Prepare for job fairs

A job fair is a great opportunity to identify immediate/future job openings and to network. A fair may be geared toward one industry, or a variety of industries. You can get details about job fairs through Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE), your faculty or student associations, professional/industry associations, trade magazines and your network. You can also try searching for fairs at community spaces on campus in-person or check out online community resources, such as Eventbrite. 

Whether you are a student or a graduate, a job fair offers many benefits. It is an opportunity to gain first-hand information about careers, industry trends, and organizations. You can meet many company representatives in one day and at one location, this can help you use your time, energy and money effectively since you will be networking with multiple contacts in one place.  Employers will promote their companies and recruit from hundreds of potential employees. Some employers might want to conduct a formal or impromptu interview. It’s best to get prepared for a conversation about what skills, strengths and experience you have!  

The University of Waterloo distinguishes between our Career Fair and Job Fair. At our Career Fair (held in September), organizations may or may not be hiring but want to increase awareness about their organizations. Organizations at the Career Fair may be looking to hire, but not immediately.  At the Job Fair (held in February), companies must have job openings available immediately or within six months from the date of the fair. For information on the Career and Job Fairs co-sponsored by the University of Waterloo, University of Guelph, Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College, please visit the Centre for Career Development website. Only students and alumni with valid ID cards from the four co-sponsoring institutions can attend.