Career fairs aren’t really about careers.
I have been trying to help a friend secure a job in the construction industry in Malaysia. So we went to career fairs, construction conferences, and pretty much every event that claimed to connect job seekers with employers.
What really surprised me was how little anyone seemed interested in careers. Most booths were busy selling their products or services. When my friend asked about job opportunities, the response was usually, “Just scan this QR code and upload your resume.”
Like… WTF?
If you are calling it a career fair, shouldn’t there be actual conversations about careers? Talk to people. Find out what they’re looking for. Tell them what you’re hiring for. Don’t just point them to a QR code that probably ends up in the same pile as thousands of other applications. Is this how career fairs work in other countries too?
What really surprised me was how little anyone seemed interested in careers. Most booths were busy selling their products or services. When my friend asked about job opportunities, the response was usually, “Just scan this QR code and upload your resume.”
Like… WTF?
If you are calling it a career fair, shouldn’t there be actual conversations about careers? Talk to people. Find out what they’re looking for. Tell them what you’re hiring for. Don’t just point them to a QR code that probably ends up in the same pile as thousands of other applications. Is this how career fairs work in other countries too?
36-40, F
