Job listings have changed considerably since the days of newspaper classified ads. With online CV’s and profiles becoming increasingly popular, you can now apply for hundreds of jobs at a time with the click of a button, without meeting anyone until the interview process begins, if it does at all.
Online applications are incredibly fast, convenient, and you have a clear indication of which jobs are actually available, which means a higher chance of landing the interview, rather than blindly sending applications directly to a company. But have you ever considered applying for a position face to face?
Employers have hundreds of CV’s to sift through every day, and no matter how good you might be, it’s difficult for anyone to stand out amongst 300 other people.
Job fairs essentially allow candidates to skip over the initial stages of applying for a job. They speed up the process for the job seeker and the employer, cutting out an initial online application, a possible phone screening process and the endless waiting for an interview date.
Networking is one of the most important ways to find a new job. The old saying: “It’s not what you know, but who you know” is still very relevant, regardless of whether people think this is a good thing or not, it’s true in many cases. Events such as career fairs will have senior representatives from some of the biggest companies around, thus giving graduates the chance to get to know them and hopefully make a memorable impression. After this, when a position comes up within their organisation, the candidate may be at a higher advantage over other applicants, having already had a chance to speak to the employer directly.
Information is power when it comes to the job search, and this is especially true when looking to find a position within a certain industry. The more a candidate knows about a certain industry, the more they will appeal to prospective employers, and attending a career fair allows the candidates to quiz companies on what they do, how they do it and other important questions about the ways in which their businesses work. Not only will applicants be able to find out more information about specific industries, but they will also be able to understand better the sectors they’re interested in working in, helping to rule out any bad career choices.
