Job fairs - lame?

Talic

Anyone else find job fairs kinda lame? Sure they give you ideas where to try to apply for but not much in terms of information.

Say, after approaching [blank] company and ask for a IT related job, they just hand you a flier and tell you to see if there's any opening at their website. I end up rolling my eyes (in my head of course, not in front of the people) and think I could of done that at home. I would also think they would keep a list right there where they could look up the position right there, maybe even get give you a mini interview and take your resume.

It also seems like people just come to the fairs to wait to talk with highly popular companies, which happen to be where I live, the airlines and casinos. The reason they come I don't know, maybe they would rather wait in a long line than go on a computer, look up the job and apply online. It even seems to me that if you go talk to them in person and hand them your resume they end up ignoring it anyways.

It could be having to put on a suit and go over there in 112 degree weather with monsoon season starting too

Daniel333

I agree completely! I went to one about 3 years ago at a California state University I was attending. I was shocked to find jobs demanding 3+ years experience and master's degree. I mean, why hold a student job fair with employers who won't hire them!

Anyhow, there was a Starbucks and a Walmart booth, both hiring. About all I remember being qualified for out of the 80 booths.

AmpdChaos

lol... the one i went to recently.. none of them where hiring its was just informational.... and the ones that were hiring wanted to send people out of the state..

blargoe

I've only been to one fair and it wasn't like that. I wasn't one of those campus ones though.

empc4000xl

I've been to 3 and have another 1 next week. Unless you qualifiy for a hot fill job, thats what your going to get, but I have had calls for several jobs with a few people. Its all about going networking, chewing the fat and getting there card. Then you reply to them thanking you for spending time to talk to you about what there company had to offer, and give them another copy of your resume and cover letter. It works wonders.

cbigbrick

In the DC area, they won't even talk to you if you do not have a security clearance. It's the first question out of their mouth.

telco1

Job fairs arent all that bad, you would be suprised. they might shock you. when I was in college, I got a very nice internship from a job fair. I ran into an assistant (for the center) while walking around, and he had told me that the schools off site computer manufacturing center was in need of a network tech to design/setup their network. it was a very small center, but it got me great experience, and it was a payed internship too. but maybe I got lucky, I guess it all depends where your at.

empc4000xl

cbigbrick wrote:

In the DC area, they won't even talk to you if you do not have a security clearance. It's the first question out of their mouth.

I can vouch for that. They even have them where u can't get in if you don't have one. Thank God I got mine.

cbigbrick

I'm getting mine as we speak. Now alot of jobs want you to have the TS or have a SC and be clearable to a TS....GGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEZZZ never ending.

Gundamtdk

I have been to several job fairs in my time and they have become nothing more than promotional tools for the company.

If you try to drop off your resume at the booth, the rep will tell you to apply through the website.