Public Service Career Fair - Students and Job Seekers

Anyone interested in public service careers! Specifically, this event is targeted towards criminal justice, fire science, EMT/paramedic, social services, and legal services careers. DMACC students and grads, students of other colleges and high schools, and members of the public are welcome to attend. 

No. Walk-ins will be welcome at the career fair. However, if you’d like to receive updates about the fair via email, you can sign-up for our contact list here. 

No. This event is free for students and job seekers to attend. 

No. You’re welcome to attend as much (or as little) of the fair as your schedule allows. Come and go when it works for you!

Yes. There is plenty of free parking on-site. Click here for a campus map. The FFA Enrichment Center is the building labeled “FFA” at the top of the map; the parking lot is located south of the venue.

Yes. Express Route 98 - Ankeny stops at the DMACC Ankeny campus outside of Building 5 in Lot L. Click here for details. Building 5 is located south of the FFA Enrichment Center, so those arriving by bus will need to walk to the venue. Click here for a campus map. Reminder: DMACC students can ride DART for free. Click here for details.

Attendees will be welcome to participate in the fair regardless of what they are wearing; there is no dress code. That said, we do recommend you “dress to impress”, especially if you are actively seeking a job or internship. This means dressing up a bit; you can Google “business casual attire” for inspiration. DMACC students and grads: contact Career Services for help accessing free career fair attire.

If you are actively seeking a job or internship, we recommend bringing multiple copies of your resume in a folder or padfolio. The folder or padfolio will help keep your resumes from getting wrinkled and will also give you a place to store any materials you pick up from employers’ tables. Consider leaving bulky items, like backpacks, in your vehicle. This will allow you to move more freely throughout the career fair. DMACC students and grads: schedule an appointment with Career Services to get help updating your resume before the career fair. 

• Research attending employers. Use the list provided on this site to learn more about the organizations attending the fair and create a list of those you want to talk to. 
  
• Come up with questions to ask. Write down your questions and bring them with you to the fair. Google “questions to ask at a career fair” for inspiration.
• Practice introducing yourself. Decide how you will greet employers at their tables and practice introducing yourself. It’s good to include your name, your school, and your career interests; end your introduction with a question so that it smoothly starts a conversation. For example: “Hi, my name is _________ and I’m a student at ________. I’m really interested in _______ careers and I saw online that your organization might have opportunities that would be a good fit. Can you tell me more about the types of positions you have available?”  
• Figure out your attire. Don’t leave planning your outfit to the last minute. Decide what you’ll wear and make sure everything is clean and ready to go before the fair.
• Prepare your materials. If you plan on bringing copies of your resume with you, prepare a folder or padfolio where you can keep them. Consider including a notepad and pen so you can take notes at the fair. 

• Make notes. Were there organizations you were really interested in? Positions you want to apply for? Make note of important interactions you had at the fair so you don’t forget the details.
• Follow up. To show your genuine interest in an organization or position, it’s a great idea to follow up with an email to the representative you talked to at the fair. You can thank the representative for speaking with you at the event and let them know that you plan to apply for the opening you discussed with them. 
• Apply. If you found positions you want to apply for, remember to submit your application in a timely manner. 
• Prepare. If you apply for positions you learned about at the career fair, it’s a good idea to start preparing for the interview process. Practicing your responses out loud, especially with another person so that they can give you feedback, is a great way to prepare. DMACC students and grads: schedule an appointment with Career Services to conduct a mock interview with a member of our team. 

Contact DMACC Career Services at careers@dmacc.edu or 515-964-6463.