I see job fairs in our local paper all the time. Are they all they are cracked up to be? With the number of people that are attracted to them, can one expect to be able to talk to the reps or should I expect just someone accepting applications.
What makes for a good job fair?

 

I can't speak for the ones in your area but I was approached to have a booth at a couple of them in the Houston area. I walked one to check it out and decided it wasn't really for us, here are my impressions:

Most! of the companies weren't there looking for managerial, technical, professional or salaried staff. Regardless of the companies involved it was pretty much "starter" jobs of the "management trainee" type. Every fast food outlet was there, many of the major retailers, every car rental, every security service, the food service guys that service the football stadiums.

Since the jobs that we were recruiting for didn't normally fill from that pool of applicants we passed on ever putting a booth in.

I've seen ads for "professional" type job fairs of the "tech" or professional species that are heavy in particular metro areas, ie; computer stuff in silicon valley, aircraft in LA, etc. My feeling on those is that they're generally held in two different markets, real good when there's a shortage of applicants, and real bad, when there's a shortage of job openings.
As my high school guidance counselor told me, about 40 years ago, "explore anything that may be an opportunity, take every competitive exam that may get you an interview or scholarship, knock on every door". Unless there's a "fee" to get in the door, I'd go to it. If there's any kind of fee at all, I'd pass.

Good luck in your job search.

Frank