What is a job fair?

By definition, a job fair is an employment recruiting activity sponsored by an employer, a group of employers, or an employment related service for the purpose of helping employers quickly find new employees for current or anticipated employment openings.

For employers, job fairs are an alternative method of finding new employees as compared to placing help wanted ads in newspapers or in online job banks, using an employment recruiting agency, or waiting for job seekers to drop in.

For job seekers, job fairs offer an opportunity to meet and interview with several employers (usually in the same industry) on the same day in one convenient location.  It is not uncommon in job fairs for job seekers to be hired "on the spot" if their qualifications meet the needs of the employer.

Job fairs are commonly held in public facilities, such as schools, colleges, libraries, malls, and convention halls.  Job seekers should dress appropriate for the positions they seek, bring copies of their resume and other appropriate documents, and be prepared to be interviewed by employers.

For job seekers, attending job fairs should be part of an overall job search strategy, one that should also include responding to help wanted ads, networking with colleagues and friends, registration with placement agencies and services, and direct unsolicited contact with desired employers.

Ongoing local Job Fairs

Listed below are a number of ongoing, local and regional job fairs.  Click each link to learn more about each job fair.

All Florida Careers and Job Fairs

CarouselExpo.com Job Fairs

CarouselExpo.com lists job fairs throughout Florida.  Scroll down the page to view all fairs.

Central Florida Employment Council

Click on the "Job Fairs" menu tab for details.

FloridaJobs.com

Southwest Florida Employment.com

WorkNet Wednesday

Monthly Job Fairs in Pinellas County, FL.  WorkNet Pinellas has launched a service called "WorkNet Wednesday," a monthly job fair campaign. Job Fairs will be held throughout Pinellas County on the second Wednesday of each month, with the venue and focus changed to continually meet employer needs.  Scroll down the page for a listing of all fairs.

Job Fairs: What you must know before you attend.

• Complete the registration (if required) properly and completely.

• Arrive early to determine which employers you want to meet the most.

• Dress appropriately (professionally and conservatively) as you would on the job.

• Bring copies of your resume.

• Bring a pen and a notepad.

• Bring business cards.

• Do not under any circumstance bring young children!!!

• Remove all body piercings.

• Don't act desperate, such as indicating that you'll take any job available.  Know what kind of job you want and why.

• Be prepared to ask questions of employers regarding their company, service or product line, employment needs and opportunities, corporate climate, just to name a few.

• Be prepared to answer questions about yourself, your work history, schooling and training, skills, accomplishments, your employment value and how you can help the employer.

• Be enthusiastic!  Act like you're interested in the job and the employer!

• Be positive!  Never bad mouth a past employer.

• Be honest!  Lying can prevent your from being offered a job, or fired if the truth is learned after you've been hired.

• Follow up. At the fair, collect business cards and company literature. After the fair, call employers or send send thank-you letters or other materials employers asked you to submit.