Today, at the suggestion of my unemployment caseworker, I went to the job fair out at Fort Jackson. It was mainly for prospective employers to talk to military personnel thinking of entering the civilian workforce, but civilians such as myself were welcomed as well.
This was my first job fair ever, and although I had been warned not to expect much (my private outplacement advisor said the next client of his who got a job from a job fair would be the first), I found it to be enjoyable and rewarding. I talked to a lot of nice folks from a variety of companies and agencies, and may actually have gotten some leads on a job.
In the small world department, I had a nice time talking with Steve Kelly from the State Department (there’s a foreign service exam coming up in our area in October, and I may take it), who worked for The Charlotte Observer long ago, and who knew some folks I know — such as Carl Stepp from Bennettsville, whom I had just e-mailed earlier this morning to see how he was doing (after running into someone who mentioned him at a restaurant last night).
But the most fun part, which I share in the video above, was the gadgets and toys that the prospective employers brought with them.
Seriously, I passed out a few resumes and business cards, and collected cards and brochures from:
- The State Department
- Northrup Gumman
- MTCSC
- URS (EG&G Division)
- Lockheed Martin
- EOD Technology, Inc.
- Tupperware
OK, on that last one, I just got some info on how to find out when there would be a Tupperware party in my area. But with the others, I plan to follow up and explore the job opportunities on their Web sites.
Next week, I intend to attend a job fair at the state museum. But I doubt it will top this one for cool gadgets.
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I saw a recent study that said attending job fairs lengthened your job search by five months.
Well, you know what — I liked it better than blindly applying for something on line. I enjoyed the conversations with real people…
I saw a recent study indicating that 82% of studies are fabricated.
Brad,
Thought you might appreciate this anecdote about the just departed Robert Novak:
“When the day came in 1999 for me to leave his nest after five years of tutelage, I told him I’d accepted a job as the editorial-page editor of the Manchester Union Leader. He disapproved. He wanted me to break news and make news, like his incomparable column did three times a week. “Can I tell you an off-color joke about editorial writers?” Yes, Mr. Novak.
“Why is writing an editorial like taking a p*** in a serge wool suit? It feels great, but nobody notices!”
… which is one reason why, as editorial page editor, I somewhat de-emphasized the institutional editorials and required my editors to write at least a column a week. People notice and engage better with signed columns. And that way readers were more likely to engage with the institutional editorials as well, since they came to better know the people who wrote them.
Randy, what do you know about searching for jobs in the free market?
Nothing.
Government teachers are hired in a closed system, where the salaries are not even advertised, in order to keep the public from realizing how well teachers are paid.
Lee, I may not be a engineer, economist, marksman, volunteer fire captain, WIS reporter like you so I’ll defer to your “expertise.” 🙂
Tt took me 30 seconds using google to find the salaries for Richland 2. “It’s easy if you try.”
http://www.richland2.org/lib/files/DistrictOffice/Departments/HumanResources/09-10%20teacher%20salary%20schedule%20including%201%20percent%20in%20Dec.pdf
Randy, you were dodging the fact that school jobs are advertised without the salaries, because they are much higher than the public is led to believe by union propaganda.
I already know how to research the salaries of school teachers, as well as their benefits and pension plans. I have been documenting it since 1973.
You also are dodging the fact that you don’t have any experience job hunting in the free market, real world.