Merrillville Hosts Annual Job Fair
Attention Job Seekers and Businesses! The Town of Merrillville’s Annual Job Fair is Back!
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, July 30, 2026! From 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the Dean and Barbara White Community Center (6600 Broadway) will be buzzing with opportunities at Merrillville’s highly anticipated annual Job Fair!
Businesses & Organizations – Looking to hire top talent? Secure a vendor spot to meet potential employees face-to-face. There are a variety of participations options, each with great benefits.
And if you can’t attend, that’s no problem! Become a sponsor and gain valuable exposure for your business through event promotions, online features, and marquee displays.
If your business wants to participate in the job fair, please complete a vendor application. After completed, you can pay you sponsorship fee online or you can mail a check to the Town of Merrillville: 7820 Broadway, Merrillville, IN 46410.
Job Seekers – This is your chance to connect with top employers from Merrillville and beyond! Whether you're an experienced professional or just beginning your career journey, there’s something for everyone. There is no cost to attend as a job seeker. Plus, enjoy raffles, giveaways, and exciting prizes while you network your way to a brighter future!
Participating Businesses and Entities:
AAA Hoosier Home Healthcare Specialist, Inc.
AAA The Auto Club Group
American Community Bank
Amrize
Clarvida
Crisis Center
Crossroads YMCA
Daifuku
Decorously Deft Delivery and Transport LLC
EmzyRose Bakery
Focus Workforce Management
Horseshoe Hammond
HR Block
In Training Collage
Indiana Army National Guard
Industrial Steel Construction, Inc.
Innovations in Learning
Intrinsic Home Care, LLC
Northwest Indiana Special Education Cooperative
NLMK USA
Oxygen Home Care Agency
Paladin, Inc.
Panduit
Respite Care Services Inc
Ron's Staffing Services Inc.
Securitas Security Services USA
Snelling Staffing
Staff Source
United States Steel Corporation
Western & Southern Financial Group
Young Ladies with a Purpose Inc
The following tips provided by indeed.com can help job seekers prepare for the upcoming Job Fair
Keep reasonable expectations
Keep reasonable expectations for what will happen during and after the job fair. Because every hiring manager is unique, companies may have different procedures for how they interact with you. You may be required to take part in an in-depth interview, a short screening or something in between. Keep in mind that a short interview doesn't mean a hiring manager is uninterested. Just like you are trying to make the most of your time at a job fair, hiring managers want to maximize theirs and interview multiple candidates. If a hiring manager wants to conduct a full interview or asks you to come back in a few minutes for one, they are usually looking to hire immediately. However, no matter how interested a company may seem, never expect a job offer at a job fair. Some companies have on-the-spot recruitment but don't expect that all companies will do this. Related: 21 Job Interview Tips: How to Make a Great Impression
Understand what recruiters or employers are looking for
While your motivation for participating in a job fair is to get hired, it's important to understand what companies are looking for. Most companies at job fairs are looking to fill entry-level jobs, which means you don't need to have a resume with a lengthy work history.Thus, instead of focusing your resume on your work history, emphasize your soft skills. Most employers at a job fair prefer candidates who share the same values as the company and are a good addition to the company's culture. Related: 14 Common Qualities Employers Are Looking For
Research each prospective employer
Research in advance which companies are going to participate in the job fair. Make a list of companies you're interested in working for and start researching them. Hiring managers expect you to come to a job fair with at least a basic knowledge of their company and their products or services. Related: The Complete Guide To Researching a Company
Prepare multiple copies of your resume
Prepare and print various versions of your resume, tailored to each company you plan to speak with. If you have skills that apply to a variety of different jobs, prepare different resumes for each industry. For instance, if you are interested in education, management and sales, create individual resumes that demonstrate your expertise and experience in each of these fields. When you meet with hiring managers, give them the resume version that is suitable for the position you're applying for. To help you stay organized, keep the different versions of your resume in different folders. Related: How To Make a Resume (With Examples)
Choose the best resume format
There are several formats of resume, but the one best highlights your key skill sets and education is the multipurpose functional format. A functional resume format doesn't follow the traditional resume's chronological order. Instead, it details your skills in areas such as project planning, problem-solving, organization and management. Related: Resume Format Guide (With Tips and Examples)
Consider bringing your portfolio
Portfolios are a great way to support the competencies you would include on your resume or talk about in an interview. It presents proof of your relevant skills and abilities through work samples and professional documentation that supports your abilities and accomplishments. It can be a physical binder or book that organizes samples of your work or an online portfolio with electronic documents. Portfolios usually include copies of your resumes, samples of your best work and a list of references. While most job fair interviews are fairly short, you may have opportunities to discuss your portfolio with the company's representative—either over a short break or during a second interview on-site.
