Job Fair Season Approaching For Graduating Students 

‘Tis the season….. for job fairs. Graduating students seeking to generate face-to-face meetings with employers have been presented with a golden opportunity – a virtual guarantee of direct contact with recruiters at the myriad of job fairs taking place this spring.

The upcoming job fairs (listed below) come in all shapes and sizes – a job fair for all industries and careers, a non-profit event focusing on social services, a government career forum and criminal justice expo, women for hire expo, a K-12 teaching fair, and recruiting events targeted to women and students of color. Finding the one that fits your interests and is tailored to your job specs is the ideal scenario.

Job fairs have one distinct advantage -- you can easily meet and make your case directly to 6-10 employers in a couple of hours. In contrast, just imagine the time (seemingly endless hours, months in the making) energy (cover letter, email, cold calls, follow-up, referrals) and luck (being chosen to interview from among dozens to hundreds of candidates) that it takes to arrange for individual meetings with those same employers. Though often crowded and noisy affairs, job fairs do offer one-one contact with employers.

Here’s a 10-step plan to take advantage of the upcoming job fairs:

1. Pick a job fair(s) of particular interest 
2. Research specific employers and jobs of interest before the event 
3. Develop your 30 – 60 second commercial about you and your credentials 
4. Dress appropriately 
5. Introduce yourself to employers, pitch your 30 -60 second commercial and engage in a brief conversation about the employers needs, your background/skill set, and the potential for a match. 
6. Ask the recruiter for their business card at the end of the meeting. 
7. Take any pertinent notes immediately following the conversation and before moving to the next employer. 
8. Send a thank you letter and email note to “qualified prospects” 
9. Follow-up a week later 
10. Persist

 

Suffolk University Career/Job Fairs, Spring 2007

The university participates in numerous job fairs, many of which are collaborative efforts with other Boston area schools. Upcoming events include: 
• Suffolk Connections, 2007 Full-Time Job Fair – March 22, 2007 
• Idealist.org Non-Profit Career Fair – February 6, 2007 
• Northeastern Career Fair (all majors) – February 7, 2007 
• Government Careers Information Forum – February 15 , 2007 
• Career Connections for Students of Color – February 23, 2007 
• Criminal Justice Career Fair – February 28, 2007 
• Women for Hire Job Fair – April 17, 2007 
• Teaching Job Fair – April 19, 2007

Below you will find a more detailed description of each career fair.

Suffolk Connections, 2007 Full-time Job Fair 

Thursday – March 22, 2007 – 4-6pm 
Suffolk University – Ridgeway Gym 148 – Cambridge Street 
At this fair, students have the opportunity to meet with representatives from a variety of employers hiring for permanent, full-time positions. Over 40 organizations representing business, non-profits and government agencies will attend.

Idealist.org Non-Profit Career Fair 

Tuesday – February 6, 2007 – 12-4pm 
Boston University – Metcalf Ballroom – 775 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 
Job seekers can distribute resumes and speak with organizational representatives about current and future employment, internship and volunteer opportunities. There will also be a series of *free* information sessions offering career advice for nonprofit job seekers. Additionally, students will have access to 100+ employers including Harvard University, The American Cancer Society, Fresh Air Fund, Intercultural Dimensions Inc., and Big Brothers of Massachusetts Bay. 
www.idealist.org

Northeastern Career Fair – All Majors 

Wednesday – February 7, 2007 – Career Fair (all majors) – 10am-2pm 
Northeastern University – Cabot Cage – Corner of Huntington Avenue & Forsyth Street – Boston, MA 
This career fair is open to Suffolk University students. Over 150 organizations are participating including, IBM, Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Internal Revenue Service (IRS), John Hancock, Progressive Insurance, and Verizon Communications. 
http://northeastern.erecruiting.com/stu/cf_details?fhnd=2086

Government Careers Information Forum 

Thursday – February 15, 2007 – 12-3pm 
Northeastern University – Curry Center Ballroom – 360 Huntington Ave – Boston, MA 
This forum, sponsored by the College Career Centers of Boston, provides the opportunity to learn about careers in state and federal government. Speak to representatives from various government agencies, such as the CIA, State Department and Department of Education. Students will rotate tables every 20 minutes. This is an informational gathering, not a job fair. Dress is business casual. 
www.careerservices.neu.edu/careerfairs.html

Criminal Justice Career Fair 

Wednesday – February 28, 2007 – 11:30am-2pm 
Northeastern University – Student Center 
Open to Suffolk University students, this career fair includes such employers as Community Resources for Justice, LP Innovations, Inc., Liberty Mutual, Massachusetts School of Law, and MetLife Auto & Home Insurance - Special Investigation Unit. 
http://www.northeastern.erecruiting.com/stu/cf_details?fhnd=2269

Career Connections for Students of Color 

Thursday – February 23, 2007 – 4-7 pm 
John Hancock Hall – Dorothy Quincy Suite – 180 Berkeley Street – Boston, MA 
The Career Connect is a career fair for undergraduate and graduate students of color. Students will have the opportunity to connect with corporate sponsors and learn why successful professionals have chosen Boston as a place to work. 
http://www.thepartnershipinc.org/PDFs/career_connection%20.pdf

Women for Hire Job Fair 

Thursday – April 17, 2007 – 10am-2pm 
Westin Copley Place – 10 Huntington Avenue – Boston, MA 
This event enables talented women in all fields to meet directly with recruiters and hiring managers from 50+ employers. 
http://www.womenforhire.com/expos/boston/expo.asp

MERC Education Career Fair 

Thursday – April 19, 2007 – 9am-3:30pm 
Bayside Expo and Executive Conference Center – Boston, MA 
MERC, otherwise known as the Massachusetts Educational Recruiting Consortium, is hosting a K-12 job fair. They are seeking qualified teachers, administration, and counselor school systems. 
http://www.eventemanagement.com/merc2007/index.php

Additional job fair postings at http://suffolk.erecruiting.com 
Career Services & Cooperative Education 
www.suffolk.edu/careers, (617) 573-8480,