Houston, TX Job Fair Events

A new year is here, and 2021 is the perfect time to find a job. It doesn’t matter if you already have a job and are in the market for a new one or you’re a student and heading out for your first job. If you’re looking for work in Houston, Texas, there are a lot of opportunities.

2021 is starting out as a cautious year; no one is ready to commit to in-person job fairs at this point. But that might be a good thing, and you can use it to your advantage. This means you can hit all the Houston area career fairs from the comfort of your home – no matter where you live.

List of Job Fairs Hiring Events in Houston

This is just a list of some of the career fairs happening in the Houston area in 2021. It’s a great starting place for job-seekers and even those looking for internships.

Get out there, get noticed, make those networking connections that will help you get your dream job.

• First Friday Fair (Starts January 8, 2021, at 11:00 am)

  Dubbed the World’s Largest Virtual Job Expo, this is the place you must be. Well, all from the safety of your house, of course. Look for the #FirstFridayFair and check out what this group is doing or head on over to the JobsOffice Page to learn more.

  Sign in and make your account by registering your interest and completing a profile. A few days before the event, you’ll be contacted if your profile matches someone’s needs. On the day of the event, Job Seekers and Recruiters will meet at their assigned time and link. It’s like internet dating for a job.

  This event’s main goal is to open the conversation between potential job candidates and a job staffing agency. This is open to current students, new graduates, and people who have been working for a long time. It’s a chance for both sides of the employment spectrum to connect and gauge the market. By collaborating, you can learn what top businesses are looking for in talent.

  Please note that this event is being highlighted by several different companies, so you may see other names attached to it. Just look for the date and register. And remember – this event happens on the first Friday of every month!

• Houston Virtual Job Fair (January 27, 2021, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm)

  Hosted by Best Hire Career Fairs, this virtual job fair also requires a sign-up, and they will do the matching and facilitate the meeting of hiring managers and employment hopefuls.

  To join this event, head over to the Job Fair Location link about an hour before the event, which means around 8:00 am on 1/27/21. There is no cost for job seekers at all.

• Houston Virtual Job Fair (July 22, 2021, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

  This event is also hosted by Best Hire Career Fairs and brings employers and employees together for a virtual meeting.

  It’s basically the same event as the one above that happens in January, but this one is your summer alternative with an event date in July. It’s a sizzling time to make some hot new job connections that could set you on the path to career success.

• University of Houston Job Fair Events in 2021

  The University of Houston does an incredible job of maintaining connections with local businesses and opening doors for students and new graduates. Check out these opportunities.

• Spring 2021 University Career Services Events Alumni Corporate Connections (January 12, 2021 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm CST)

  Calling all University of Houston graduates, if this event isn’t on your radar – it should be. This is where your school helps you find the job you’ve been trained for.

  Alumni can join the event and hear directly from companies that are hiring what they’re looking for. You can make those associations that would have been impossible without an “inside” connection.

• University of Houston STEM Career Fair (February 25, 2021, from Noon to 4:00 pm CST)

  Calling all majors in the STEM fields, this event is a must. Even if you’re just a freshman, this is the time to get out there and start customizing your education to meet the needs of the workforce.

  By connecting with hiring agents, you can learn what you’ll need to know to be competitive when you graduate.

• College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Career Fair (March 26, 2021, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm)

  If you’re focused on the liberal arts and social sciences, it’s your opportunity to shine. Let the world know you’re out there.

  You know all about public persona, or at least you should after you’ve earned your degree. This is your chance to start building your professional reputation.

• Communications Career Mixer (April 8, 2021, from Noon to 3:00 pm)

  All majors are invited, even though the focus is on Communications majors. This is a chance for everyone to see this side of the spectrum.

  Even if you’re a STEM student, it’s a great chance to learn a little more about the other side of the business world. This can be the inside scoop that helps you stand out and get noticed.

• Houston Area Consortium of Career Centers (April 6, 2021)

  This is the big HACCC spring event – the Texas Job Fair that happens once every spring and includes students and alumni from all HACCC institutions. Head on over to their website to learn more.

