Are Job Fairs In Canada Still Relevant ?

Inside: Looking for jobs in Canada can be challenging. Try going to job fairs and find out how they can be so useful.

Job fairs pop up in spring, then again in November and if you are looking for work, you may want to go see them for yourself. You may not end up with a job offer, but fairs can surprise you with something of value you don’t expect.

It’s worth your time to be reminded of what you are really doing and how to chart your next career move. I happen to know as I have been to some of them where I had an epiphany about my career path.

What are Job Fairs?

 Also called career fairs or career expos, these are organized events (virtual or in-person) where employers and job seekers converge. Held in your computer screen, or much better, in conference centers, hotel ballrooms, at the organization’s lobby or auditorium, it’s a time and place for recruiters to showcase company culture, job openings, and employment opportunities.

As a job seeker, this is a unique opportunity to speak to employers, to walk from booth to booth, hand out your resume, and sometimes even land an interview on the spot.

One has to come prepared and professionally dressed, though the setting is more relaxed than a formal interview.

The event attracts as a live marketplace for jobs where your presence and interactions could lead to your next opportunity.

In this digital age, job fairs, in my experience, are not to be seen as obsolete at all.

My First – time Experience

When I was new to Toronto coming from Calgary in early 2000, I attended some job fairs on-site following advice of career coaches from government employment centres. I was also curious. As advised, I was armed with hard copies of resume, a self-made business card and a rehearsed pitch to purposely introduce myself to potential employers.

 My fresh graduation from the University of Calgary gave me a boost of confidence as I now have a Canadian education. I went around and attempted to start conversations that only ended in handing out my resume. Some people took a quick look at it, others just put it aside on a file.

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 One person bothered to speak to me to ask about my background and I told them. They needed marketing graduates with Canadian experience. My education was in media communications and of course, I had limited Canadian experience at that time.

 At the fairs, when I should be more extrovert, more outgoing, savvy, eloquent, persuasive, I had shied away from being one. I realized I was no longer comfortable. I was intimidated by others whose English was their first language; who I thought were “cool” and were competitive because they had a network. I barely had a network then. I was just starting to build it.

I was not into sports, did not run the marathon, did not do fundraising, did not have many well-connected friends who I can go out with on Thursday nights. I mention these after-work activities and social lives of typical young professional Canadians in Toronto as what I perceive to be backgrounds of more qualified professionals in the field.

 It was rather foolish of me to think I can compete, be updated, be on top of things with my quiet, conservative, newcomer immigrant lifestyle. Not on the field I was trying to get in. Not good enough.

 As I watched the other newcomers like me at the job fairs interacting with the crowd, hoping to get noticed, wishing to put the best foot forward, I wonder what their chances were. Surely, they had different experiences and education than I did. Maybe some of them made connections and got lucky to be offered a job.

 I did not feel confident enough to present myself better; to mention that I have some volunteer experience in Calgary that can be considered Canadian experience.

  I have skills that were transferable to positions I can qualify for, but didn’t bother mentioning it. My outlook was not so bright about landing a job though my spirit was not down either.

  I contemplated on the experience and knew I picked up ideas.

My Learnings and What I Did

 Looking back, I didn’t see career fairs as wasting time. The buzz, the crowd, the positive vibe, the promotions, the optimism, the audacity of job seekers swirled around me, spotlighting me to reflect.

 Career fairs for me, were not so much of the following: direct interaction with employers, an opportunity to build my network; and the spot interviews or phone calls later. Instead, the events had that energy so transforming it exposed what the competition’s face looks like, the insight into the company culture, and most of all, my introspection.

I looked inward more and saw my strengths and what niche I belong to.

 Job fairs informed me my personality does not suit the field I was trying to get into, which was the private sector communications practice, such as public relations, broadcast TV, advertising and corporate communications.

 I positioned myself to get jobs that require an extrovert, well-connected and quite a flamboyant person.

As new immigrant then, I didn’t see myself as such and therefore didn’t project as one.

 Also, this was the early days of the email and internet was just being launched. The mind-boggling reach of social media was unknown. So, I did up-skilling. I mingled with people while I did free computer workshops, joined writing groups, networking and job searching workshops.

 I caught up with reading, to know more about Canadian current events, way of work and life.

At St. James Town, I became editor of a quarterly neighbourhood newsletter. I was engaged, volunteering at community centres along Sherbourne-Wellesley streets, the heart of downtown east Toronto.

My Realization

 A light bulb switched on. I had come to resolve that I will seek a career in the communications field, but in a space where my personality and lifestyle fit. That’s when I turned my attention to the not-for-profit sector.

 I was happy to discover the work culture and environment of the not-for-profit was different, more fulfilling than the corporate world. My naively structured job search during the fairs turned out to be a career soul search.

 Since then, I started at one not-for-profit, community centre to another until I reached the healthcare field. With a paid job, I continued to volunteer, also related to communications and community work.

Do you have experiences with job fairs in Canada? Share them in the comment section below.

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