A job fair, which is also referred to as a career fair, is an event held to introduce potential employees to employers and vice versa. Most job fairs consist of several different booths set up in one large area. Each booth represents a different company. Prospective employees of these companies can make the rounds of all booths, introduce themselves to potential employers, and pass out their resumes. The employers who are working inside each booth have the opportunity to not only size up potential employees for their companies, but also to pass out their business cards to many different people, which might help boost business.
One of the most common venues for the average job fair is a college campus. Many colleges offer job fairs to help their students get entry-level positions with various companies after they finish school. In addition to colleges, communities might also occasionally hold job fairs. Community-based job fairs are often sponsored by career centers located within a specific town or city, and these job fairs tend to draw a larger crowd than a college job fair might because they are targeted toward an entire geographic area rather than just one school. In addition to more people possibly being present at a community job fair, there might also be more potential employers available for contact at a community fair versus what might be available at a college fair.
Attending a career fair can be a very valuable experience for a person looking for employment. The initial meet and greet with prospective employers is often said to be very important at job fairs because it may serve as a mini-interview. The impression a person gives at this initial meeting might directly impact whether he gets called in for a job interview by the company. More often than not, job fair employers will most likely schedule job interviews with the people they met who stood out from the crowd in a positive way. It may be important for a person attending a career fair to keep in mind that each employer present will probably come in contact with a large number of people, and it would probably be a good idea to try and make a lasting impression.
A person who is not able to attend a job fair may still be able to get noticed by a specific company if she makes an effort to send her resume in around the time the job fair will occur. This might ensure that her resume falls into the stack with other applicants who registered at the fair. There are also occasionally job fairs that take place online. These online fairs tend to be beneficial for people who might have problems attending an in-person fair. Most virtual job fairs offer prospective employees the chance to not only submit their resumes to employers online, but also to chat live with potential employers.