Blog Post: Why Attending the Career Expo is a Good Use of Your Time

As a job seeker in today’s economy you should be looking for every opportunity to stand out among the competition. Job fairs are a great way to meet face-to-face with hiring managers and get an edge over candidates who only apply online. With the recent spike in unemployment the dynamics of attending job fairs has dramatically changed, so how do you ensure you are using your time a job fair most efficiently? Your success at these events depends on creating a structured job fair strategy.

With the increase in job seeker attendance, handing your resume to the recruiter is a thing of the past. The main reason to attend the event is for the opportunity to speak directly with the recruiters. It’s an opportunity to ask questions and gather contact information for your follow up. Making a great first impression is very important, so when you apply online there is a reason for them to remember you.

Most recruiters today will ask candidates to apply online rather than accepting a hard copy of their resume. This may seem strange because job fairs are intended to connect employers and job seekers face-to-face. Remember that a resume is your tool to get the interview, but the online application is what the recruiter needs to gather the information that is important to them. If a recruiter asks you to apply online, be sure you reference the conversation you had with them at the job fair in your cover letter. This will remind them of who you are and allow you to use information you learned at the event to show why you are a good fit for the organization. This will position you as a well informed, serious job candidate.