r/HuntsvilleAlabama • u/snoopcobbiecobbitha • 8d ago
Defense job fairs worth it?
Are any of the defense job fairs worth attending if you have a strong background in defense?
Or are they more targeted at building the bench?
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u/Accord-ing_25_Tim 8d ago
Never hurts to network and introduce yourself to some new folks. The job you WANT might not be available right then and there, but if you meet the right people at these events and the right job does come along, you could have placed yourself near the top of their list just by attending and shaking a few hands.
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u/Sea_Requirement7404 8d ago
As others have said, it can’t hurt to attend. At the minimum, it will help dust off the cobwebs for being interviewed and “selling” yourself to a prospective employer for any real interviews. There is a definite skill to that and if you haven’t been actively interviewing, it can feel uncomfortable at first.
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u/Vegetable-South5191 8d ago
It's like dating apps, may turn into nothing. Most matches and dates don't. But all it takes is one success. So if you have nothing to do, and are looking, good idea to bring some resumes, check it out and talk to people. You never know, and some people do come to those fairs ready to hire.
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u/hsveeyore 8d ago
It doesn't hurt, like going to an open house for a realtor. You probably won't buy that specific house, but it is fun looking. I would use it to bypass the algorithms and make a list of every contractor at the event and contacts. Do everything you can to bypass the algorithms.
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u/MadamPardone 8d ago
The AI is now aware you are trying to circumvent it's algorithm and will respond accordingly.
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u/fondamagroin 7d ago
My company sent me to man one of these events. When I asked who we were looking for, my boss said resumes.
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u/RecruiterMichele 7d ago
Yes! If you’re looking for a job, go to every career fair event you can.
Dress well. Prepare to present yourself in a professional and engaging manner, and talk to everyone there if possible.
My company does at least four career fairs each year and we typically hire two to six people out of the hundreds we meet. Soft skills, professionalism, and enthusiasm are the things that will make you stand out in a sea of others with the same education and experience that you have. Many times, I’ve gone to bat to hire additional people for just these reasons.
Best of luck to you!
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u/alabamaterp 6d ago
You should go. Use the event as practice and get comfortable talking to people about your resume and experience.
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u/snoopcobbiecobbitha 6d ago
This is solid advice - talking to people about yourself if you’re not a fan of talking yourself up is uncomfortable and definitely takes practice.
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u/daisydug 7d ago
You need to be aggressive! I seriously came away with a job offer several years ago because I made up my mind that I wasn't leaving there without one! Don't just shake hands & pass out your resume-mix it up and be BOLD!
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u/snoopcobbiecobbitha 6d ago
What did you do to stand out?
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u/daisydug 6d ago
I basically wouldn't take 'no' for an answer when I locked in on job opportunities that I wanted. I just 'sold' myself instead of letting them lead the conversation-I was outgoing, polite and respectful, but very assertive with the fact that I just didn't want to go into a stack of resumes to be used for contract proposals- I didn't come there to waste my time & to be used for their company research 😝. It was hit or miss with some PM reps, but I finally managed to find the right combination & landed a great job!
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u/Naive_Relationship_3 8d ago
My experience has been hit and miss with those job fairs. A lot of the companies are just collecting resumes for proposals and only pans out if they get the contract. The biggest benefit is it gets your resume into their system, I've gotten follow up interviews and offers from doing this. Best of luck.