Spring and Fall are Job Fair Seasons

As summer turns to fall and winter turns to spring, career event producers typically start scheduling more job fairs.

The Web is great for job shopping and distributing your resume, but it's not a magic pill. Ultimately, it's face-to-face interaction that lands the job. Job fairs combine job shopping, resume distribution and face-to-face interaction all in one place. You can easily find job fairs on the Web, too. Since employers participate explicitly to hire, attending job fairs is one of the best ways to land a new job quickly. Some employers hire right on the spot.

With fewer job fairs in the summer and winter months, employers who regular tap them are raring to go when the "seasons" arrive. If you're considering a career move, or are unemployed or beginning to read the writing on the wall for an upcoming job loss, you might want to take advantage of these seasonal increases.

Below are some quick tips for making the most of job fairs.

• Locate local schedules and search for jobs in advance at sites that list job fairs
• Dress for success
• Have a salary in mind and prepare to interview on the spot
• Take at least 25 scannable resumes
• Follow up with thank-you letters