Job Fair....Beware!

How many articles have you read about job fairs? Most people I know have read at least one article. When you think of job fair articles, what comes to your mind? Most people will look up articles that focus on navigating a job fair, how to answer interview questions, and so forth. Let's put this aside for a second. Have you questioned the scandalous tactics that are implemented? Most people don't. Why bother questioning an event that has merit. It's legally publicized, legitimate employers are present, and people are dressed in professional attire. At job fairs, people are so eager to be successful that they forget to think. When I say think, I don't mean not using your noggin. I am referring to conducting research about the actual job fair.

I used to be naive. I had my list of employers in mind, dressed to impress, and was ready to win over my future coworkers. About two years ago, I was blind-sighted. I was persuaded to work for a company that scammed people for a living. I felt deceived and confused. I went home after my discovery and tried to find articles about scandalous tactics employed at job fairs and found none. As a person who is committed to helping other people, I want to help you. Here is a list of things I'd like for you to watch out for at your next job fair:

-Is the employer scheduled to be at the job fair? Every job fair will provide a list with every employer who is scheduled to attend. If you come across an employer that is not scheduled to be at the job fair, run away!

-Does the employer specifically state that they’re only looking for the best and most qualified candidates? If an employer tells you this, chances are that they are looking for anyone as long as they’re 18 years or older and they passed the background check.

-Does the employer give you a vague job description? If an employer is legitimate, they will give you some guidelines. They won’t share everything, but you should have a good understanding of what you’d be getting yourself into.

-Does the employer ask for your social security number, bank account information, or any other personal information in addition to what's listed on your resume? Run far, far away! You should never give this information to anyone at a job fair.

-Does the employer require you to pay any money before you start working for them? This one can be tricky. Some jobs require you to pay for licensure depending on the industry you work in. If you start your own business, it is expected to pay some money. If they ask you to pay for your background check or pay any money right after you accepted a job offer, decline the job offer. You should not have to pay to work for someone.

-Does the employer tell you that they hire people over the phone? If so, run away! A legitimate employer will hire you only in person.

-If an employer doesn’t want your resume, don’t give them anymore of your time. Legitimate employers want to see who they’re hiring. Sometimes, employers get busy and don’t always look over your resume before the interview, but at least they want to see what your qualifications are.

-The last point seems more like common sense, but I cannot emphasize how true this is: is it too good to be true? Does the employer guarantee that you will get rich quick? Do they tell you that you only have to contribute so many hours as a part-time employee? Do they tell you that you have to ability to control your future? If this is the case, you do not want to invest any time into the company.

This is not meant to be a comprehensive list. It is a guiding tool that I created to help you. I wish you much success at your next job fair.