The post An Overview of How Career Fairs Work appeared first on BC Jobs Blog.
]]>There are multiple styles of career fairs. Some have an emphasis on specific fields or careers, and others are a general fair. They can be a marvellous way to connect with employers or future business partners but manage your expectations. Most participants will not walk away with a job offer but should walk away with valuable insight, and important contacts that could develop into something more if you play your cards right.
Though enormous rooms packed with bodies and booths may give off an atmosphere of a comic-con or food fair, this is a professional event and should be treated as one. First impressions at a career fair can make or break a contact or job offer. Make sure you are wearing business-professional clothing and have resumes or business cards to hand out. Bring a briefcase or professional handbag to accept pamphlets, business cards or other promotional material.
Make sure you have monitored the event beforehand and taken notes of who you want to connect with, and which speakers you want to see.
You will market yourself at a career fair, whether you are an attendee or a presenter. Your job is to connect with employers, employees or other businesses. Make sure you’ve done your research and formed an agenda. This will allow you to research the right companies or potential recruits so your questions can go deeper than what is available on a website or LinkedIn page. You need to be knowledgeable and have formed a pitch that introduces who you are, your skills and accomplishments, and what you have to offer. It needs to be engaging but informative.
Most fairs will include seminars or keynote speakers that offer helpful advice, insider tips and encouragement to the job-hunter. Even if this is the only helpful thing you take away, it’s important to listen and pay attention. These speakers will be respected in the industry and will have helpful insight.
Take advantage of speakers in your field of interest, soak up as much information as you can about the ins and outs of your dream career – but don’t neglect the other speakers! Unexpected topics may surprise or inspire you to try something new. You may create partnerships that you wouldn’t normally consider.
Overall, these fairs can be a wonderful way to learn more about your future career, or foster connections that can further opportunities and relationships in the professional world.
Related Posts: Virtual Career Fair – May 13th – Virtual Tech Talent Day
What Are Career Fairs: Are They Worth It?
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Simon Chou is the Vice President of Operations and Growth at BCjobs.ca. Over the course of his career, he carved a niche in brand development, marketing strategy, and online presence for startups. Prior to BC Jobs, he served as a marketing advisor for high-profile blockchain projects including Litecoin, NEM, and Ripple. He’s also worked with fortune 500 companies in the healthcare space.
The post An Overview of How Career Fairs Work appeared first on BC Jobs Blog.
]]>The post What Are Career Fairs: Are They Worth It? appeared first on BC Jobs Blog.
]]>Sometimes referred to as job fairs or recruitment fairs, these events are dedicated to scouting future employees. Often hosted by universities or colleges, some fairs are designed with student’s futures in mind. There are also career fairs organized around a specific industry. These fairs welcome everyone interested in that particular field.
Typically, career fairs host stations or booths where businesses have representatives to answer questions and scout for new talent. There will be presentations throughout the event. They may be in the form of seminars or panel speakers. These presentations can be very beneficial for gaining insight into a particular business or industry, so note your areas of interest and schedule your day.
Most career fairs won’t end with you having a firm job offer, so don’t get your hopes too high. Rather, these fairs are an opportunity to learn from leaders in your field, and form relationships to help further your career. This may come in the form of a future employer, business partner or mentor. To ensure you’re putting your best foot forward, make sure you’ve appropriately prepared for the career fair.
Though there can be splendid opportunities found at career fairs, not all fairs are created equal. Some fairs may truly be a waste of your time. With the dawn of the Internet age, talent scouting, recruitment and job hunting have become more and more accessible without the need to attend a fair.
Attending a career fair with little opportunity or participation will be a waste of your time. You may end up walking away with nothing more than a bag full of branded pens and notepads. If businesses aren’t really invested in hiring (and are taking part out of obligation), you may end up being endlessly directed to filling out online applications. That’s not a position you want to put yourself in, your time is valuable!
Check out Workopolis’ guide to the best career fairs in Canada to help you pick out the fairs worth attending.
While not a solid replacement for a face-to-face, virtual fairs offer some advantages. Since CoVID-19 has changed much of the business world, virtual fairs are currently trending. Some platforms have launched specifically from CoVID-19, but others existed prior to the pandemic and should be considered as more reputable options.
When considering a job fair, prioritize fostering relationships for the future as well as the present. You never know when you may need those connections along the way.
On May 13, the largest virtual career fair in BC was hosted by BCJobs.ca in partnership with BC Tech Association, WorkBC, and HR Tech Group. The event featured 200 attendees, including 15 moderators and company representatives from 9 organizations. Follow our Meetup Group and Eventbrite Page to be notified of the next virtual career fair.
Click below to learn more about our virtual career fairs.
Simon Chou is the Vice President of Operations and Growth at BCjobs.ca. Over the course of his career, he carved a niche in brand development, marketing strategy, and online presence for startups. Prior to BC Jobs, he served as a marketing advisor for high-profile blockchain projects including Litecoin, NEM, and Ripple. He’s also worked with fortune 500 companies in the healthcare space.
The post What Are Career Fairs: Are They Worth It? appeared first on BC Jobs Blog.
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