Chicago Career Fair: Dozens of Employers?
In an effort to get a pulse on Chicagoland job-seeker concerns, we suited up and headed out to the Chicago Career Fair at the Holiday Inn downtown. Organized by National Career Fairs, this event attracted thousands of hopeful job-seekers hoping to further their job search and learn of new opportunities. Having attended the last Chicago Career Fair in December, we had a good idea of what to expect: long lines, waiting and scant opportunities. In fact, this event does resonate one feeling which is true to its billing, and that is “Fair”.
After navigating to the end of the long and amorphous line to the main ballroom, attendees waited anxiously in line to meet the “dozens” of employers inside the ballroom. We watched expectantly as a wave of disappointment cascaded over those entering the ballroom as they surveyed the prospects on hand. Present there were a real motley crew of booths ranging from the Chicago Police Department to educational training programs. Though there were a handful of recognizable companies with open positions, I would say that the landscape of opportunities was decidedly bereft of a broad spectrum of open positions congruent with the broad spectrum job-seekers there.
Almost there....
Segment of the line waiting to get in
The general consensus of those we spoke to was rather consistent; they were disappointed in the the number and breadth of the companies attending and most agreed that that it was a waste of time. Everyone we talked to would have liked the benefit of knowing which companies they could expect to meet at the fair. However, it is no surprise why National Career Fairs does not disclose the companies registered for their booth space ahead of the event. Quite simply, many would not be inclined to go if they knew that the event would be comprised of a only a handful of companies that they are not even interested in working for. Further, most of the company representatives offer the same line of recourse: apply online. Apply online!?? I could of done that from the comfort of home.
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This job fair was horrible and a complete waste of time. After standing in a ridiculously long and unorganized line for an hour and fifteen minutes, (Just to sign my name!!)I walked in and was disappointed to see maybe 10 vendors tops, 2 of which were the army and the chicago police department(please!) the ladies at the pepsi booth were pretty bland and rude and directed everyone to their website. What was the point? could have stayed in bed =(.
I wasn’t at this career fair but in my experience:
1. The companies never have the level of job I’m looking for – they seem to be catering to the lower, entry-level jobs.
2. There is no networking to be done. Most of the people are entry-level and are there to complete a transaction (apply for a job), not do any networking.
I stopped going to job fairs as I didn’t see any value in my job search – perhaps I was just going to the wrong ones.
Jason Alba
CEO – JibberJobber.com
The “Career Fair” was a disappointment and complete waste of time. The event was poorly organized, including a ridiculously long line just to sign one’s name before being allowed in the door. The employers present left a lot to be desired, and there seemed to be an abundance of independent contractor-type positions, such as Avon and insurance salespeople. And of course, the Army. I may have been out of work for the past three months, but I’m not THAT desperate.
To be honest, I’m not surprised that the fair was a bust. Fairs are for ponies and cotton candy… not looking for a job! (in my opinion)
The best you can do at a job fair is gather information that may help you in later interactions with those same companies.
I also attended this “fair”. I did recieve a list of companies that would be there. It listed 23. Most were insurance companies. I was going to talk to Pepsi but did not see the booth. Maybe that was the one with the only line of people in front of it. Bad signage. A few others I wanted to meet were not even there. I took the train in from Northwest Indiana, cab to and from station, stood in line for an hour and a half, I was in the ball room for less than 10. What a sham. Never again.
Ha! That is funny. I couldn’t agree more!
I found the fair to have a lot in common with a trip to the dentist. Both make you wait, both are trip you do not want to make and both can be very painful. I left after I over heard that the bean dip was gone. As I have always said, ” If there’s no dip, don’t make the trip”
I went to a fair run by the same outfit near Midway Airport and had the same problems. Hardly any companyies showed and I spent a lot of time waiting to get in with no real feeling that it was worth it. I was out in not time.
What is unfortunate is that people who are unemployed need to conserve their money. Likewise, they need to optimize their time.
These job fairs (Monster, National Career Fairs..et al) are a fraud. They are shameful wastes valuable time. The poor folks that drag themselves out of bed, put on their finest, drive in heavy traffice, burn gas, pay tolls, stand in long lines — to be exposed to this crap — well….
I did not go to this job fair but I went the one back in February and I also went to the Women for Hire job fair at Navy Pier last week (April 2). That one was a joke too. None of the booths were taking resumes and they all directed you to their websites to see if there was anything available (the folks at the booth didn’t even know – one girl couldn’t even tell me where her company was located in relation to downtown Chicago). Then I waited in line for over an hour to have my resume critiqued for free and when I finally got to the front, I was told to lie on it. The woman told me I should say I was still employed (I was laid off two months ago), she said I should say I’m getting a business degree (I’m getting a degree in English) and that I need to make up a company to fill in the hole where I went to school. She told me that when they ask about it in the interview I should then lie again and say the company went out of business and I have no references for it.
I will NEVER go to another job fair again.
This is very disheartening. My son was out of a job for 7 month now. He just graduated in networking and Communications Management and is looking for a job. I heard about this website over WBBM radio, and uggested that he look into it. After a week or so, I asked him aboutit and he told me the horroro storis tht he read i the blog. Why should my son tell lies just to get a job. No, he is not taught to tell lies for any gain. No, this is absurd. If no body can help him to get a honest job, fine, I shall work until I die and feed him, but I shall never, never ask him to tell lies .
This is very bad. He attended some interviwes, but being a fresh graduate ( he is a Dean’s list student) he does not have any experience. Before getting a job, how can he have any experience?
Very sad state that this country has been brought to by the previous administrations.
Ray Nair.
Never, ever lie on your resume. Your reputation is your greatest asset. Eventually, untruthful statements will come to the surface, especially in today’s information age, and you will regret the day you did.
To repeat: The most important asset you have is your reputation and integrity. Your good name.
I’m glad this resume-critiquer is not doing my tax returns or keeping aircraft maintenance records.
Hi Kelly,
We are so sorry to hear about your experience at our expo at the Navy Pier. I don’t think we received any complaints about the event. We would never condone what you say the resume critiquer recommended — never lie!– and we advise all recruiters to talk to candidates — not simply send them to a company website. If you can provide me with any more details, I will follow up with the resume critiquer and the company. Happy to talk to you, too. I’m at 212-290-2600.
Best,
Peter Johnson
Been unemployed for 4 years. Went to a Retail Skills class that included a job fair. Neither was worth my time. This is starting to be the shame of the US when jobs start to disappear almost by the day. There are now 6 million unemployed people in this country. Employers figure that as long as you have pension and social security, you’re on your own.
I went to the one and the one, the one in Oak Brook, Tinley Park and the Hyatt.
Waited 1 1/2 hrs to get sign my name. Then I waited in line for a company. When I got to the front, they told me they would not talk to me because I did not have an appointment.
National Career Fairs is a scam. Same employers, same lines. All I saw were financial service companies, 2nd rate schools looking for students. Why bother having these events when all you’re told to do is look and apply online?
I will never go to an event by National Career Fairs again.
I’m convinced the only reason job fairs are held is to provide a photo op for reporters writing stories about unemployment. Seriously, who ever landed a good job from a job fair? What chance do you have when your resume just goes into a stack of 500 others?
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