Career Fair—What is THAT?

Mar 15, 2022 | Uncategorised | 0 comments

For many of our clients, and anyone on Social Security Disability benefits, the Ticket to Work (TTW) Program offers resources and assistance to beneficiaries. The program is designed to help beneficiaries achieve employment, increase their income, and fulfill their desire to be productive in their lives.  This week’s blog is about career fairs and how to take advantage of them in your path toward employment.

A career fair is much like any other exhibition held to attract people who are interested in a particular field. Just like many county and state fairs have an exhibition where vendors display their products (and provide an opportunity for fairgoers to see the product first-hand and ask questions about it), a career fair is a gathering of employers seeking applicants to fill their open positions.  These fairs are often held in convention centers and large meeting rooms in hotels.  With Covid virtual career fairs, that you can attend from the comfort of your home, have become more popular and allow many more virtual attendees to benefit from the interactions available in finding their next job.

Career fairs are an excellent way to find out who is hiring in your area and provide the ability to speak directly with representatives of the company in a face-to-face venue. There can be job opportunities that are offered “on the spot” at a career fair!

So…you’ve decided you might take advantage of a career fair. “How do I prepare for it?” you ask.  Here are some excellent tips and suggestions to make the most of your attendance at a career fair near you:

  1. Dress appropriately: Professional attire is important; a suit or at least a dress shirt and slacks or skirt are suitable for a career fair.
  2. Do your research: Know the companies that will be present so you are familiar with what the company does, and be prepared to show how you can benefit them with your skills and abilities.
  3. Be positive: Approach the tables and vendors with a smile and willingness to introduce yourself. Connect with the vendors verbally.
  4. Set realistic expections: Come to the fair with a goal of meeting the companies that are looking for job seekers with the skills and abilities that you have to offer. Stop and engage with recruiters that are offering jobs that fit your skill profile. There will likely only have a few minutes to engage with the recruiter. Very few job fair interactions lead to an on-the-spot job offer. The fair is intended to link job seekers with potential employers to see who might be a good fit.
  5. Be polite: As you approach a table where there is a conversation between the vendor and a job seeker, don’t interrupt the conversation. While you are waiting you can view the information provided at the table and go over your prepared questions for the vendor.
  6. Bring your resume: Be prepared with fresh copies of your resume to hand the recruiter for jobs that you are interested in and that are a good fit for you and your skills. As you discuss career opportunities you can refer to specific points on your resume that highlight the skills that match the job opportunities.
  7. Prepare answers: While it is unlikely you will have a full interview, the face-to-face interaction you have with the recruiters gives you time to showcase your skills and abilities which may then lead to an opportunity for an interview in the future.
  8. Take notes: Keep a record of conversations with specific employers to refer to for later conversations that may result from your attendance at the fair. Note names and link them to specific companies so you can demonstrate your interactions at the fair, which shows your level of investment in a potential job offer.
  9. Get contact information: Ask for business cards from each person and company you speak with so you can contact them later for follow-up from the fair. A day, or up to a week after; contact the recruiters by name that you spoke with and remind them of your conversation at the fair, and the skills and abilities that you can bring to the position being offered. If you are sending an email, attach your resume again, and thank them for their time!

Here is a list of upcoming career fairs for March:
CareerEco Virtual Career Fairs
Many organizations list their events on CareerEco. Check out their full calendar for a list of virtual or in-person events.

City Career Fairs
Diversity Employment Day Career Fairs provide recruiters access to the United States’ largest pool of diverse, multi-cultural and qualified professionals. To see the full schedule of in-person and virtual career fairs, view their full calendar.

Diversity Career Group
Diversity Career Group focuses their career and job fairs on connecting employers and job seekers through sit-down conversations and even first-round job interviews. Check out the full calendar.

Professional Diversity Network
Professional Diversity Network works to connect job seekers with employers that value an inclusive and diverse work environment. Visit their full calendar of events.

RecruitMilitary
RecruitMilitary seeks to tap into the extensive talent pool that veterans represent for employers. For a listing of all RecruitMilitary virtual events, visit their calendar.

Take the leap and try to attend a job fair near you!

Till next time,

Becky

Sources:  Ticket to Work Blog, March 1, 2022

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