36th Annual Bay County Job Fair on Feb. 4, 2023

Event Start Date: 2023/02/04 | 10:00am - 01:00pm

Bay County's premier hiring event is back on Saturday, February 4!

DOWNLOAD A SHAREABLE FLYER WITH LIST OF PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS

The 36th Annual Bay County Job Fair will feature 70+ local employers with hundreds of open jobs ready to hire talent like you. Join us on Saturday, February 4, 2023, from 10 am - 1 pm at Florida State University - Panama City in the Holley Center. Early entrance at 9 am for Veterans, military spouses and transitioning active-duty service members.

This is a free event and walk-in job seekers are welcome. 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? Contact us.

See tips for success at the Bay County Job Fair below.

Participating Employers

Advanced Fire Protection Services, Inc
B & C Technologies
Bay County BOCC
Bay County Sheriff's Office
Bay Credit Union
Bay District Schools
Bay Youth Summer Work Foundation
Berg Pipe
Bluegreen's Bayside Resort & Spa
Boys & Girls Clubs of Bay County
Burg Management Company
By The Sea Resorts
CareerSource Gulf Coast
CBH, LLC - Burger King
City of Lynn Haven
City of Panama City
Coastal Waste and Recycling
Costa Enterprises - McDonald's
Department of Children and Families
Dept. of the Navy
DSI Security
E.F. San Juan, Inc.
Early Education and Care, Inc
Eastern Shipbuilding Group
Ellis Agency Insurance
Express Lane
FedEx Ground
FirstService Residential
Florida Department of Corrections - Calhoun CI
Florida Department of Corrections - NW FL Reception Center
Florida Department of Corrections - Gulf CI
Florida Department of Corrections - Holmes CI
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice - Probation Office
Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Fourteen Foods - Dairy Queen
FSU Panama City
Gallo Mechanical
Geico Local Office/Moulder Insurance Agency
Goodwill Industries Big Bend
Gulf Coast State College
HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital
Hilton Sun, Inc.
Hilton, Inc.
iHeartMedia
LBA Hospitality
LocaliQ
LWI&S Management Inc.
Magellan Federal
Margaritaville
Martha Blackmon Milligan Law Firm
Merrick Industries
Mocama Marine
Northwest Florida Health Network
Oceaneering International, Inc
Panama City Beach Fire Rescue, Beach Safety Division
PanCare of Florida, INC
Peaden, LLC
Publix Sports Park
QLM
Royal American Hospitality, Inc.
ScribeAmerica
Snelling Staffing
Sonic Drive In
Southwest Airlines
Starbucks
Target
The Blake at Panama City Beach
The St. Joe Company
Transportation Security Administration
Waffle House
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 11 or 25 in preparation for the event.

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:

iHeart Media

Events Detail