The largest job fair on the Eastside will take place at Lake Washington Technical College in Kirkland on Feb. 27.

The 10th annual Employment and Education Fair features more than 65 employers with hundreds of career opportunities and fifteen educators from regional colleges with information on student transfer options.

“The Employment and Education Fair is a perfect place for job seekers and students to connect with some of the region’s best employers,” says Herman Calzadillas, LWTC Director of Recruitment and Outreach. “In addition, the fair offers job search resources and strategies, resume assistance, interview tips and information about LWTC’s 38 programs of study.”

Employers attending the event include UPS, Janicki Industries, Boeing, Children’s Hospital, Evergreen Healthcare, King County, Comcast, AeroJet and AT&T Mobility among others.

The keynote speaker will be Sherri Edwards, who will give a presentation called, “Exposing the Myths: Turn Around Your Job Search.” Edwards is a leading Pacific Northwest motivational speaker, career coach and consultant, specializing in helping individuals make the most of their job search.

According to Edwards, job seekers need to have a clear idea of what they want to achieve in regards to their employment goals. And then they need to construct a plan of action that will allow them to build towards their goal. “It’s so important to know what you want before you start looking,” comments Edwards. “And you need to do your research on potential employers before you apply for the job. This is so you can determine whether the company will meet your needs and if you will fit the company’s needs.”

Edwards continues to explain that many people like the sound of a job and they go ahead and apply before they assess if they’re really qualified for the position and whether it has anything to do with their goals.

“It’s easy to waste a lot of time doing this – time that could be better spent doing research,” she adds.

As for the “myths” that Edwards refers to, these are basically erroneous assumptions that many job seekers have with regards to the search. They often believe that once they get a job, they’ll figure out what they want to do later. Or, they perceive job boards as being the best method for learning about opportunities.

“The most effective way is actually networking,” says Edwards. “You need to get out there and talk to people, meet with potential employers. Searching for a job is an active pursuit, not a passive one.”

Another myth that individuals have is a belief that you have to be lucky to get a job when, in fact, Edwards notes that those who land jobs are simply well-prepared.

It’s also a myth that the more positions you apply for, the better your chances are for finding the right one.

“It’s not a numbers game,” explains Edwards. “Nor is it about being the smartest or most skilled when it comes to winning the offer. There are a lot of misconceptions out there and they can really interfere with the process and work against you in your job search. What I do is dispel these myths and then let you know what does work and what you should be doing that will make your search more efficient and productive.”

As part of the fair, a workshop is being held to explore career opportunities in high-wage, high-skilled jobs in non-traditional fields for women. It will feature a panel of five successful professional women who have established themselves in careers that include engineering, marine engine technology and high technology.

The Employment and Education Fair is free and open to the public.

Employment and Education Fair

• Feb. 27, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Lake Washington Technical College
• For details and directions, visit www.lwtc.edu/employmentfair