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Career Fairs: Useless?

post #1 of 15
8/6/09 at 5:19pm
Thread Starter 
I'm heading to a legal career fair tomorrow in Manhattan. It'll have a mix of firms, corps, and govt agencies. In this economic environment, I'd be foolish to think that anyone in the private sector is actually hiring, where in fact most are deferring or canceling their incoming class of new hires. As for govt agencies, they have enough resumes in their pipeline to last for the next decade.

So, other than to get some face time and spend half a day "looking for a job" tomorrow, is there any good reason why the fair will be a productive one for me? I'll be doing the usual "handing out error-free resumes printed on nice cotton paper and ask interesting, relevant questions." Other than going in with a pink seersucker suit, what do I need to do to stand out--in a good way? There'll be loads of mid-to-senior laterals at this thing tomorrow, as well as rising 2Ls and just-graduated 3Ls. It'll be a cluster fuck, for sure.

Awaiting your sage advice, oh wise ones.
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post #2 of 15
8/6/09 at 5:21pm
sort of .
but it wouldnt hurt to go . you never know what may come out of those. one friend i know got hooked up with a really good job not through the fair or recruiter their per se, but by bumping into another peer member looking for a job they hit it off and then later got a job through him.
good luck
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post #3 of 15
8/6/09 at 5:28pm
I basically agree with Pio. (No, really!) But for what it's worth, some private firms are hiring. Not most, to my understanding, but as always even if a down market some folks are doing well and finding ways to take advantage of the environment.

As far as government jobs, my take is (1) Yes, there are a lot of applicants, although the increase in quantity is not matched by a proportional increase in quality; (2) For many positions, a demonstrated interest in public service work (demonstrated either by prior job/internship/whatever history, or by prior applications to the same agency) is seen as a plus factor. Often, the hiring agency will want someone who is draw to that type of work rather than someone they believe is just seeking a temporary port in the economic storm. If there's a particular type of government job you're interested in, it's definitely worth getting your name and face in front of them. Even if you don't get hired now, it could help down the road. If they like you, they may ask if they can hold onto your resume to consider for future openings.

Anyway, good luck.
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post #4 of 15
8/6/09 at 5:38pm
Ask yourself what the downside is to NOT going?

What's the chance of you getting a job out of this? maybe 1 in 10000?

What's the chance of you getting a job by not going? 0
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post #5 of 15
8/6/09 at 5:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by lawyerdad View Post
I basically agree with Pio. (No, really!) Anyway, good luck.
Did Pio make an invisible appearance? Thanks. My govt job search so far has been fruitless, as I can't compete with with the midlevels, with several years of experience, for the same jobs. But, I'm heading down to DC after the fair to meet up with a few friends who are working at federal agencies; they've promised me some introductions. We'll see how that goes.
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post #6 of 15
8/6/09 at 5:42pm
Good luck.
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post #7 of 15
8/6/09 at 5:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkNWorn View Post
Did Pio make an invisible appearance?

I have ascended, and am everywhere.

Either that, or LD is joining in with the new trend of agreeing with me.

Do something stand out, but not too stupid. Maybe a Starbuck's card with $5.00 attached to your resume, and joke it's for a coffee while they read yours? An iTunes gift card, similar excuse?

I don't know, I'm fried this week and best I can come up with before I run off to another meeting, but you get the gist.

And go. Doing something is almost always better than doing nothing.
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post #8 of 15
8/6/09 at 6:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkNWorn View Post
I'm heading to a legal career fair tomorrow in Manhattan. It'll have a mix of firms, corps, and govt agencies. In this economic environment, I'd be foolish to think that anyone in the private sector is actually hiring, where in fact most are deferring or canceling their incoming class of new hires. As for govt agencies, they have enough resumes in their pipeline to last for the next decade.

So, other than to get some face time and spend half a day "looking for a job" tomorrow, is there any good reason why the fair will be a productive one for me? I'll be doing the usual "handing out error-free resumes printed on nice cotton paper and ask interesting, relevant questions." Other than going in with a pink seersucker suit, what do I need to do to stand out--in a good way? There'll be loads of mid-to-senior laterals at this thing tomorrow, as well as rising 2Ls and just-graduated 3Ls. It'll be a cluster fuck, for sure.

Awaiting your sage advice, oh wise ones.

A cousin of mine just got a job offer from Cravath in NY, so there are definitely still jobs out there. I doubt there is much to be had out there unless you are/were in the top of your class, though. Still, don't give up!

Career fairs are more productive than most things you could be doing if you lack a job. They aren't a golden ticket or anything similar, but you definitely want to attend.
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post #9 of 15
8/6/09 at 9:42pm
Nah.... Just allot more competition nowadays. The lines to get into to these fairs now whip around the building on the outside.... Good luck, make sure to smile and be nice....
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post #10 of 15
8/6/09 at 9:46pm
In 2001/2002, I went to a few career fairs. They all turned out better than I expected. Nothing bad can come out of it, and one can never practice interviewing enough...
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post #11 of 15
8/7/09 at 4:55am
They can be good for networking, and as other people have said, it's never bad to practice your interviewing skills.
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post #12 of 15
8/7/09 at 11:28am
90% are totally useless, but sometimes there are good ones for specific purposes (If you are a minority you can score big at a minority fair, or if you are in a hot profession and everyone is after you, etc)
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post #13 of 15
8/7/09 at 12:01pm
add your steak cooking photos/step-by-step to the back of resume, maybe get hired knowing with you they have someone to man the grills on company BBQs

but good luck
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post #14 of 15
8/7/09 at 2:06pm
Thread Starter 
I went, and it was largely useless. I got some face time, made some small talks, and got a couple of good leads. 95% of the employers there were not interested in hiring anybody, and they knew it, and some of us knew it. Yet, most flocked to the big names like flies to piles of turd. It was laughable, but yet sad at the same time. I value my time, so I left after talking to a few choice firms and corps. One ray of sunshine was talking to the resume critique lady; it was productive and she pointed out some inconsistencies in my resume that I shall correct pronto.

P.S. the lunch they were going to serve looked just about as dead as the job market.
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post #15 of 15
8/7/09 at 5:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkNWorn View Post
I went, and it was largely useless. I got some face time, made some small talks, and got a couple of good leads. 95% of the employers there were not interested in hiring anybody, and they knew it, and some of us knew it. Yet, most flocked to the big names like flies to piles of turd. It was laughable, but yet sad at the same time. I value my time, so I left after talking to a few choice firms and corps. One ray of sunshine was talking to the resume critique lady; it was productive and she pointed out some inconsistencies in my resume that I shall correct pronto.

P.S. the lunch they were going to serve looked just about as dead as the job market.

Did she like your font choice?
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