July 21, 2009

Jobbernaut returns with robust Job Fair

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Many Hire Ground readers have told me they are not fans of job fairs, saying they typically have only a handful of companies, few high-paying jobs and are staffed mostly by human resources people, not hiring managers. And they do have a point: Some of the last few I've attended have offered too many "business opportunities" and not enough real positions.

But if you were to choose just one job fair to attend this summer, I would suggest trying out tomorrow's Greater Seattle Job Fair, presented by Jobbernaut. Now in it's 11th year, the Job Fair, which arrives in Seattle once every quarter, is still the largest such showcase of hiring companies in the Northwest.

According to a Jobbernaut rep who identified himself as Sean, 35 to 40 companies are expected to attend tomorrow, July 22, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Qwest Field Event Center's West VIP Club Level. Some of the companies that are scheduled to attend include Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, Verizon Wireless, Princess Cruises, KING-5, American Family Insurance and many others. (Click here for a complete list.)

The general list of jobs types that will be represented will include sales, marketing, management, health care, administration, retail, finance, banking, insurance, manufacturing, law enforcement, engineering, IT and many others. Hiring managers from King County and the U.S. Census Bureau will also be on hand to discuss various immediate government openings.

For those who may be concerned about the usual crush of applicants, Sean says the attendance is expected to be 3,000 to 4,000, which is about average for a Jobbernaut event. This is a far cry from the 7,000 attendees in February and 5,000 in April at the last two events, when a large wave of layoffs had flooded the job market, he says.

Between the February and April fairs, Sean says, Jobbernaut estimates that about 800 positions have been filled directly as a result of the two events. Many of the companies that exhibit at the Job Fair return year after year. "Some companies say they haven't had to do any outside advertising for new jobs for the last four years because they get all the candidates they need here," he says.

"The cool thing about this event is that it is all hiring managers who show up," Sean adds. "A lot of the reps who attend are the ones that are really hard to reach by phone. Sometimes, they'll do formal interviews right on the spot."

If you are arriving at Qwest Field, Sean says, be aware that there is a significant amount of construction going on around S. Royal Brougham Way, so be on the lookout for Jobbernaut's detour signs.

While bringing along hard copies of resumes is recommended, you can also register with Jobbernaut and post an electronic version that will be sent to all the participating companies. On the same page, you can add your e-mail address to receive regular Jobbernaut newsletter updates.

So be sure to dress for success and put your best foot forward. This may be your one chance to meet with a hiring manager who can help turn your career around.

Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.

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1 Comments

Michael on July 23, 2009 12:14 PM | Reply

I was at the Jobbernaut Job Fair yesterday and thought it was a great Job Fair. Your correct about other ones being a waste of time. Jobbernaut always has lots of companies and they are actually present unlike some other job fairs who when you get there are half empty and you are just told the company wasn't able to make it. I found the atmosphere to be very comfortable and well organized. They were very helpful and I was very glad I went. Thanks for the great tip!

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