Interviewing for a new job can be scary, interviewing for multiple jobs in one day seems unbearable. Here’s a little secret, it’s not! Job fairs are a great way to meet multiple employers, hiring for a variety of positions, all at once! If you have never been to a Dallas job fair, here are a few things to expect:
Employers who attend job fairs are looking to hire multiple people that day or in the coming weeks. At localwork.com, we try to provide 30+ employers at each of our events so that job seekers have the 30+ opportunities to land a new career! When was the last time you were able to meet 30 hiring managers in one day? So you have to imagine, with that many employers available in one place, there will be crowds of job seekers eager to meet them. Depending on what Dallas job fair you are attending you should expect a flow of roughly 300 attendees fluctuating in and out of the venue at all times. This is A LOT of people, but there are ways to avoid the crowd and stand out in the process. Show up early to the event and be one of the first people to talk to employers. Showing up early will help you make a good impression as well as alleviate some of the anxiety that comes with being surrounded by so many other job seekers, aka the competition!
If you have never been to a Dallas job fair, be warned, if you are not prepared with pre-event research (looking up the different companies that are going to attend, as well as open positions) you will be asked what kind of job you are looking for, and don’t just respond with, “oh, anything really.” This looks terrible to Dallas recruiters! Employers who attend a Dallas job fair are in search of job seekers who are there looking for specific positions, networking in order to find those jobs. So take our advice, do your “pre job fair” research. If you can expect to be asked that question, know your answer and be confident about it.
Dallas job fairs typically run for about 3 hours, and thinking about spending that entire time talking to every employer can feel overwhelming. You should do your best to talk to each recruiter, because you never know what kind of connections you can make, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself to have in-depth discussions with EVERY employer at the event. The point of attending a Dallas job fair is to find companies that you have a connection with and can see yourself fitting into their company culture. If you sense that the culture of a company may not be the right fit for you, thank the recruiter for their time and move on. It is important to find a perfect match for both job seeker and employer. Spending 3 hours interviewing with numerous companies can seem like a lot but by the end of your experience you are guaranteed to feel accomplished.
Even if you had the best conversation with a recruiter, and they loved your resume, expect them to ask you apply online. Don’t get frustrated by this; this can mean a multitude of things. This is most likely just protocol for them companywide. A recruiter might have you fill out an application online after the event as a test to see if you actually follow through with it. Some employers might want to see your follow through rate, as well as acknowledge that you not only finished the task they asked of you but also proving how eager you are about the position.
For Localwork.com Dallas job fairs, we allow you to upload your resume beforehand, so each employer attending the event has access to your information, skillset, and qualifications. This gives employers the opportunity to reach out to you before the job fair to set up and onsite interview. However, if you don’t get a call before the Dallas job fair, don’t get discouraged! If you are qualified, personable, and have come prepared with research on companies and positions that were appealing to you, you should expect an on-site interview as well. Some people will be hired on the spot at job fairs based on these interviews. Understand that these recruiters are there for the sole purpose of hiring multiple people for multiple positions. Be the candidate they came to hire!
Utilizing the information from this article will help you in preparing for your first Dallas job fair. At this point, few things should come as a surprise to you, which is great! The most important thing to remember when attending a job fair is that recruiters are in search of confident, personable, and well qualified candidates. Do everything in your power to be that kind of candidate in order to better your chances of getting hired!