The Career Service departments at most colleges host several job fairs, A.K.A. career fairs and expos throughout the year. These fairs are events where job seekers can meet employers and recruiters in one convenient location. Colleges will also hold “specialty” fairs that pertain to certain audiences based on the college’s academic studies.

These fairs are great resources for both job seekers and employers if each person is organized and has goals set forth before attending. Allow me to share some of tips I have accumulated over the years that have proven to be successful.

Tips for Employers

So many job seekers…

For employers, job fairs provide an excellent opportunity to meet multiple job seekers in one convenient location. These face-to-face forums, which can attract upwards of 200+ job seekers under one roof, allow you to screen potential new hires and as the hidden-objective, allow you to market your company to potential shoppers.

1. Your booth/table. At every fair you are given a space to showcase your business. Whether you receive a table with your registration or a space for a booth take advantage because it is opportunity to market your business. An eye-catching booth/table display may be what you need to stand out and attract potential candidates.
2. Have promotional materials printed. Aside from having your business cards on hand, it is a good idea to provide some kind of promotional material to help attendees become more familiar with your company and corporate culture. This may be a one-page handout, brochure or something more creative to get the word out.
3. Know which positions you are actively trying to fill. Be sure that your representatives are familiar with your open positions and hard-to-fill niche career opportunities. Career fairs attract a wide range of people and you never know who will show up at your booth! Consider preparing a sheet of talking points (not job descriptions) for the staff working the booth to ensure your team covers all of the key positions.
4. Prepare questions or a brief interview to pre-qualify applicants. Chitchat is great, but the goal of attending a career fair is to find candidates for your jobs. Prepare quick questions to ask those who express an interest in your company to pre-qualify them. This ensures that you don’t waste your time, or theirs. Use their resume to jot down the answers to the questions; you will use this as your reference for your follow-ups in the following step.
5. Respond to inquiries and follow up ASAP after the event. Be sure to follow up and respond to all inquiries as soon as possible after the event. Finding employment is a serious matter for these job seekers, so don’t keep them guessing.
6. Lastly, DON’T SIT. Stand at your booth/table. Career fairs can be intimidating to job seekers—especially young job seekers— so the goal is to be as inviting as possible. Avoid sitting behind your table and be sure to smile and say hello to those who pass by.

Looking for career fairs to attend, go online to your local colleges or those universities that specialize in your field of industry and locate their career services. Don’t have the time to attend career fairs for your company but know it’s a great idea; subcontract it out to a professional recruiter. Recruiters are experts at prescreening job seekers for quality. If you are local to the Chicago area give me a call, I’d be happy to discuss this option with you.