2012 EMPLOYMENT FAIR

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JOB SEEKER INFORMATION

How to Prepare for the 2012 Employment Fair

The big day has arrived — the 2012 Employment Fair. You may be asking yourself,“What exactly can I expect from the more than 40 employers?” We hope to provide you with information that will help prepare you for a wonderful day at the Employment Fair.

Why do employers participate in an employment fair?
Employers participate in an employment fair for several reasons. The top three reasons an employer participates are: community exposure, to find employees or to gather résumés for anticipated job openings.

With this in mind, you can expect to approach some employers who do not have current job openings. They are more than likely recruiting for future employment needs and gathering résumés to place in a “résumé bank” for future use.

How will employers hire?
The employers who are hiring are likely to have different procedures for filling their positions. Some employers may ask you to visit their Web site for more information or to complete an online application, others will take résumés so they may contact you at a later date, and a few will bring applications to the fair and hire on the spot. A job seeker must realize these different approaches and be prepared to respond. If the employer is asking that you go online to complete your application and you do not have a personal computer, several public computers are available in Forsyth County for you to access the Internet. If the employer takes résumés for future correspondence, make sure to ask, “What is the next step?” or “When should I follow-up with you regarding my résumé?” Remember however, that a résumé is not an application. All employers will require you to complete an application and interview before being considered for employment. Lastly, if an employer is accepting applications on-site, be sure to take the proper time to complete the forms, complete all blanks and attach a résumé.

It is fair to say that given the above information, it is critical that all interested job seekers make the best impression possible with all prospective employers. We felt it necessary to mention other tips and advice about your participation at the employment fair this year.

Preparation, Preparation, Preparation
Preparation is critical to making this a successful event for you. After all, if a coach and a team never prepared for games, would they ever win? The same concept applies to job seekers who are playing the greatest game of all — life. We recommend that you, a job seeker, do the following to get in the game of successful employment.

There will be a special section about the Employment Fair in the Winston-Salem Journal on Sunday, April 22. It will contain the list of companies participating in the Fair. After reviewing the list, visit the Web site of those companies that interest you. It is possible to learn a great deal from Web sites, from current opportunities to company culture, so you can decide whether the company is a match for your needs and desires. Review the last of companies participating and determine which companies you are interested in. Having a clear plan, you will eliminate some confusion and frustration.

Come Prepared.
If there is no time to research companies before attending an employment fair — come prepared. Bring a modest number of current résumés and make sure your résumé is current. We recommend trying to avoid handwritten changes. Many employers may get the impression that you are either not serious about finding a job or that you have not completed your résumé in a professional manner. Dress appropriately for the event and have a friendly, confident approach. And don’t forget a pen and paper to take notes and directions from prospective employers.

Follow-Up, Follow-Up, Follow-Up
Employers leave employment fairs with anywhere from 100 to 2,500 résumés. So how can you make yourself stand out in a crowd? Here are a few proven techniques that show persistence, not annoyance, that we recommend.

 Send handwritten notes to prospective employers that you are really interested win working with. Write as neatly as possible, and get letters in the mail no later than one week after the fair. If you made direct contact and were instructed to call to follow-up, do so. When calling, always identify yourself and mention that you met your contact at the employment fair. Ask if the time you are calling is convenient for a conversation, and then be prepared to proceed with questions regarding the hiring process.

 Goodwill Career Connections

You can always visit one of Goodwill's Career Connections to receive help and advice about how to approach employers at any job fair.  The Career Connections offer free services to help job seekers secure employment including skills assessments, career counseling, resume and cover letter writing, and assistance with applications.  A wealth of employment resources will be available at the center such as computers with high-speed internet access and interview simulators.   For more information, visit http://www.goodwillcareerconnections.org

We hope that this information has been helpful and makes your job search more successful.

 

 

Employers at the Fair

Adecco Aflac Arbor Acres Atrium Bayada Home Care Bayada Home Health Care BB&T Blue Rhino Bradley Personnel Caterpillar CenterPoint Human Services City of Winston-Salem Debbie's Staffing Dillard’s Edward Jones Investments Forsyth County Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina Homestead Hills Inmar John Deere / Hitachi LabCorp Luihn Foods

Lutheran Home Winston-Salem MedCost LLC MetLife Myeniola.net NC Army National Guard NC Highway Patrol Novant Health Parkway Ford Lincoln Protégé Mechanical Labor Solutions Quality Oil R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company RockTenn US Army Wake Forest Baptist Health WilcoHess Winston Personnel Group Winston-Salem Police Department WorkForce Carolina www.letsallwin.com www.myendlessvacation.com WXII

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Directions to the Fair

From the East:

• Take Business 40 into Winston-Salem

• Take exit 5C toward Cherry St.

• Turn right at S Cherry St.

• Cherry St. becomes University Pkwy.

• Turn right at Deacon Blvd.

• The Winston-Salem Sports & Entertainment Complex, Coliseum Annex Building, will be on your right.

From the West:

• Take Business 40 into Winston-Salem

• Take exit 5C toward Cherry St.

• Turn left at High St.

• Turn left at S Cherry St.

• Cherry St. becomes University Pkwy.

• Turn right at Deacon Blvd.

• The Winston-Salem Sports & Entertainment Complex, Coliseum Annex Building, will be on your right.

From the North:

• Take 52 South

• Take the exit onto US-52 S

• Take exit 113 at Patterson Ave.

• Turn right at Patterson Ave.

• Turn right at E 30th St.

• 30th St. becomes Deacon Blvd.

• The Winston-Salem Sports & Entertainment Complex, Coliseum Annex Building, will be on your right.

From the South:

• Take 52 North

• Take exit 111A for 28th St.

• Turn left at N Cleveland Ave.

• Turn left at N Cleveland Ave/28th St.

• 28th St. becomes Indiana Ave.

• Turn left onto Patterson Ave.

• Turn right at E 30th St.

• 30th St. becomes Deacon Blvd.

• The Winston-Salem Sports & Entertainment Complex, Coliseum Annex Building, will be on your right.

2012 Employment Fair Sponsors