Have your elevator pitch ready
It's also important to prepare a short elevator pitch in advance. An elevator pitch is a quick summary of your experience, skills and background. Practice this pitch to make sure you can confidently deliver it with ease. You may also include details such as professional goals, interests and notable accomplishments. Read your elevator pitch out loud to yourself to reveal any mistakes or extraneous information that may distract from your main points. You may also ask your family or friends to listen to you for about 30 seconds or so and get their feedback. The more you practice your pitch, the easier it will be to deliver. Here's an example of a good elevator speech: "Hi, my name is Molly. Thank you so much for your time. After graduating with my bachelor's degree in mass communication, I have spent the last five years gaining professional experience as a customer service representative. In previous roles, I have maintained a customer retention rate of 50%, which is above the company's average and received 98% positive customer results. I was excited to learn about this job opportunity in the retail management space—I've always been interested in establishing rapport with clients, gaining trust and building repeat and referral business, and would love the opportunity to bring my leadership, project management and creative marketing abilities to this position. "While it's good to plan your elevator pitch out in advance and practice, avoid sounding rehearsed in delivery. To make your pitch conversational, memorize a general outline or key points of your speech. Familiarize this structure and adapt your pitch for each person you deliver it to. For instance, if you're talking to a person you have just met, keep the conversation general and focused on your background. Related: How To Give an Elevator Pitch (With Examples)
Make a list of interview questions
A job interview is a two-way process. Not only are you interviewed to evaluate your suitability for the job, but it's also an opportunity for you to determine if the job is right for you. Being inquisitive during the interview also lets the employer know you are interested in their company and how it operates. Make sure to ask intelligent questions and avoid asking about benefits or salary. Wait until you're in the final steps of the interview process to negotiate this with the employer. Here are some examples of great questions to ask in an interview:
What are the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?
Can you tell me the most important characteristics for someone to succeed in this job?
How would you describe the culture of the company?
What are your expectations for this job within the first 30 days or 60 days?
If I get this job, how would the company measure my performance?
What do you like best about working for this company?
Related: 9 Best Questions To Ask Your Interviewer (With Video Examples)
Prepare appropriate attire
On the day of the job fair, wear appropriate attire. A general guideline is to dress for the job you are applying for. However, it's always better to be overdressed than underdressed. Opt for conservative business attire as this helps you make a good first impression.
Make a plan of action
Get a layout of the companies' booths ahead of time so you know where each one is. You may speak with one or two of your low-priority companies first for practice and then speak with your high-priority companies.Speaking with high-priority companies early on can be beneficial, as they are more likely to be approachable, as opposed to later in the day. If you're a well-qualified candidate, employers may use you as a standard to assess other candidates. Speaking with them early on also ensures that you will not run out of time and miss them. With proper time management, however, it's impossible to miss any targets on your list. Related: How To Write an Action Plan To Help You Achieve Your Goals
Plan a follow-up strategy
Following up with the company's representative is a key element to landing a job after a job fair. Send a short thank you email showing your interest in the company. You may also call the representative the evening of the job fair and leave a voicemail message thanking the representative for his/her time that day.
