[napiers]

I just wondered what people who went thought of the expo at Olympia on Saturday. OH and I went (purely to look at the job situation) and came away feeling fairly disappointed with what was there. We were expecting something considerably bigger. OH had hoped to be able to meet/make contact with potential employers and get a feel for what the market was like in his field etc etc. He could only talk to recruitment people but found that they couldn't answer his questions anyway. He felt that advertising it as a jobs expo was quite misleading as we expected it to be of more use. We were quite optimistic when we went - not expecting to suddenly find a job or anything like that but just general optimism, if that makes any sense.

What it just us or did anyone else think it was disappointing? We were there on Saturday morning and I'm wondering if there was something or someone significant that we missed. :confused:

[Alan]

I thought they miss sold the whole event with many many people expecting offers to be made there and then. The only really recruiters were for teaching and nursing but still limited.

The seminars had to constantly battle the noise of the exhibition area as it was in essence sharing the same space with nothing to blot the noise coming over the dividers.

Strangely glad that I went, as I would not have known for sure otherwise, but would not recommend it to others if they expect job offers to be made.

[Georgebulldog]

That sounds like such a shame, I wonder if it was different from the one we went to last October, that was in London but in some hotel & you got to speak with employers & OH got an interview from it which is why we are now here.
Good luck in the future

[NZ Hopeful]

We had the same deflated feeling after the Manchester expo in October, we were considering whether to go to Leeds this weekend but probably won't bother!

[Peter&Liz]

We went to the one held last year in March/April and felt the same, not many employers there at all, so didn't bother this time.

The October one has been running longer, and is suppose to be twice the size; unfortunately we were on holiday when it was on last year.

Peter

[Alan]

Yep, I have been told that the one to go to is October and is when more employers pitch up for some reason. It used to be held in a hotel, the Ibis at Olympia or Earls Court I believe, but they moved it this year as they thought the location in the hotel was too small.

So instead they have a small exhibition and bring in far too many people, whilst promising far more than was there!

[mgbridges]

My OH went to the London October '06 one (or was it '05, can't remember as it seems so long ago now) and the one early the following year and has always said that the October one was better.

Anneliese

[Familyofmonkeys]

My OH went to the London October '06 one (or was it '05, can't remember as it seems so long ago now) and the one early the following year and has always said that the October one was better.

Anneliese

Agree....October one definitely has more companies attending.

[wolfie33]

that doesnt sound good! i'm heading to the leeds expo tomorrow to have a look at the job situation i'm not expecting any job offers just going for a look see.

[Plymgirl]

Hi we also attended the Expo last week-end in London. We travelled from the West Country and back again in one day and I really did not feel it was worth it. although my OH said the packing companies and bank info was helpful to him as I am the one to use this site and look up informaton on the net far more than him. We found it really cramped and far smaller than expected.

[Alan]

Just don't think the people running it do themselves any favours by touting both as these huge job expo's where we can all find work.

[beccalou]

We went to the Leeds expo on saturday, thought it was a disappointment. :no Not much there, you can get the information that they give from the Internet anyway.:nice1

[Ziggy]

I agree we went to Leeds spent £25 to get in all for nothing. I feel ripped off we got no more info than we could have got off the internet infact the internet is more informative than the people I:( spoke to so be warned

[Motleybeast]

I felt that the London expo was a smaller version of Sandown Park the other week. I got to Olympia quite late on Sunday and missed all the seminars so I can't comment on those, but I got round the whole lot in about 30-40 minutes, that was with chatting!!

[nellyt]

All the same comments as last year.......!
http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10836

[forstalls]

I have to agree with the others, I found the event a dissapointment and wishing I hadn't spent the money (and stress of driving in London!).
We were only there 2 hours and then came home.

Overall have learnt a lot more from you guys! :clap

[thewoodies]

We felt the same as we thought there would be more employers there. However as the process has gone on from there, we have found the information we got eg talking to the immigration consultant invaluable and it helped us make a direct application. We have just dug out all the leaflets on banking and shipping which again are only now useful and very much needed . I did expect a big exhibition, but there were recruitment companies there but not specific for my husbands job but there was a very helpful teaching recuitment agency oasis education who told me everything I needed to do and they would place me from the uk , however being heavily preganant and now having a baby i have kept in friendly contact and they will find me supply work as soon as i want, once i have a moving date. Hope this helps .

[napiers]

I did expect a big exhibition, but there were recruitment companies there but not specific for my husbands job but there was a very helpful teaching recuitment agency oasis education who told me everything I needed to do and they would place me from the uk , however being heavily preganant and now having a baby i have kept in friendly contact and they will find me supply work as soon as i want, once i have a moving date. Hope this helps .

Funnily enough the Oasis people were the only useful thing we got out of this expo. Good for me not OH, who needs more specific contacts than were there. I've been in contact with them and they've been helpful already and clarified some of the things I need to do. They seemed pretty optimistic that based on my very rough CV they should be able to find me something. So at least that's looking positive. Just need to sort out OH ... :laugh