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This morning, I attended a job fair that was sponsored by our local chamber of commerce. There was one manufacturing company there that was looking to hire about 150 people to work at their local plant, and there were about 30 additional booths set up. I was only there for about an hour, and there were easily 500 people inside the room where it was being held, and there were at least another 500 waiting to get inside!
5 or 6 of the booths were occupied by degree mills (University of Phoenix, DeVry, Intellitec, etc.), another 5 were occupied by temp agencies, 10 were occupied by nursing homes and hospitals, and 3 were occupied by call centers. The rest of them were occupied by legitimate companies, but only 2 or 3 of them were actually looking to hire people.
In the last year and a half, I've gone to 5 job fairs with hopes of landing a job or internship, but every time, I've walked out feeling pretty disappointed. I know times are tough, but why do organizations even bother with setting up these job fairs when no one is hiring?
It's probably hit or miss with most of these job fairs. I've only been to a few, but those that I did attend were exactly as you described. There were primarily degree mills and sales jobs to sift through. The primary employers who were present were insurance companies, auto dealers, some banks, military, and government. The most legit positions were advertised by the government (INS and border patrol).
I know times are tough, but why do organizations even bother with setting up these job fairs when no one is hiring?
A lot of times, they're just looking to collect resumes. The degree mills you pointed out are hoping you'll come there and sign up. But yeah, job fairs are a waste of time, especially since most let you register online and submit your resume there. Do you really expect to make a lasting impression at a job fair, one that makes you stand out from the hundreds of other people showing up?
Ive had success with them. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I felt like cattle... Having to line up so that some HR assistant who you are probably smarter than can grace you with their presence... It's not fun.
Good points by everyone. People always say that job fairs are a good way to network and prospect, but how do you make yourself stand out from a hundred or more people who give out resumes?
I've never been to one, but it does sound pretty weak.
They should organize them so not only are there legitimate employers who are actively seeking applicants, but the jobs are all really cool jobs like beer taster, porn star, midget wrestler, chimney sweep, alligator catcher, CEO, skyscraper crane operator, or maybe military except limited to only cool roles like the guy who hangs out the helicopter door clutching the machine gun that fires wildly at the hapless enemies below while giggling maniacally then gives a thumbs up at the camera and says with a distinct Southern accent "that's the way we do it here in echo company!" etc.
That's the job fair for me man, that's how all job fairs should be, and if Obama really is jobs in America he needs to make it happen.
And slightly off topic (yeah I know me going off topic, unbelievable) have you guys ever seen those pictures of job fairs in China? That is freakin nuts man.
What is interesting is that all those applicants are actually for a single job that this woman here is hiring for:
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Although it is extremely unlikely anyone can make themselves stand out in a job fair, you could stand out by following up with the contacts you meet at the fairs. I always advise folks to take a notepad, pen and stapler to job fairs. Why? Because after you meet with a company rep, you take their business card and staple it onto a page in the notepad and scribble notes about the interchange as you will be unlikely to recall it later.
This morning, I attended a job fair that was sponsored by our local chamber of commerce. There was one manufacturing company there that was looking to hire about 150 people to work at their local plant, and there were about 30 additional booths set up. I was only there for about an hour, and there were easily 500 people inside the room where it was being held, and there were at least another 500 waiting to get inside!
5 or 6 of the booths were occupied by degree mills (University of Phoenix, DeVry, Intellitec, etc.), another 5 were occupied by temp agencies, 10 were occupied by nursing homes and hospitals, and 3 were occupied by call centers. The rest of them were occupied by legitimate companies, but only 2 or 3 of them were actually looking to hire people.
In the last year and a half, I've gone to 5 job fairs with hopes of landing a job or internship, but every time, I've walked out feeling pretty disappointed. I know times are tough, but why do organizations even bother with setting up these job fairs when no one is hiring?
Yes job fairs are a waste of time. No need to go to a place where a bunch of other unemployed are looking for jobs since the key is to seperate yourself from them not stand in line with them. Please avoid job fairs.
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