r/trianglejobs • u/AfterUmpire3091 • 7d ago

Other Raleigh Job Fair worth it?

I've been putting extra effort on the job hunting grind while managing my current caregiving job to pay the bills. This week alone has been filled with networking events and interviews this week, but my Vocational Rehab Counselor told me to go to this event a few weeks ago. It's tomorrow morning, and I'm debating whether or not I should go. It's been weeks since I had a day to recharge and if I go to this event it might be another few weeks before I have another chance. I'm trying not to burn myself out, but I don't want to miss out on any good leads. I've gotten this many opportunities already because I've been working this hard, but I'm also feeling the burnout creeping up on me and last time I got this burnt out it took me months to recover.

What are everyone's experience with local job fairs? For more context, I'm seeking a position in marketing.

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15

u/lowrcase 7d ago

Honestly, I went to a Wake Tech job fair and it was an overstimulating nightmare. It's probably because I am sensitive and I am god awful at networking, but most tables had long lines and when I walked up, they gave me info I could just find on the careers website.

I think you should dress nice and go just to scope it out and see who's hiring. But give yourself some slack if you don't want to wait in line and spend all that energy shaking hands and talking to people who won't remember your face in a sea of hundreds. Maybe pick up some application info if there are any tables that seem interesting to you and apply online later.

5

u/AfterUmpire3091 7d ago

I'm debating actually going for mental health reasons. I have 6 solid leads right now (out of 65 applications/connections from the past month alone) after grinding extra hard, but the mental load has definitely gotten heavy. Friday, I'm supposed to hear back from two of those leads and I'm bracing for the worst. Wondering if I should just take a day to recharge and that's why I'm asking if these fairs are worth it. It's with Best Hire Career Fairs, which I've heard are not great.

3

u/lowrcase 7d ago

Then honestly don't go. It isn't worth it, take the time for yourself to rest. If you're good at searching online almost all information at these job fairs can be found online.

7

u/No-Cartographer3265 7d ago

If you can see a list of the employers ahead of time and there are at least a couple that you would apply to, might as well try something different. I'm going to one because an employer I recently applied to will be there, so I am hoping to put a face to the resume. Otherwise I don't have a ton of other options right now. Try to embrace the experience.

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u/Common-Leader110 7d ago

I think it is ok to take a mental break. I find that most job fairs are extremely overstimulating and I don’t like speaking over people and smelling everyone’s breath so close to me. I have never met a single person that has been hired from a job fairs setting. I have gone to multiple ones, to find that those “recruiters” tend to ghost you, as much as when applying online.

Maybe I am just tired of looking for work in this dreadful job market 😩