There is a Hidden Job Market

Job Fairs are only as good as you make them. If you go to a job fair and you believe that you are wasting your time, you will not find any value in attending and my question than becomes, why bother? However, if you have a strategy for your job fair, and you can work your strategy, it won’t matter how poorly organized the job fair is, you work your strategy and things will work out for you. Let me say this, the key to a job fair is people. Go there and meet people. Go there and talk to people. Find something to talk about that allows you to do some research on their organization, what they do and what issues or problems they may be facing. Do they have a problem you can solve? You may never know if all you do is scan jobs and hand them your resume. Engage them in conversation and see what happens.

Here is a question and my response from LinkedIn on this topic: What are your thoughts on career/job fairs for job seekers as advertised on Careerbuilder, Monster, etc. With so many people unemployed are they worthwhile or a waste of time to attend?

I believe that job fairs can be valuable for multiple reasons. Before I go through them let me say this, I agree that many job fairs you could potentially attend, are disorganized, with limited job opportunities for the number of people that seem to attend. So I understand the perception and maybe the reality for many that they are wasting their time attending, however most of the people responding to this question agreed on a second point - there are jobs available for people to pursue. And that is why I don’t believe job fairs are a waste of time. First, if you are looking for a job and you attend a job fair where the employers are actually looking for candidates, I don’t care how many other people are attending the job fair, the opportunity exist for you to find a job if you are willing to invest some time talking to the recruiters and/or representatives at the job fair. Connect with them, be ready to talk to them, come with your “A” game and expect to find something. You might strike out, but you might not and that is where the value comes in, in my opinion. Just because everyone else is not doing well, does not mean you won’t.

How do I know? Because in my day of pursuing jobs in the job market, I attended many job fairs over the years. I didn’t always land a job and many times I went and felt discouraged after attending. However, I attended one job fair and was about ready to leave when I noticed the American Express table. I got in a line that wrapped around a corner and waited. Person after person went until I got to the table, 30-40 minutes after standing in the line. When I handed the recruiter my resume and looked at the positions she was looking to fill, I was way over qualified for the jobs, however as she reviewed my resume, and saw my skills, she began to discuss a job that had not been opened yet, that was a senior level position. Short story, within a few months, I was hired.

There is a hidden job market that you can uncover if you are willing to endure the job fair, get past the organizers who are not focused on the details of presenting a good job fair or even the recruiters or representatives from the organizations who are just hanging out for the day, and talk to people. Talk to them, share who you are. Be intentional about what you are looking for and see if you might not find something that fits your needs and meets theirs, and you may just walk away with an opportunity that no one else can find.

Back to your question, can job fairs be a waste of time? Absolutely, but they don’t have to be. What you invest in your job search will net a harvest in some way shape or form down the road. You may not get a job offer or even an interview every time you walk into a job fair, but understand that you are sowing seed, you are investing, you are connecting with people, and sharing who you are. Be intentional about why you are at the job fair. Have a strategy and work your strategy and you will reap a job in due season!

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