Bay County's premier hiring event is back on Saturday, February 3rd!
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The 37th Annual Bay County Job Fair will feature 60+ local employers with more than 1,000 open jobs ready to hire talent like you. Join us on Saturday, February 3rd, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Gulf Coast State College, Student Union East. Early entrance at 9 a.m. is reserved for Veterans, military spouses and transitioning active-duty service members. The general public will be admitted at 10 a.m.
This is a free event and walk-in job seekers are welcome. Pre-registration is now closed, but you may register at the event. Just look for the "Check In" table.
We encourage you to check our Facebook site for regular updates, developments and tips for successful participation at the job fair.
Need help preparing for the Bay County Job Fair? Stop by the CareerSource Gulf Coast Job Center, 625 Hwy 231, Panama City, for one-on-one assistance and access to the resource room with computers, internet, and copy machines. Contact us.
Get your resume in tip-top shape
Register for a free resume workshop at CareerSource Gulf Coast on January 10th or January 24th. Call us to get the details and reserve your seat: (850) 872-4340. Missed the workshops? Contact us for one-on-one resume assistance. Need copies of your resume? Stop by the CareerSource Gulf Coast Job Center, 625 Hwy231, Panama City, for access to computers and printers.
Participating Employers
More than 60 employers are looking for local talent!
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- 325 Force Support Squadron – Tyndall AFB NAF
- Aflac
- AMIkids Panama City Marine Institute
- AutoZone Inc.
- Bay County BOCC
- Bay County Sheriff's Office
- Bay District Schools
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Bay County
- Brightstar Care
- Buffalo Rock
- Burger King, Consolidated Burger Holdings, LLC
- By The Sea Resorts
- CareerSource Gulf Coast
- Central Moloney Inc.
- City of Lynn Haven
- City of Panama City
- Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED
- Culver's of Panama City Beach & Parker
- CWR Contracting, Inc.
- Dairy Queen – Fourteen Foods
- Early Education and Care, Inc.
- E.F. San Juan, Inc.
- Eastern Shipbuilding Group
- Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital
- Florida Department of Children and Families
- Florida Department of Corrections
- Food For Less – Piggly Wiggly
- Gallo Mechanical
- Girls Inc. of Bay County
- Good Shepherd Early Learning Center
- Gulf World Marine Park
- HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital
- Hilton Sun, Inc. – Emerald Sun Resorts
- Hilton, Inc.
- HireQuest Direct
- Jensen-Group
- John Douglas Insurance
- LeakyLee BeariBear Early Learning Center Inc.
- MEGS Contracting Services PLLC
- Merrick Industries
- Naval Support Activity Panama City Police Dept.
- NOVA Engineering & Environmental
- Oceaneering
- PanCare of Florida, Inc
- Quality Labor Management (QLM)
- RAMS
- Royal American Companies
- Royal American Hospitality
- Sevita
- SkyWheel Attractions
- Snelling Staffing
- Sonic Drive In
- Southern Sky Aviation
- The St. Joe Company
- UCP of North Florida / TLC
- U.S. Air Force Recruiting
- U.S. Coast Guard Recruiting
- Waffle House
- Walmart
- White Sands Hospitality
- WJHG-TV
- Wonderworks
- Wyndham Destinations
Tips for successful participation at the Bay County Job Fair
Tip #1: Review and update your resume
Hiring managers spend an average of six seconds reading your resume. Create a resume targeted to the job you want, showcasing your relevant skills, experience, and accomplishments. Your resume should be 1-2 pages, error free, neatly formatted, and to the point. Bring several copies printed on high-quality paper.
Register for a FREE resume workshop on January 10 or 24 in preparation for the event.
Contact us to reserve your seat, as space is limited. Check out our online resume tutorial on YouTube.
Tip #2: Research participating employers
Plan a job fair strategy by researching the employers participating in the job fair. Visit the organizations' websites and social media sites to review information about their values, mission, services, products, and career opportunities. Determine the skills they are looking for and include those in your resume and introduction. Decide who you want to visit and in what order. Look out for our website and social media updates to see the employer list, as registration is ongoing.
Tip #3: Wear appropriate attire
Distracting clothing or appearance may create a negative first impression. As a general guideline, dress one level above the job for which you intend to apply. Dress for the job you want. Wear comfortable shoes, as you may be walking or standing for extended periods of time. You should be clean and well-groomed with minimal makeup, cologne and jewelry. Clothing should be clean, pressed and fit you well. Avoid athletic gear, jeans, shorts, t-shirts, sneakers, sandals and flip-flops.
Tip #4: Practice your introduction
Be friendly, confident, smile, use direct eye contact, and offer a firm handshake. Communicate what you want and what you have to offer in a 30-second "commercial" advertising your personal brand. Include your areas of expertise, relevant skills, key accomplishments, and how you will be of benefit to the employer. Practice your pitch until it comes natural to you. Learn more about creating your introduction, or elevator pitch.
Tip #5: Ask relevant questions
Ask questions so the recruiter comes away with a memorable and favorable impression of you. Impress them with the research you've done on the company. Ask question to determine if the company will be a good fit for you. Inquire about roles available, the qualities they look for, and the challenges the roles will be expected to face. Find out how you can learn and grow at the organization. Finally, ask how you can follow up on the application and hiring process. Read more about questions to ask at a job fair.
Tip #6: Follow up after the Job Fair
Follow-up is an important step that many job fair attendees neglect. You will have an advantage if you take the time to follow up with employer conversations and leads. Collect business cards from the hiring managers so you know how to contact the organization. Send an email within 24 hours thanking the recruiter for their time, reiterate your interest and what you have to offer. Then ask for a time to meet for an interview or a longer conversation.
Bonus tip: You've got this! Bring a friend
It's natural to be nervous, but keep in mind employers are there because they want and need to hire someone. They are eager to attract job candidates and want to talk to you. Have your outfit, resumes and notepad ready the day before to lessen stress the day of the event. Take a few deep breaths, smile and be friendly. As a confidence booster, ask a friend or family member who is also on a job hunt or interested in networking to join you.
This event is brought to you by:
CareerSource Gulf Coast
Gulf Coast State College
Haney Technical College
Bay County Chamber of Commerce
Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce
Naval Support Activity, Panama City - Fleet & Family Support Center
Tyndall Air Force Base - Military and Family Readiness Center
Veteran Resources:
Bay County Vet Center
Event sponsors:
iHeartMedia
This event is brought to the community by a partnership among CareerSource Gulf Coast, Gulf Coast State College, Haney Technical College, Bay County Chamber of Commerce, Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce, Naval Support Activity Panama City - Fleet &Family Support, and Tyndall Air Force Base - Military & Family Readiness.
