It’s a great idea to go to local job fairs. There are many opportunities to meet potential hiring authorities and get to know the people that work for the companies there. Make your job search more about them rather than you. Use your resume to educate them on why you are qualified for a higher level position instead of entry level. And don’t forget to follow up. The fortune is in the follow up.

It depends. I recommend that experienced professionals targeting certain roles or companies look at industry-specific job fairs, such as tech or hospitality. Students, new graduates, or career changers may benefit by attending more open job fairs. These can be good opportunities for initiating conversations and building relationships with prospective employers that might have job openings.

If a company on your target list will be present at the job fair, then yes, you should definitely attend. Making personal contact with hiring authorities is always a good strategy, and it’s an opportunity to learn more about the organization and its hiring processes. In the absence of target companies, you may still benefit from the networking potential. Serendipity does occur!

Job fairs are a great way to meet company representatives and find out about available jobs and, yes, they are often targeted toward entry-level job seekers. At your level, these can be an opportunity to meet recruiters face-to-face and ask about other jobs not being promoted at the job fair and set up a time to speak privately after the event about what could be good roles for you.

Absolutely, but choose wisely. Employers go to job fairs to recruit candidates for their most frequent openings. However, that does not mean they don’t have other openings. If you see an employer you are targeting, and the type of position you want exists at the company, by all means go for the introduction. Making a connection with the hiring manager is definitely worth your time.