{"id":70895,"date":"2016-02-23T11:42:52","date_gmt":"2016-02-23T16:42:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=70895"},"modified":"2020-10-17T12:48:14","modified_gmt":"2020-10-17T16:48:14","slug":"6-reasons-why-career-fairs-still-matter-in-the-linkedin-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/6-reasons-why-career-fairs-still-matter-in-the-linkedin-era\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Reasons Why Career Fairs Still Matter in the LinkedIn Era"},"content":{"rendered":"
In today\u2019s digital world, most people turn to the internet to find a job. It\u2019s as easy as type, click and submit. While technology has made it easier to find and apply for jobs, it has also created a competitive, cluttered and chaotic environment that makes it hard to stand out and even harder to break through. Although career fairs may seem like an outdated job search method, Sheila Vargas, a career development coordinator for Rosen College, says they still have a place in the modern job market and here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n
Sometimes, your impression of what it would be like to work at a particular company differs from reality, so going to a career fair is a golden opportunity to talk to employees, learn about the culture and ask questions about open positions. This insight can help you decide if that company is actually the right fit for you and will help you achieve your career goals.<\/p>\n
Quite often, the people staffing a career fair booth on behalf of a company are human resources or recruiting professionals. These individuals are the gatekeepers to the job you want. They get scores of e-mails every day, so meeting them in person is a rare chance to make a memorable impression and establish a connection that can eventually get you in the door.<\/p>\n
Talking to company representatives at a career fair is similar to doing an initial screening for a job. No matter how experienced you are, there\u2019s always room for improvement when it comes to interview skills, so take advantage of a unique situation \u2013 a room full of companies who want to talk to you and have the time.<\/p>\n
Some companies are household names, but the vast majority don\u2019t enjoy the same level of brand recognition, which makes it challenging to reach qualified job candidates. Career fairs are a valuable platform for employers to educate people about their organizations and increase brand awareness. If you\u2019re new to the area and beginning your job search, it\u2019s also a convenient way to learn about the local job market and research employers.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve already applied to a position, but haven\u2019t received a response or want to know the status of your application, you can inquire about it at a career fair. In some cases, company representatives may even offer to look up your application on the spot and provide feedback. At the very least, you can get an actual person\u2019s contact information and follow up later via e-mail.<\/p>\n
The company you\u2019re interested in working for might not have any positions for you now, but circumstances change and weeks, months or even years down the road, something could become available. Remember to be patient because a connection you make at a career fair can pay off if you keep in touch and show genuine interest in the organization.<\/p>\n
Rosen College\u2019s Career and Experiential Learning Fair is on Thursday, Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the UCF Rosen College courtyard. Leading organizations from the hospitality and tourism industry visit the campus every semester to discuss full-time, part-time and internship opportunities with students majoring in hospitality management, restaurant management and event management. Rosen College students plan and execute the career fair as part of a class project, handling every aspect of the event, including the theme, decor, marketing, promotion and lunch menu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In today\u2019s digital world, most people turn to the internet to find a job. It\u2019s as easy as type, click and submit. While technology has made it easier to find and apply for jobs, it has also created a competitive, cluttered and chaotic environment that makes it hard to stand out and even harder to break through. Although career fairs…","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":70902,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-twocol.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"lazy_load_responsive_images_disabled":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[4068,202,9325],"tu_author":[],"class_list":["post-70895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colleges","tag-rosen-college-of-hospitality-management","tag-alumni","tag-ucf-career-services"],"yoast_head":"\n