What Visitors Look For

The reasons people attend the Job Fair are as diverse as their ages and educational backgrounds. In 2008, 34% of visitors over 19 were unemployed, and 49% of visitors gave “looking for a job” as the reason they attended. Whatever an individual’s reason for attending may have been, over 95% felt their time at Job Fair 2008 was well spent.

While looking for a job was clearly the most popular reason for attending Job Fair, the numbers below indicate that visitors do see value in attending the event beyond simply a job search. Many of the visitors are looking for information on jobs and careers as well as training information corresponding to those positions. Others yet, are there to meet contacts for future employment, and some are merely there to see what organizations are participating in this well-known community event.

*  Many evaluations reflected multiple responses
Most visitors are looking for any or all of the following: a change in their job or career, information on training, an idea of what jobs are out there, and/or a job.

Keep in mind that interactive displays tend to get the most attention from visitors. For visitors to Job Fair 2009, the value of information received will increase dramatically if it is gathered through a “hands on” approach. Something for visitors to touch or do at your display will also draw more of them to you. Visitors will naturally be drawn to interactive displays that provide information of interest and use to them based on their experience, goals and skills. This could be an opportunity for them to try their hand at a particular skill, surf your organization’s web site, check out some of the actual equipment you use in your field, and so on.

The opportunity to meet and talk to more than 70 exhibitors in one room at the same time has proven to be a huge factor in the success of previous Job Fairs. For the visitor this is a great time-saver and perhaps opens some doors for them that they were unaware existed; it would take them at least a month to do what they can do at Job Fair in 7 hours.

Questions and Expectations Visitors will have:

1. Are you hiring right now? If not, when might you be?
2. What are some of the types of jobs/careers within your field?
3. Are there different areas of specialty within the field?
4. What kinds of skills are required?
5. What are some of the key attributes you look for when interviewing?
6. What kind of training is required – formal/informal, type of training institution, on-the-job, apprenticeship?
7. Where do you go for that training?
8. Types of tools used?
9. Is there opportunity to work your way up in your field?
10. Are there many jobs within your field/industry? Do you see this changing?
11. Are the jobs in your field traditionally filled by women or men? Is this changing?
12. How has employment in your field changed recently?
13. What changes do you see ahead?
14. How does technology factor into your field? How does that affect who you hire?
15. What kind of salary range exists within your field? What is the entry-level wage?
16. What is the typical work schedule?
17. What do you like/find rewarding about working in your chosen field?
18. How did you get into your field? How did you end up where you are today?
19. If someone wanted to start off in your field, what would you recommend they do first?
20. You have likely worked in more than one field/industry over your career – can you compare or contrast any of these?
21. Is there a possibility of having to relocate?
22. Are there requirements to accept transfers to new communities; or what opportunites are available for transfers?