Career and job fairs are worth going to
You may notice your school is having a career fair, and you may be wondering if it’s worth it for you to attend. Take it from us, it is.
The following is a list of the pros and cons of attending a career fair if you are undecided:
PROS
Exposure to a variety of employers:
You will be able to introduce yourself to and network with a wide variety of employers; including private business, non-profits and government organizations. These employers may be as small as 5 employees, or may be some of the largest employers in North America. Speaking with a wide variety of employers will help you decide what size and type of organization you want to work for.
Gain contacts:
Obtain business cards from representatives of organizations that you are interested in working for, and present them with your resume. They may not be hiring at the moment, or you may not be graduating until next year, but this gives you an opportunity to keep in touch and develop a long-term relationship with them. After all, employers love hiring employees who want to work for them.
Gain confidence:
You will get plenty of practice introducing yourself in a professional capacity if you are proactive. Don’t be shy, approach employer booths and tell them who you are (ie: “Hello, I’m David Smith, and I’m a 3rd year Politics student”). Pay attention to how other students are interacting with employers, and make note of what works for them and what doesn’t.
Ask employers questions:
You can gain valuable insight into the hiring criteria of employers by asking them strategic questions. Feel free to ask employers questions such as:
- “What is your ideal candidate like?”
- “Do you like working for your organization?”
- “Are there opportunities for advancement in your company?”
- “What is the most important information you look for on a resume?”
- "What makes your organization a great place to work?"
What employers say in their responses, and how they say it, will give you a good idea if you are a potentially good fit for them, and if they are a good fit for you.
CONS
You won’t be able to sleep in that day.
