These are interesting times for job seekers and employers. Because of the economic environment, the same old tools aren’t as effective as they used to be. For one thing, there are many more job seekers than jobs, and that has been the case for awhile.
Even so, groups are hosting job fairs on a regular basis. Their reasons vary, but for the one thing it is a visible way to try to help the community and the candidates looking for opportunity. Also, for the educational institutions it is a way to highlight a new group of graduates and bring alums back to the alma mater. Events like these provide networking opportunities for both companies and candidates, and can give a good overview of the economic activity in the community. The question is, then, how does someone looking for work get the most out of an event where there may be 1000 people in line with them?
A recent article in the Albuquerque Journal talked about the frustration some job seekers felt after attending a job fair at Expo New Mexico where there were approximately 5000 attendees and few opportunities. Many companies were sending people to their online websites to apply, and there were few onsite interview opportunities. Many employers participated as a show of support, but because of internal hiring policies weren’t able to actively interview at the booths. Their online applications may include a prescreening process to determine if the candidate fits their needs. Also some employers may be anticipating a new contract and are collecting resumes in advance to test the waters.
So for the job seekers: the best policy is to plan ahead. Find out what companies are in attendance and check out their websites before you go. Target the booths that have jobs to meet your talents. Also it’s a pretty good bet that if there are no jobs listed on the company site that they are collecting, or just being a good citizen!
Here’s a news flash – papering the booths with your resume without checking to see if you have the skills they need doesn’t get you points or even an interview. It is also not a good practice to say “I’ll take anything you have” whether you are qualified or not. There are still jobs available, and more coming. Keep looking and do your research. In the meantime, these fairs are a good way to learn about what is happening in your area, and maybe learn new techniques for your search.
Good luck!
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