How to prepare for the Youth Hiring Fair

We’re here to help you get ready!

Review our top 10 tips. Drop into the Youth Employment Centre for support.

1. Decide what type of job you’re looking for:
   • What roles are you best suited for?
     
     
2. Know when you’re available to work:
   • What hours and days during the week are you able to work?
   • Are you available for summer or seasonal roles?
   • What date are you able to start working?
      
3. Determine how will you get to work and how to be contacted:
   • Will you commute using public transit?
   • Are there parking considerations?
   • Do you have a professional email?
   • Can employers reach you by phone?
   • What is your current voicemail?
     
     
4. Create a targeted employer list:
   • View a list of attending Fair employers sorted by age to start.
   • A busy event, identify your top five employers you want to speak to first.
      
5. Research your targeted employers:
   • Check out each company’s website.
   • Look for information on what the employer is looking for in their employees.
     
     
6. Prepare an elevator pitch to introduce yourself to employers:
   • Use your research to have at least one reason why you want to work for their company. 
   • Learn more on how to create an elevator pitch for the Youth Hiring Fair.
     
     
7. Update your resume:
   • Target your resume / cover letter to the employers you plan to meet.
   • Review active employer job postings, or similar opportunities, online.
   • See what skills and qualifications employers are looking for.
      
8. Print off copies of your resume to bring:
   • Some Youth Hiring Fair employers will accept resumes onsite; others will encourage you to apply online.
   • If you need additional copies, limited printing services are available at the event.
   • Public WiFi is not provided at the event.
     
     
9. Plan to attend the Youth Hiring Fair as early as possible:
   • This event sees an average of 5,000+ job seekers.
   • Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Many job seekers will start lining up in the morning to enter.
   • Aside from presentable attire, please dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.
   • Consider taking public transit to the Youth Hiring Fair, with limited paid parking available onsite.  
   • We encourage visitors to follow YEC social media for event day updates, as we do our best to monitor ongoing visitor capacity.
     
     
10. After the Fair, make sure to follow up with employers:
    • Check your email regularly and/or be available by phone.
    • Contact your Employment Counsellor as needed.

For more information on how to prepare for the Youth Hiring Fair please come to the Youth Employment Centre and speak to an employment counsellor.

The YEC is open to drop-ins: 

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Closed statutory holidays 

Registration is not available between 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. But the computer lab and other resources are still available during this time.

Location:

• Alberta Trade Centre, 2nd floor
  315 10 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 0W2

Phone:

• 403-268-2490

1. Support your job seeker from afar.
   
   
2. Avoid speaking to employers on behalf of your youth and let them approach each employer booth on their own.
   
   
3. Review the employer list with your job seeker while standing in line. Help them develop a game plan on which employers they would like to speak to.
   
   
4. While waiting in line, support job seekers by visiting employers’ websites to learn more about each company.
   
   
5. Review your job seeker's resume with them prior to entering the Hiring Fair. It's completely acceptable to help your job seeker write their resume, but youth need to know what's on their resume.
   
   
6. Help your job seeker relax by keeping the conversation light. Job seekers will have more success speaking to employers when they don’t feel pressured or coaxed to land a job.