When I was still looking for a job in Memphis, I went to a couple of “career fairs” around town.  Alex has participated in several in Memphis, Atlanta, and Pittsburgh.  From my own experience and talking with others, I have come to the conclusion that most of these fairs are a colossal waste of time.

In a completely unscientific poll conducted on Facebook and Twitter, I asked friends, family and followers if anyone had ever gotten a job from a career fair, or if they even knew of someone who did.  I had one friend reply that he had landed a nine-month contract job with a cell phone company (I don’t know what the job was.)  That’s it.  One friend was hoping for a job from a recently attended fair, but the word is still out on that one. 

I did have one HR friend say that she had hired “a few” people from fairs.  A company that runs career fairs responded that they always poll their participants afterwards and that “hundreds” have been hired (This was from a Canadian company who says they have filled jobs ranging from entry level food service to corporate management.  Their website looked very nice.  Post a comment if you’d like to get their info; they were really nice.) 

Let me qualify something: I am speaking of your run-of-the-mill, found it in the newspaper or advertised online job fair.  I am not talking about the one run by your university’s engineering school, a specific organization’s fair (ex. Association of American Museums) or an internal fair that lets employees see how they can move up the ranks.  Those are all limited to people who are connected with those organizations, making participants somewhat pre-screened.

The career fairs I have been to and heard about attract thousands of hopefuls for less than a hundred jobs.  They have booths that invite you to become salesmen; usually cell phones, insurance, and pest control.  There are a couple of hotels that encourage you to get into the exciting career of banquet service.  Generally, you see at least two temp agencies and colleges offering undergrad and associate degrees.  And, of course, there is at least one recruiter from a military branch. 

I’m sorry, but with the exception of the military, not one of those categories screams “career” to me.  Job, yes.  But career?  No.  The reason the cell phone people et al are constantly there is because few make a lifetime career out of selling their product.  Perhaps they begin there, then move on to management but more than likely they go to another job that will pay them more.  I guess you could say that it is the beginning of a general career in sales, but their constant need for staffing implies no one sticks around too long. 

I attended the career fairs dressed in business attire and armed with resumes.  I was stunned at the number of people who did neither of these things.  It would seem the exhibitors are used to this as a couple of the booths automatically told me I was overqualified for their jobs after a short glance at me and the resume.   Some booths didn’t even take the resume because they weren’t really hiring.  The educational booths were no good for me.  I was there because I needed to earn money, not get another loan; besides, I have two undergrad degrees already.

Someone must be getting jobs at these things or they wouldn’t continue to exist. Here’s my advice if you are bound and determined to go to one:

• Make sure you know who is going to be there.  If you see a company you’re interested in, it probably won’t hurt to go.  If nothing looks promising, don’t bother.
• Don’t expect to get a job.  Look at it more as an exercise in networking.
• Don’t pay to get in unless you can honestly justify spending the time and money with the very real possibility it won’t get you a job – this is probably not the best use of job-hunting cash.
• Dress nice, shake hands, and bring a well-written, typed resume on nice paper.  For all my negative comments, it is possible you may meet someone who can help you.
• Expect to stand in a lot of lines and set aside a couple of hours if it is a particularly large fair.

All-in-all, I think you are better off going to networking events specific to the type of job you want.  Join a club or go to the places where people with your career hang out.  Most careers are made through relationships, not cattle calls.