may be looking for hourly or part-time workers. Having a wide range of employers will provide the greatest number of responses. Be sure to include booth rental prices, parking and any other relevant information. Allow employers to register online or through the mail.
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Advertise to job seekers. This includes newspaper advertisements in the classifieds or main sections, online marketing through a website or job search sites, and flyers posted in high-traffic areas, such as parks, community message boards and businesses that allow flyers to be posted in their windows or on their counters. Be sure to advertise on college and university campuses nearby, as well.
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