A job fair is a forum where many employers gather for a rigorous day of recruiting. As a job seeker you might find 10 to 50 or more employers who have set up exhibit areas for the day. (Some companies hold their own on-site recruiting events and call them “job fairs,” which can be misleading because these events represent only the host employer – not a variety of firms.)

Employers invest considerable time and money in job fairs and career days, and they take them very seriously. While companies will occasionally use such an event more for public relations and image-building purposes than for active hiring, most of them collect resumes in the hopes of finding good candidates for current and future positions. (And yes, they do look at them.)

Your role at a job fair is to get noticed as a viable candidate, and to get your resume into employers’ files of ‘strong prospects’ – the first to be considered for jobs as they become available. Job fairs provide a unique forum for employers to meet you in person before engaging in a formal application and interview process. And chemistry does count. This is where strong networking skills – and your ‘elevator speech’ – come in. At a busy professional event such as a job fair, you’ll have only one to two minutes to meet and impress a potential employer. You must be able to deliver a summary of your qualifications in a personable, professional and concise manner.

Don’t make the mistake of viewing job fairs as a passive recruiting activity. While job fairs provide a wonderful environment to explore career options, each encounter with an employer is an active, ‘real’ interview. Whether you are interviewed on the spot or asked to return later for a scheduled meeting, take the process seriously. Dress professionally, bring plenty of resumes, and don't forget a notebook or clipboard to write down contacts, phone numbers and other notes to reference after the event.

Always prepare for job fairs by finding out what companies will be represented and, if possible, learning something in advance about those firms you are most interested in. To get the most out of the day, arrive early, visit all the employers represented, and talk to each recruiter. Even if you don’t feel you’d be interested in working for a particular company, talk to the recruiter anyway. Use the opportunity to discuss the kind of position and organization you are looking for, with the hope that the recruiter might be able to offer a referral or some useful suggestions. You never know who knows whom or what opportunities may present themselves through a ‘master networking event’ like a job fair. So ask plenty of questions – you’ll rarely find a better opportunity to gather so much information in one place at one time.

Event Details:
University Plaza Waterfront Hotel
110 W. Fremont Street Stockton, CA 95202

Tuesday, January 29th
12 pm to 4 am