Whether you’re looking for work or have job openings that you need to fill, a job fair can be the most efficient and practical way to connect employers with job seekers. The Huntsville Job Fair, hosted by the YMCA Employment Centre, is on March 8.
“This will be our 12th annual job fair,” says Mary Ellen Fetterly, Job Developer at the YMCA Employment Centre. “It’s been a successful way for employers and job seekers to come together.”
To be sure you get the most out of your experience, it pays to plan ahead.
The benefits of a job fair for employers
More than 400 job seekers could pass by your booth during Huntsville’s job fair, along with more than 40 other employers. It’s not only an opportunity to find great employees, it’s an excellent way to market your company to the community.
“In a relatively short period of time, you are going to see all of those job seekers face to face,” says Mary Ellen. “It’s much easier to get a sense for how someone might fit into your company when you have a chance to talk to them in person, rather than just reading a resume. If you’re in the service or hospitality industries, you’ll be able to see the way they might be able to represent your business. And it’s much faster than having to schedule a series of interviews.”
There is a private interview area available at the job fair if you decide that you’d like to have a more detailed conversation with a candidate.
You might also want to use a job fair to network with other employers and exchange hiring strategies.
Job fair tips for employers
First impressions aren’t important only for job seekers – your company needs to stand out, too.
Ensure that your booth looks professional and that your company’s branding is visible and clear. Passersby should be able to tell at a glance who you are and what your company does.
Job seekers may be nervous, so take care to make your booth approachable and engaging. Come out from behind the table, place some chairs where you can welcome people to sit and talk, and have eye-catching materials available for job seekers to see, like a virtual tour of your office or a piece of equipment. You could ask an employee to join you, dressed in uniform if applicable, as an ambassador for your company. Even a bowl of candy or a vase of flowers can be inviting.
Post your job openings at your booth so that job seekers can readily see if their skills might be a match.
Bring a second person with you, if possible, so that you don’t miss the opportunity to speak with a job seeker while you’re speaking to another.
Job seekers like to feel like they’ve made an impression. Talk with them one-on-one and be ready to accept resumes or have job applications available to fill out – don’t just refer them to your website to apply online.
If you’re an employer interested in attending the job fair on March 8, you’ll find registration information and more tips here. There’s limited space available, so don’t wait too long!
Benefits of a job fair for job seekers
Rather than being a faceless resume in a stack of many, going to a job fair gives you a greater opportunity to show an employer how your skills could be helpful to their business. It also allows you to better understand what a company has to offer its employees and whether it’s a place where you might like to work.
Even if some of the employers don’t have job openings that fit your skillset, you can introduce yourself and collect business cards so that you can follow up in the future.
Job fair tips for job seekers
A job fair is your chance to maximize your job search and meet with many employers in a short period of time. You want to put your best foot forward to improve your chances of landing employment.
The YMCA Employment Centre publishes the names of employers participating in the job fair (look for them here). Review them ahead of time and create a list of those that you want to speak with. Visit their websites to learn more about them and consider targeting your resume to those particular employers.
Dress for success, make eye contact, smile and speak confidently. First impressions matter!
Be prepared to talk to employers. Ask questions about the company and its job openings that you can’t find answers to on their website. Create a 30-second summary about what makes you a great candidate. You may be offered a more in-depth interview on the spot.
If employers are talking to other candidates, review the company’s material and listen in – it will give you clues about questions that you might be asked.
If you do speak with an employer, follow up with an email or a phone call the next day to express your interest. You might be surprised how many job seekers don’t do this – it will help to set you apart.
Preparation is the key to a successful job fair – if you need help with a resume or creating a 30-second verbal summary, the YMCA Employment Centre can help. Visit their office at 60 King William Street or attend one of three job fair preparation workshops: February 27 from 1:30-3:00pm, March 3 from 9:30-11:00am, or March 6 from 1:30-3:30pm.
Then mark your calendar to attend the job fair on March 8 from 1:00-5:00pm at the Active Living Centre.
Don’t forget to check the job board at the YMCA Employment Centre for current job openings, too!
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