Just got back from my 1st ever fair- ISS San Francisco, and I know my impression is biased because I landed my DREAM JOB, but I thought it was really well done. The events were more or less on time, the staff were very helpful to me, and while I was expecting this super dog eat dog environment everybody I talked to was very pleasant and positive. It was like a dating service fair or something. I think I might have heard one snarky comment that had more to do with a really long line up than anything else. Only complaint was getting ripped off for $11 glass of local Chardonney at the closing reception. Same wine was selling for $8 (I think) right across the lobby. I mean reallly...

The whole process with ISS was pretty good. I had a parallel Search Associates deal going on as well and I can say I got more emailed job postings from them. But like the earlier comment, I'm not too sure what the associate's role is in the deal. I got a bit of good advice right at the beginning (sign up with my wife!) and that was pretty much it. At the ISS fair, the prez of ISS came up to me and asked how the whole process could be improved- I had a couple of small suggestions which he wrote down. Nice touch I thought.