Job Information Sessions

How to use them and get the job you want:

By JG Côté

Very often organizations such as a state/provincial governments who hire a large number of people from a wide range of backgrounds will host an information session (sometimes in conjunction with a meet and greet).  These sessions are usually put on in order to promote or encourage recruitment towards these organizations. 

An information session is not always the best place to get an actual job but it is a very good opportunity to get a sense of whether or not you like the organization that is hosing the event.  As well, they will often give you information and tips on how the hiring process works within their organization.  This is good because it gives you an inside look at how they do their hiring, which may in turn give you an edge over someone else who might apply for the same job as you. 

Furthermore, these information sessions sometimes introduce you to different areas of work that you had not previously thought of applying for.  For example, you may be interested in applying for a forest biologist position with the Federal Government. 

So, you go to the information session and realize that the state government also has positions relating to other biology areas.  This gives you more job opportunities that you did not even know existed.  After the information session you might be able to apply for four different jobs relating to biology rather then just the one you knew about before you were informed at the information session.