“They Just Want to Be Seen”: Why Job Fairs Still Matter in 2025
We live in a world where everything is filtered.
Job searches are filtered by algorithms.
Hiring decisions are filtered through platforms.
People are reduced to paper, bullet points, and bots.
And in the middle of it all?
We’re wondering why hiring feels more exhausting than ever.
The Day I Sat Down With Vickie Martin
If you know me, you know I don’t bring just anyone on the Hiring Happy Humans podcast.
But Vickie Martin? She’s the real deal.
Army vet. 25+ years in HR.
The kind of leader who can read a room—and a resume—with the same sharp intuition.
We were supposed to talk about career paths.
What we ended up talking about was visibility.
“People just want to be seen,” she said.
“They’re tired of sending out resumes and never hearing back. They want a chance to show who they really are.”
That stopped me cold.
Because she’s right.
Behind every digital application is a human being.
One who stayed up late tweaking their resume.
One who’s walking through a layoff, a relocation, or a crisis of confidence.
One who just wants a shot.
Algorithms Don’t Shake Hands
Job boards are efficient. I won’t knock that. LinkedIn has its place. So does AI screening.
But here’s what tech can’t replace:
Eye contact
Presence
The way someone lights up when they talk about the work they actually want to do
I’ve stood at job fairs and seen it with my own eyes: A quiet candidate who never would’ve made it past an ATS—but absolutely wowed a recruiter in person.
Someone who felt invisible online… but unforgettable in real life.
The Truth About Job Fairs (That Most People Miss)
Job fairs aren’t just about handing out resumes.
They’re about proximity.
They collapse the gap between “I think I might be qualified” and “Tell me more about this role.”
They give job seekers the rare opportunity to:
Ask questions without fear
Clarify fit and expectations before the interview
Get real-time feedback on how they’re presenting
And for employers? They offer a frontline glimpse at something no resume can convey:
Energy. Intention. Presence.
When Showing Up Is the Strategy
Vickie said something else that stuck with me: “A job fair might feel old-school, but it’s where people stop performing—and start connecting.”
And I’ve seen it happen. Time and time again.
The resume isn’t perfect.
The experience is patchy.
But the spark? The potential? It’s there.
We miss that when everything’s digital.
So, Why Do Job Fairs Still Matter?
Because hiring is a human process, not just a transactional one.
Because talent doesn’t always look great on paper.
Because sometimes the right person shows up in the room—not in the inbox.
And because some of the best hires I’ve seen happened after a single in-person conversation.
Can’t Make the Fair? We’ll Go For You.
At Sipley the Best, we attend every CFEC job fair in Central Florida.
If you don’t have the time, capacity, or team to show up in person?
We’ll represent your company.
We collect and screen resumes
We talk to job seekers like your hiring manager would
And we send you a curated folder of candidates ready to move forward
No stress. No guesswork. No wasted time.
Because sometimes, the most human thing you can do for your business is send a human to represent it.