Bay County's largest hiring event is back on Saturday, February 5!
The 35th Annual Bay County Job Fair will feature 60 local employers looking to hire talent like you. Join us on Saturday, February 5, 2022, from 10 am - 1 pm at the Gulf Coast State College, Student Union East. Early entrance at 9 am for Veterans, military spouses and transitioning service members.
Bay Town Trolley is providing free rides to and from the event. Walk-ins are welcome and the event is free. We encourage you to check our Facebook site for regular updates, developments and tips for successful participation at the job fair. View flyer PDF here.
Need help preparing for the Bay County Job Fair? Contact us.
See tips for success at the Bay County Job Fair below.
Participating Employers
325th Force Support Squadron (FSS)
Aflac
Bay County Council on Aging
Bay County Government
Bay Credit Union
Bay District Schools
Bay District Schools Transportation
Bay Regional Juvenile Detention Center
Berg Pipe
Buffalo Rock
CareerSource Gulf Coast
CBH, LLC - Burger King
Centurion
Chick-fil-A Panama City Beach and Tyndall Parkway
Children's Home Society
City of Panama City
City of Panama City Beach- Beach Safety
Community Bank
David Costa ENT.-McDonald's
Department of Children and Families
Discovery Place by Lighthouse Church
Early Learning Coalition of NW Florida
Eastern Industries
Eastern Shipbuilding Group
Entera Branding
Florida Dept. of Corrections
Florida Mentor/ Sevita Health
Girls Inc.
Goodwill Big Bend Industries
Gulf Coast State College
Hilton Sun, Inc.
Hilton, Inc.
Innovative Professional Solutions
iHeartMedia
Jensen USA
LWI&S Management Inc.
Margaritaville
Merrick Industries
Mooring USA Construction and Restoration
MTC
NSC Plumbing
Oceaneering International, Inc.
Overland Contracting
Panama City Beach Aquatic Center
Peaden LLC
QLM
SAIC
Sheraton Panama City Beach
SkyWheel Attractions
Snelling Staffing
Sonic Drive In
Southeastern Surveying and Mapping Corporation
St Joe Hospitality
Tazikis
Teleperformance
The Hertz Corporation
Tom Thumb
Trane Technologies
U.S. Marine Corps
Waffle House
Walmart
Wyndham Destinations
Daily tip for successful participation at the Bay County Job Fair
Check back each day until Feb. 5 for a new tip of the day!
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. Contact us to receive more resume guidance from one of our professional employment specialists. 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.
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.
Employers interested in participating
There is now a waiting list for employers to reserve a booth at this event. You may complete a registration form to add your organization to the waiting list: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6S7K2PP
This event is brought to you by:
CareerSource Gulf Coast
Gulf Coast State College
Haney Technical Center
Bay County Chamber of Commerce
Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce
Naval Support Activity, Panama City
Tyndall Air Force Base
Event sponsors:
iHeart Media
Sonic Drive In (employer hospitality room sponsor)
Bay Town Trolley
