Annual Homecoming Job Fair set for Jan. 8

If you’re looking for a new job, the Economic Development Coalition and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce want to help. They’re holding the 8th Annual Homecoming Job Fair Jan. 8 at the Davis Event Center in the WNC Agricultural Center on Airport Road.

Billed as “Western North Carolina’s largest recruiting event,” the fair will feature dozens of companies looking to fill local jobs in advanced manufacturing, health care and other industries. It’s free for job seekers, running 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No registration is necessary. Applicants will have opportunities to meet with representatives from the companies that are hiring at booths set up within the center.

Organizers made a video (below) and website to help promote the event.

EDC – I was Hired from Amplified Media on Vimeo.

Meanwhile, organizers offer the following tips for job seekers:

Do your research: Log on to HomecomingJobFair.com and search for jobs in advance in order to target the most promising participating employers. Be prepared to answer, “Why do you want to work for us?”

Bring plenty of resumes: Plan to take at least 25 to 50 resumes depending on how many employers you plan to target. (The job fair will have copy facilities available for a small fee.)

Be prepared: Before the job fair, prepare to interview on-the- spot to quickly sell your skills, talents and experiences. Bring all prior employment information and reference details required by the average application to apply for jobs on the spot. Unless you’re otherwise directed, it’s best to turn applications in right away.

Dress to impress: Job fairs tend to be more casual than formal interviews. Even though it’s more casual, attire, body language, manners and other interview professionalisms still count. Dress in clean/pressed clothes, act professionally and display enthusiasm. Remember, first impressions count!

Use a Strategy: Pick up a booth map at the front entrance and route your path to the employers you’ve targeted. Visit your targeted employers first with resume in hand, and spend some “quality time” with each. Remember that they have many more job seekers waiting, so don’t try to monopolize their time or be offended if they cut it short. This is a valuable networking opportunity – be brief and be memorable.

Follow-up: When wrapping-up your conversations, ask about the next steps. Collect business cards as you go and follow-up within 24-48 hours with a thank-you note or email to each of the representatives with whom you spoken. It’s courteous, professional and typically expected, even after job fairs. Complying might make you stand out in their minds and help you land follow-up interviews.

 

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About Jake Frankel
Jake Frankel is an award-winning journalist who enjoys covering a wide range of topics, from politics and government to business, education and entertainment.

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