Anyone Ever Get Job From a Job Fair? (apply, employer, companies)

[Miss Crabcakes]

I have friends that send me job fair information but I've been reluctant to go because I tend to think they are a waste of time.

I went to a few many years ago and never heard a word from any employer there. You get dressed up only to stand in long lines and if you're lucky get 2 mins. with a recruiter where your resume is then added to the pile. I've also never known of anyone landing a job that way.

So have you heard of anyone getting a job that way? Any other thoughts?

[tluv00]

Nowadays a job fair is going to be overloaded with people looking for work. Unless it is a job fair for a specific industry OR you have target companies that you are looking for my personal advice is to get the list of vendors and start contacting people there yourself to see what they are hiring for (check the website first)

If it's sponsored by a "big box" type job site....skip it. They are usually garbage.

[gea12345]

No! And so far No one has admitted to getting one, from a job fair, on here!

But should you go, imo, YES!

[MovinOutWest]

My first job out of grad school I got through a job fair. But it was a fairly specialized job fair looking for people with specific skills, not a general entry level type job fair.

I would still go, even if the chances of getting hired are small. Somebody is going to get hired from the job fair, the best way to make sure that person isn't you is to not go.

[annerk]

A friend of mine is in the culinary arts. She landed a solid job making market wages with good benefits at a local hotel after attending a job fair in Orlando a few months ago.

I think it depends on what type of work you do.

[Miss Crabcakes]

I'm a marketing/communications professional and I highly doubt they have opportunities for me there. For instance, there is a federal job expo coming up but I've been to there job boards and I never see positions in areas I'm interested in or that I'm qualified for.

Dunno.

[Tulpan78]

Originally Posted by Miss Crabcakes

I have friends that send me job fair information but I've been reluctant to go because I tend to think they are a waste of time.

I went to a few many years ago and never heard a word from any employer there. You get dressed up only to stand in long lines and if you're lucky get 2 mins. with a recruiter where your resume is then added to the pile. I've also never known of anyone landing a job that way.

So have you heard of anyone getting a job that way? Any other thoughts?

Personally, I think it is a waste of time unless it is specific to certain industry etc.
I went to one recently and many Cos told to apply online - they did not even accept resumes. What's the point?
From another side, I look at specific job fairs as networjking opportunities with other seakers - you exchange the info and later may keep in touch/exchage the info etc...
Just my 5 cents

[iarch]

I go to job fairs and check out the chachki's.
You can tell a lot from the giveaways about the job fair and specifically the companies in attendance.
You can usually tell if a company has "anything" to offer.
I agree with Tuplan78, that job fairs can be good networking opportunities.

[PurpleLove08]

Originally Posted by annerk

A friend of mine is in the culinary arts. She landed a solid job making market wages with good benefits at a local hotel after attending a job fair in Orlando a few months ago.

I think it depends on what type of work you do.

I agree.
A general job fair probably won't bring about much in these times but it doesn't hurt to go. I just wouldn't get my hopes up.
If you're a teacher or a nurse and there is a job fair for that...the chances would probably be good that you'll find something.

I agree with a lot of the posts that say a specialized job fair will bring good prospects.

[annerk]

My husband got his current job at a specialized job fair 12 years ago. It was with a great company--obviously as he's still there.