TOG Solutions

Just like clockwork, you see the announcements online and in the media. It’s one of the signs of spring.

And no, it’s not the groundhog.

It’s the start of spring job fair season. And like in the fall, organizations and job seekers alike are gearing up to meet each other.

We have made it a note to discuss job fairs during the spring and the fall as it has consistently been an opportunity to at least speak with organizations to get an idea about the overall job market. Unfortunately, for many job seekers, there been more talk than opportunity, as the touch economic times has increased the number of fair attendees and slashed the number of employers.

Now that the employment outlook is looking better, it’s important for you, the job seeker, to get back to the fair circuit to see what’s out there. Unlike the last couple of seasons, though, you’ll find that the number of employers will likely be going up.

That, of course, leads us to the job fairs themselves and a pertinent question: When times were good, which job fairs were effective and which weren’t?

During 2006 and 2007, when the job market was still good and there were plenty of opportunities to be had, my work afforded me the chance to attend a variety of different fairs. As a result, it allowed me to conclude that not all job fairs are created equal.

At the top of the list are job fairs conducted by colleges and universities. These events are aided by a strong career services staff, alumni employers and venues that can accommodate large numbers of organizations.

Next up are non-profit and public organizations, such a local urban leagues and unemployment offices. Again, their community connections allow for a more diverse group of potential employers, giving you a better chance to connect with places you may want to work for.

Job fairs sponsored by employment periodicals and online job boards are hit and miss. In the past, some have taken the wise step in partnering with a non-profit or institution, in which case they are able to present more prospective employers.

Some, on the other hand, do no such thing and bring around the same employers over and over again. This does not bode well for you as a job seeker, who, even in the best of times, would be staring down the barrel of an hour and a half wait to see the same half-dozen employers you saw the last time they set up shop.

With all job fairs, be mindful of what employers will be at these fairs. If you see a job fair advertised that doesn’t have a list of employers, it’s probably best to skip it.