Job Fair Networking
Why You Might Want to Attend if Not Recruiting/Job-Seeking
The key word is "networking." Networking is making and maintaining contacts with people who might someday be able to help you get a job, solve a professional problem, or introduce you to someone who can mentor you to further your career. Many of the best jobs are never advertised at all. They are filled by word of mouth alone. This means that being an active member of the "grapevine" is vital to your career success. Without it, you may never tap the hidden job market.
To network at a job fair, it's wise to take a different approach than someone who is recruiting or job hunting. You are not there to get a job, at least not at the moment. Instead, your objective is to meet people, get to know what the job market is currently like, and find some people that you would like to know better. Networking is similar to participating in events at professional or technical organizations. You strike up conversations, hand out your business card, and then follow up with the people you meet that you would like to know better.
Bear in mind that your goal is to build up some social capital with your network of new friends. In other words, you're taking the time to invest in an acquaintance, not just putting him or her in your Rolodex as a resource. Networking is more than attending an occasional event where you meet people; it is also the time you spend staying in touch with your contacts, finding out if they need a favor, offering to help with a problem they might have, and occasionally having lunch or attending a game together.
In short, networking is ongoing. However, it doesn't begin until you meet those like-minded people that you want to maintain contact with. That's where Aviation Interviews' job fairs come in. If you're going to be spending a lot of time making and maintaining contacts throughout your career, it makes sense to make contacts within your own industry that are more likely to be beneficial to you in the long run. If you've never networked before, one of our job fairs is a great place to start, and you can attend as often as you want.
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