  If you are a student at a HACCC school, your job placement office will have more information as the date draws near. It is planned to be a virtual event this year.

• United Career Fairs (January 20, 2021, at 6:00 pm)

  If you feel comfortable meeting with people in person and think this is your way to get in the door. There is a live event being hosted by United Career Fairs at the Hilton Post Oak in Houston.

  They recommend you come ready to interview with at least 15 resumes in hand. The goal is to make introductions and even inspire initial interviews. The event is free for job candidates.

How to for a Virtual Hiring Event

So, the world is still a little topsy turvy, and people want to be as safe as possible, which is why there are so many virtual handshakes and job expos.

This is pretty fantastic if you think about it. Your career and future don’t need to be stalled, even though it seems like everything else has been.

But there’s a catch. Of course, there is, right? You might not get to apply in person. This means you need to know how to conduct yourself virtually in a professional manner. These tips will help:

• Dress for the job you want. Even if you’re sitting in a corner of your bedroom, dress as though you are meeting them in person. And be professional – don’t dress like you’re going to class.

• Stage your backdrop. Find a nice place for all of your virtual meetings and set it up to look like you’re working in your home office. Books on the wall or your framed diploma can be great staging pieces. Make sure the color is flattering, that you’re well lit, and nothing is distracting.

  Also, try lifting your computer a little higher than you would normally have it for typing; this gives you a more complimentary angle.

• Connections. Make sure your phone is silenced, your computer is plugged in, you have a solid internet connection. You also need to know how to use the mute button and turn off your notifications.

  Oh, and while we’re talking about it, use a computer rather than a phone. A phone will work, but it tends to shake more and has a smaller screen for both people on the call.

• Practice. It’s so strange talking into a camera rather than the pictures below it. It’s also tempting to watch yourself and not pay attention to what other people are saying.

  This is why practicing can make a big difference. It will also help you present yourself as a professional. Do a Google Meet or Zoom meeting with a friend so you can try some role-playing. It feels silly, but it’s better to feel silly doing it with a friend than looking silly when applying for a job.

• Be prepared. Be prepared for the interview and have your supplemental materials at the ready.

  Do you have a cover letter and a resume on your desktop, ready to send at a moment’s notice? You might have an employer ask for this, and you want to have it right there so they can have it before the meeting is over.

Prepare for a Job Fair

Not only do you have to prepare for the virtual aspect, you also need to prepare for the career expo itself. When these are back to in-person events, these skills must be spot on, but that doesn’t mean you can ignore them in the meantime.

• Look professional. This was covered above, but it is so important, it needs to be mentioned again. Wear professional clothing and groom yourself appropriately.

• Research. Most job expos have a list of what companies will be represented. This can help you target your approach. If you see your dream company listed, or even a company that can help you get there, it’s time to research that company.

  You should absolutely have some generic application letters ready, but you should also create a targeted one for that company that you have your eye on.

  In fact, if you can reach out to the hiring manager before the expo, you might be able to catch their interest and schedule a time to meet during the event.

• Plan of attack. Your first job fair is going to be overwhelming. There are also going to be more people than you expect there.

  Create a schedule for yourself, so you arrive early, hit your top companies, and then give yourself time to mingle and check out other things that interest you.

• Meet everybody. You never know who’s going to help you out in your career. It’s not just the career professionals you need to meet; it’s your fellow students and job seekers.

  Go ahead, exchange information, and be that person who knows everyone.

• Be prepared. Online or in person, you need to have resumes ready. You might even need a business card or a digital way to connect quickly.

• Finish on a high note. After the event, send a follow-up email to people who interviewed you, thank people for their time, or send a letter of interest to a few companies to see if you can open a dialogue.

Author

Kristin Kizer

Kristin Kizer is an award-winning writer, television and documentary producer, and content specialist who has worked on a wide variety of written, broadcast, and electronic publications. A former writer/producer for The Discovery Channel, she is now a freelance writer and delighted to be sharing her talents and time with the wonderful Zippia audience.