Career Fairs

There's a lot of hubbub and pressure associated with these career fair things. So let's talk about them a bit to examine whether they are worth the stomach ulcer.

The myth:
You're most likely to find the job you want at a career fair.

The truth:
Career fairs represent the hiring period sweet spot. Companies have a fist full of entry-level jobs available at that time that aren't available during the rest of the year. And they intend to fill them. But you're also competing with many more people for the same job. As a result, you're not terribly likely to get a job originating from one of these mass interviews.

Why should I go to a career fair?
A career fair is a great place to get some practice with your elevator pitch. You should have a very concise statement about who you are, what you can do, and what you want. Pitch this to these representatives and then let them tell you how you might fit in. This leads to a conversation about how your skills match up with the company, and that's a good conversation to have.

Sooo... you're saying I should go or shouldn't?
My final advice (and it's just an opinion), is that you should. Treat it more like a networking fest, and don't allow yourself to get stressed out by it. You're much more likely to get a job on a recommendation from a professor or friend, but it's still valuable to go and test out skills and maybe learn something about a company you didn't know before. This is especially true for the December career fairs since you won't be available for hire when they want you anyway.

I've talked to people who got key internships and even great jobs at career fairs, so don't discount them completely. Treat it with your best, but nix the stress.