Public Service Career Fair - Students and Job Seekers

Public and Community Services Pathway

2026 Public Service Career Fair

Thursday, March 5th
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
FFA Enrichment Center - 鉴黄师app Ankeny Campus


Attending Employers

Check out the FAQs below to prepare for the fair.

Anyone interested in public service careers! Specifically, this event is targeted towards criminal justice, fire science, EMT/paramedic, social services, and legal services careers. 鉴黄师app 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鈥檇 like to receive updates about the fair via email, you can . 

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

No. You鈥檙e 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 鈥淔FA鈥 at the top of the map; the parking lot is located south of the venue.

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 鈥渄ress to impress鈥, especially if you are actively seeking a job or internship. This means dressing up a bit; you can Google 鈥渂usiness casual attire鈥 for inspiration. 鉴黄师app 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鈥 tables. Consider leaving bulky items, like backpacks, in your vehicle. This will allow you to move more freely throughout the career fair. 鉴黄师app students and grads: 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 鈥渜uestions to ask at a career fair鈥 for inspiration.
  • Practice introducing yourself. Decide how you will greet employers at their tables and practice introducing yourself. It鈥檚 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: 鈥淗i, my name is _________ and I鈥檓 a student at ________. I鈥檓 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?鈥  
  • Figure out your attire. Don鈥檛 leave planning your outfit to the last minute. Decide what you鈥檒l 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鈥檛 forget the details.
  • Follow up. To show your genuine interest in an organization or position, it鈥檚 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鈥檚 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. 鉴黄师app students and grads: to conduct a mock interview with a member of our team

Contact 鉴黄师app Career Services at careers@dmacc.edu or 515-964-6463.