Your personality weighs significantly as a factor that will steer you toward particular careers. Career choices must be based on your mind set and where your heart is. Whenever you start into the work force, your preferences are even more important than your pay. What kind of an individual are you? Are you a people person? Or, would you prefer to be left alone. Are you prominent in your motor skills? Or are you a thinker, rather than a “hands on” person? When you were in primary and secondary schools, did you have a mathematical or scientific mind such as an accountant or chemist? Or were you driven by poetry, grammar, expression and the like? What I am driving at is this—you may learn from research that an engineer makes a great deal of money; but, if your mind is not geared toward technology and new, innovative ideas, money or no money, don’t go down that avenue. Any job that makes you miserable will become a liability and a painful obstacle in your life.

The military life is one of the great career choices. It is especially rewarding for those whose mind is geared in that direction. There is much room for advancement in the Army, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard. Some find it important to keep up a family tradition and follow in their parent’s footsteps. However, there is something to be said against this scenario. You are who you are and not who your parents want you to be. Now, in making career choices, whenever you find the area of work that you prefer, invest your all into that career.

Whatever career you choose, you will not excel unless you put yourself into it whole-heartedly. If you are not the outgoing type—you will not but 100% of yourself into a career that requires working with people. If you are happy in your field, then you will find the drive you need to succeed. You should be comfortable enough with your career choice that you have no problem taking on any change in that field—go with the flow. If you intend to grow in stature and in salary, get the best education possible, explore many avenues and career options, go into the work world ready to compete, and most importantly, know yourself.

Alot of companies will look for potential employees at local job fairs. Not only is it a great way to locate new workers, but it is also a wonderful way to reach out to the community. The hiring managers can conduct a sort of ‘pre-interview’ with many candidates, in a face to face manner. This is an extremely cost effective way to find qualified candidates. It also allows those looking for a job to ask many questions of company representatives to narrow down their possible list. In this regard, job fairs are win-win situations for both sides.

Those hiring will, however, receive many more applications and resumes than they will possibly need. This is a small price to pay in the quest to locate the right person or persons for the job. Most realize that the hiring process is an involved one, usually requiring several interviews. Job fairs help streamline that by pre-screening applicants.

Those people actively looking for jobs should attend these job fairs as well, in part to increase their networking reach. They can have contact with many professionals in their field of employment in just one day. Where else is this possible? And some companies won’t even bother to advertise some of their positions. Instead they get a feel for people at these fairs, and may even conduct an interview right on the spot. Just be sure if you are attending a job fair to take many copies of your updated resume with you. It is essential to get your name out there when you are career hunting. You need to show initiative, and you can do this by networking with others at job fairs.

Should you be a professional in attendance, business dress is expected. You need to put your best foot forward and stand above the others there. Remember that you are potentially in competition with them for open positions, so treat this as an actual interview. Don’t assume that a job fair is a casual thing, it is a one time shot to make a good impression. This experience can open up new doors in your career. Employers will remember the candidates that they encountered at these job fairs, and you want them to remember you for having made a good impression, not a negative one.

One last thing to keep in mind is that some businesses there may not give you alot of time with them or divulge much information. They may do little more than accept your resume. Don’t get discouraged by this. There will be other companies who will interview you on the spot, or be more than willing to answer all your questions not only about their company but also the career in general. When you find these people, ask alot of questions and remain genuinely interested in what they are saying. This goes a long way towards that positive first impression. Not only does it help you to figure out if you’re interested in working for them, but it lets those potential employers know that you are interested and the right person for the job.