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Career and Job fairs are sources for recruiting and screening large numbers of students/applicants over a short period of time. Career and Job fairs permit the organization to demonstrate its mission and employment capabilities through marketing vehicles such as brochures, videos and professional exhibits. Career fairs sponsored by middle or high schools typically focus more on marketing and public relations for the purpose of providing general information about the employer and career opportunities to hopefully encourage students to develop their education and skills in needed occupational areas. Job fairs sponsored by public or professional organizations typically focus more on targeted recruitment for the purpose of matching qualified applicants to specific job openings. The following are some recommendations to assist with planning career/job fairs and ensuring a successful recruitment experience:

• Contact universities/colleges, middle and high schools to get a schedule of their career/job fairs and get on a mailing list to notify you of future events.
• Attend career/job fairs sponsored by municipalities or organizations located in communities throughout the state. For example, local newspapers like the Charlotte Observer sometimes sponsor career/job fairs.
• Contact professional organizations to see if they sponsor career/job fairs related to specific occupational groups (i.e., nursing, engineers, teachers, etc.)
• Contact military career transition organizations to get schedules of career/job fairs, which will enable you to connect with trained military personnel who are looking for civilian employment after their discharge from service.
• Most sponsors charge employers a fee for participating in a career/job fair, so you need to know your budget's limits when planning which events you will attend. The cost can vary widely depending on who is sponsoring the event and what is included in the registration fee. Registration fees usually cover the cost of renting a space, which may include a table with or without a cover and chairs, electrical service and Internet access. Sometimes the registration fee includes a boxed lunch for recruiters, since it is difficult to leave and get food during the career/job fair. Some registration fees may include advertising charges to include your organization's name and contact information in a printed brochure or program that is given to all students/applicants attending the fair or the cost of including your organization information in advertisements (newspaper, T.V., etc.) marketing the career/job fair. Don't forget to ask if there is a discount for state employers.
• Partner with other agencies so that both agencies can attend or you can take turns going to different career/job fairs and then share information as well as the cost.
• State agencies can get together and host community career/job fairs regionally across the state.
• Use employees who have a connection to the school, university, or sponsor organization to staff a career/job fair.
• If targeting a particular occupational group such as nurses, engineers, etc., you should invite an occupational expert (i.e. Director of Nursing, Chief Engineer, etc.) to staff the career/job fair.
• At career/job fairs, you should promote your brand with brochures, handout materials, and promotional items such as engraved pens, pencils, notepads, etc.
• To stand out from other employers and to encourage students/applicants to stop at your booth, you need to have state-of-the-art display materials. You can purchase or rent portable table top displays, pop-up displays or floor standing displays with or without special lighting to be used to display your banners, logos, pictures, etc.
• To encourage applicants to visit your booth, you can have a drawing to win prizes such as gift certificates, backpacks, etc. This gives the recruiter an opening to provide information about careers/jobs in the organization and a way to collect names and contact information of potential applicants.
• If you are recruiting for specific job openings, you need to have copies of your vacancy announcements and application for employment forms available for applicants.
• Skilled recruiters are necessary for career/job fairs that include opportunities for conducting one-on-one interviews. Recruiters need to be knowledgeable of the organization's mission and vision and qualifications needed for available jobs. They must be able to answer questions about career paths and benefits, as well as salary information.
• If you are participating in career/job fairs outside of your local area (another city, county, state, etc.) it is good to have pictures of your worksite location and pictures of employees in the work environment. It is also good to have information available about schools, housing, cost-of-living, recreation activities (golfing, beaches, mountains, professional sports, etc.), to assist the applicant in making decisions about possible relocation. You can contact local realty companies to get relocation information. Many local realty companies have relocation departments and/or agents whose main purpose is to entice people to move so they can sell houses; therefore, they typically compile relocation packages with information on schools, taxes, etc.
• Ensure you have a unified strategy/vision among representatives. Prior to attending career/job fairs, recruiting teams should review job descriptions and positions, the company's expectations for the career fair and what should be communicated to attendees.
• Dress professionally and wear comfortable shoes, since you may be standing for long periods of time.
• Keep applications/resumes that you collect in a secure/confidential place.
• All staff at career/job fairs should have nametags and business cards available with contact information.
• Make the experience memorable- Make the student's/participant's experience fun and interactive.
• Follow-up with postcards or letters to acknowledge receipt of resume or application.
• Not all candidates will bring a resume. Be prepared with a sign-in sheet on which they can list their name, address, email address, phone number and area of career interest. You can limit the list to candidates whose knowledge, skills and abilities are good fit with your organizational needs.

Career fairs are as diverse as the jobs in state government. Begin your research by looking for career fairs in the following categories:

• General/Professional career fairs
• Targeted job fairs (engineering, IT, Allied Health, etc.)
• Nursing career fairs
• Diversity job fairs
• Military job fairs
• North Carolina University career fairs
• North Carolina Community College career fairs
• Educational job fairs