BOSTON, MA - Spring is a busy 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 several fairs taking place this spring. 
While they can be crowded and noisy affairs, job fairs offer the distinct advantage of valuable one-on-one contact with employers. Countless hours of cold calls, cover letters, emails, and referrals can be condensed into an afternoon event where you can easily meet with 6-10 employers in a couple of hours.
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, a K-12 teaching fair, a summer co-op job fair and recruiting events for women and students of color. Find the event that best suits your interests, bring plenty of resumes, and be prepared to showcase your talents to potential 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 2008

The university participates in numerous job fairs, many of which are collaborative efforts with other Boston area schools. Upcoming events include:

• Idealist.org Non-Profit Job Fair – February 5, 2008
• Northeastern Career Fair (all majors) – February 6, 2008
• Diversity Career Fair for Education – February 9, 2008
• Government Careers Expo– February 13, 2008
• Merrimack Valley Teacher Recruitment Fair - February 28, 2008
• Suffolk’s Connections 2008 Job Fair for Graduating Students – March 27, 2008
• Summer Co-op Job Fair – April 10, 2008
• Women for Hire Job Fair – April 15, 2008
• MERC Job Fair for Teachers – April 23, 2008

 

Idealist Non-profit Job Fair

Tuesday - February 5, 2008 - 12-4 pm
BU Sherman Union-2nd Floor, 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, Perkins School for the Blind, AFL-CIO Organizing Institute, and The Greater Boston Food Bank, Inc.
For more information, go to www.idealist.org.

 

 

Northeastern Career Fair

Wednesday - February 6, 2008 – 10am– 2pm
Cabot Gym and Curry Quad, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
This career fair is open to Suffolk University students. Over 150 organizations are participating including IBM, Glaceau– Vitaminwater, Massachusetts General Hospital, John Hancock, and Verizon Communications.
For more information, go to http://northeastern.erecruiting.com/stu/cf_details?fhnd=2796.

 

 

Diversity Career Fair for Education

Saturday - February 9, 2008 - 12-2pm
Wheelock College, Ladd Room, 43 Hawes St, Brookline, MA
Positions for teachers, coaches, admissions reps, business managers, counselors, deans of students, diversity and technology coordinators, etc. Over 50 public and private schools, k-12.
For more information, go to www.nemnet.com and click on Career Fairs, or call 800-964-0534.

 

 

Government Careers Expo

Wednesday - February 13, 2008 - 1– 4pm
BU Sherman Union, 775 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA
Great opportunity to network with government agencies. Open to all Suffolk students. Come and meet representatives from 20 federal, state and local government agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Social Security Administration, MA Department of Health and Human Services, and MA Human Resources Division.
For more information, contact Laura Marchant at [email protected].

 

 

Merrimack Valley Teacher Recruitment Fair

Thursday – February 28, 2008 - 1– 6pm
Lowell Auditorium, Lowell, MA
Bring at least 25 resumes and take advantage of this event where you can meet school districts hiring in all subject areas and levels.

 

 

Suffolk University Connections 2008 Job Fair for Graduating Students

Thursday – March 27, 2008 - 4-6pm
Ridgeway Gym, Suffolk University, Boston, MA
Suffolk provides students with the opportunity to meet with representatives from a variety of employers hiring for permanent, full-time positions. Over 50 organizations representing business, non-profits and government agencies will attend. Participating employers include Clear Channel, Genzyme, Prudential Insurance, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
For more information, contact Laura Marchant at [email protected].

 

 

Summer Co-op Job Fair

Thursday – April 10, 2008 - 12-2:30pm
Ridgeway Gym, Suffolk University, Boston, MA
Bring plenty of resumes, dress professionally and be prepared to meet with employers offering career-related summer positions!
For more information, contact [email protected].

 

 

Women for Hire Job Fair

Tuesday – April 15, 2008 - 10am-2pm
Sheraton Boston Hotel, 39 Dalton St, Boston, MA
Meet with Boston area employers! Women For Hire career expos are high-caliber recruiting events that enable talented women in all fields to meet directly with recruiters and hiring managers from top employers. Whether you're an experienced professional with several years of experience under your belt or a graduating college student, these one-day events are an ideal chance to launch or advance your career.
For more information, go to www.womenforhire.com.

 

 

MERC Job Fair for Teachers

Wednesday – April 23, 2008 - 9am-3:30pm
John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center, Boston, MA
The Massachusetts Educational Recruiting Consortium provides an exciting opportunity to meet highly qualified candidates from 42 member colleges and universities. This day-long event brings together a nation-wide array of public and private school systems and candidates who are licensed or licensed eligible in a wide range of fields.
For more information, go to www.eventemanagement.com/merc2008/index.php, or contact Michele Rapp at [email protected].

 

The Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education at Suffolk University assists students and alumni of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Sawyer School of Management in defining and realizing their career goals. Staffed by skilled and experienced career counselors, services include career advising and counseling, cooperative education and internship opportunities, full-time employment resources, and more. For more information, call 617.573.8480, visit their website at www.suffolk.edu/careers, or e-mail Paul Tanklefsky, Director, Career Services at [email protected].