Find Upcoming Job Fairs in Your Local Area
Introduction: CNN has a list of upcoming job fairs all across the United States. In this article, I'll tell you all about this and other helpful websites.
We experienced another 650,000 job losses across the United States last month, on top of the millions we have already seen over the last year or so. While these numbers are certainly disturbing, you can't succumb to the doom and gloom. I know it's hard. I know it makes you angry / frustrated / depressed to lose your job. But you have to stick out your chin, freshen up your resume, and get back out there.
Job fairs are an excellent place to get started, and there are many upcoming fairs all over the country. If you plan on attending such an event, CNN's website is a good place to start. They have an interactive map that lets you search for upcoming job fairs by state and city, most of them hosted by Monster.com or Career Builder. Below the map, you can find links to even more events.
Like I said, the CNN website is a great place to start when looking for upcoming local job fairs. But there are many other websites you can use as well. The more fairs you attend, the more likely you are to find employment. Here are some other sites you might want to check out:
I also recommend doing a Google search for upcoming job fairs in your local area. Google is the most sophisticated and frequently updated search engine online today. So if there's any news out there about upcoming events in your area, you'll find it through Google. Do a search for the phrase "job fairs" plus your city name. You should find plenty of information through that kind of search. If you live in a small city, do the same kind of search for your state (to find upcoming job fairs in bigger cities nearby).
You'll need an updated resume for the job fair, and you should take about 20 copies of it to the event. You might only give out a dozen or so, but it's better to be prepared. If it has been a while since you last updated your resume, and you need a little direction, check out our guide to finding a job in 2009.
Be sure to dress for the kind of job you want. When in doubt, err on the side of being dressed up instead of down. A good business suit is always appropriate for job fairs, and it shows employers that you're serious about the process. This is always a good thing.
Work on your "30-second pitch." This is critical for job fairs because you don't always know what to expect, or who might approach you out of the blue. By your pitch, I'm talking about a brief summary of your skills and experience, along with the type of work you're seeking. For example, if I walked up and asked you "What can you offer to a potential employer?" ... what would you say? What if I asked about your ideal job, or your specific accomplishments from past jobs? Could you answer it in 30 seconds, or would you stumble?
Lastly, I'd like to offer you a tip that's often left out of articles like this. Have a positive attitude when you attend job fair events. Show some enthusiasm. I've attended these events from a hiring perspective, and I've always noticed a general sense of despair in the air. Many of the people I've spoken to at job fairs seemed down and defeated. I can understand the reasons for this, but it certainly doesn't help a person get hired. Who wants to bring such negativity into their organization? I know I didn't. So regardless of what you've endured leading up to the event, put your best foot forward when you walk in the door.
Learn More: This blog post is part of an ongoing series of lessons. Visit the table of contents page to get more tips on finding a job.
We experienced another 650,000 job losses across the United States last month, on top of the millions we have already seen over the last year or so. While these numbers are certainly disturbing, you can't succumb to the doom and gloom. I know it's hard. I know it makes you angry / frustrated / depressed to lose your job. But you have to stick out your chin, freshen up your resume, and get back out there.
Job fairs are an excellent place to get started, and there are many upcoming fairs all over the country. If you plan on attending such an event, CNN's website is a good place to start. They have an interactive map that lets you search for upcoming job fairs by state and city, most of them hosted by Monster.com or Career Builder. Below the map, you can find links to even more events.
Other Job Fair Websites
Like I said, the CNN website is a great place to start when looking for upcoming local job fairs. But there are many other websites you can use as well. The more fairs you attend, the more likely you are to find employment. Here are some other sites you might want to check out:
- www.NationalCareerFairs.com
- www.EmploymentGuide.com
- www.CareerBuilder.com
- www.FlipDog.com
I also recommend doing a Google search for upcoming job fairs in your local area. Google is the most sophisticated and frequently updated search engine online today. So if there's any news out there about upcoming events in your area, you'll find it through Google. Do a search for the phrase "job fairs" plus your city name. You should find plenty of information through that kind of search. If you live in a small city, do the same kind of search for your state (to find upcoming job fairs in bigger cities nearby).
Other Helpful Tips
You'll need an updated resume for the job fair, and you should take about 20 copies of it to the event. You might only give out a dozen or so, but it's better to be prepared. If it has been a while since you last updated your resume, and you need a little direction, check out our guide to finding a job in 2009.
Be sure to dress for the kind of job you want. When in doubt, err on the side of being dressed up instead of down. A good business suit is always appropriate for job fairs, and it shows employers that you're serious about the process. This is always a good thing.
Work on your "30-second pitch." This is critical for job fairs because you don't always know what to expect, or who might approach you out of the blue. By your pitch, I'm talking about a brief summary of your skills and experience, along with the type of work you're seeking. For example, if I walked up and asked you "What can you offer to a potential employer?" ... what would you say? What if I asked about your ideal job, or your specific accomplishments from past jobs? Could you answer it in 30 seconds, or would you stumble?
Lastly, I'd like to offer you a tip that's often left out of articles like this. Have a positive attitude when you attend job fair events. Show some enthusiasm. I've attended these events from a hiring perspective, and I've always noticed a general sense of despair in the air. Many of the people I've spoken to at job fairs seemed down and defeated. I can understand the reasons for this, but it certainly doesn't help a person get hired. Who wants to bring such negativity into their organization? I know I didn't. So regardless of what you've endured leading up to the event, put your best foot forward when you walk in the door.
Learn More: This blog post is part of an ongoing series of lessons. Visit the table of contents page to get more tips on finding a job.
Labels: websites
posted by Brandon at
2:12 PM
Brandon Cornett is a former hiring manager with a lot of experience screening job applicants. So listen!