How to Organize a Job Fair
Follow a few simple steps for how to organize a job fair, and get well on your way to a great event. Successful job fairs are attended by quality job applicants and employers, held at a suitable location and advertised well.
First: Narrow your focus
One of the keys to holding a successful job fair is to stay focused on the types of prospective employers and job applicants you are trying to unite. If you are aiming the job fair at recent graduates, focus on employers seeking entry level job applicants. If the employers at your job fair are in the health industry, make your target audience job applicants, such as nurses and laboratory technicians. To find employment for non-degree job seekers, invite employers in the retail and hospitality industries.
Second: Choose the right location
Select a location that is large enough to accommodate the number of invited employers. Remember to provide accommodations, such as tables and chairs, so employers have space to meet with job seekers and display information about their organizations.
Third: Get the word out
No matter how focused the job fair or how great the location, a job fair is not successful if no one attends. Plan the job fair well in advance. If the fair is focused on health careers, contact health providers in your area. Do not forget to advertise the job fair to the career seekers you have targeted also. If you are attempting to reach college students, consider advertising in college newspapers, putting up campus flyers, and reaching out to professors and college placement officials.
Fourth: Confirmation is key
The final step is to confirm the attendance of the employers approximately two weeks before the date of the fair. This attention to detail is necessary for a successful event.