My Job Owl 2027 brings the largest job fair in Ostwestfalen-Lippe back to Messezentrum Bad Salzuflen on 12–14 March 2027.
More than 165 exhibitors will fill over 10,000 square metres of Halle 20 with apprenticeships, dual study places, graduate roles and career-change opportunities, alongside a 20-speaker stage programme.
Friday is reserved for school students while Saturday and Sunday open to anyone seeking a new direction, with mandatory €1 entry paid at the door, no pre-registration and free parking.
TL;DR
112–14 March 2027 at Messezentrum Bad Salzuflen, Halle 20.
2165+ exhibitors across more than 10,000 sqm of show floor.
3Mandatory €1 entry paid at the door; no advance registration.
4Friday 08:30–13:00 for school students; weekend 10:00–16:00 for all.
520 speakers on stage, plus the co-located AZUBI-TAGE+ programme.
Why visit
One €1 ticket puts you in front of more than 165 employers from across Ostwestfalen-Lippe, from global manufacturers to local trades, clinics and universities. Compare apprenticeship, dual study, graduate and experienced-hire routes in a single hall, sit in on 20 stage talks, and leave with real contacts rather than application forms. Friday suits school students; the weekend suits families, graduates and career changers.
Why exhibit
The fair delivers a concentrated regional audience that is already thinking about training and careers: school leavers on Friday, then students, graduates, skilled workers and career changers across the weekend. A stand in Halle 20 buys face-to-face conversations, brand visibility with local families and a stage programme that pulls visitors toward the hall. It is a practical recruitment channel for Mittelstand firms that cannot fill roles through job adverts alone.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Who this event is for
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
School students choosing an apprenticeship or dual study place
University and technical college students looking for internships or first jobs
Graduates and young professionals comparing entry-level roles in the region
Experienced workers and career changers exploring a move or requalification
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Mittelstand manufacturers and skilled-trades businesses recruiting apprentices
Hospitals, care providers and public institutions hiring across clinical and admin roles
Universities, vocational schools and training providers presenting study routes
Regional and national employers filling graduate, technical and sales vacancies
The fair concentrates regional hiring demand into three days in one hall. For a Mittelstand employer, the value is not raw footfall but the share of visitors who arrive with a training or career decision to make; Friday’s school-student block is the strongest apprenticeship pipeline, while the weekend brings graduates, skilled workers and career changers. Buyers should judge the show on conversation quality and repeat visibility rather than on a single lead count.
Audience quality
High-value decision-makers
Visitors are local and pre-qualified by intent: school leavers on Friday, then students, graduates and experienced workers at the weekend. The catchment covers Bielefeld, Herford, Detmold, Lemgo and Paderborn, so most attendees can realistically accept a job or training place in the region. That regional focus makes the audience more actionable than a national career fair, although the show does not publish an audited visitor profile.
Exhibitor outcomes
Real business growth
A stand pays back through apprentices and hard-to-fill roles rather than volume. With a €1 ticket the audience is broad, so exhibitors need a clear role list and staff who can screen on the spot. Budget for three days of recruiter time, printed role sheets and a follow-up window of 48 hours; the fair’s weekend slot also reaches parents who influence school-leaver decisions.
Intelligence
Market context
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Ostwestfalen-Lippe, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Why it matters
The region’s Mittelstand, healthcare providers and trades are competing for a shrinking pool of school leavers, while career changers need a low-risk way to meet employers. My Job Owl puts both groups in one hall and gives regional firms a recruitment channel that is cheaper and more personal than national job boards.
Industry trends
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Small and mid-sized firms in NRW report unfilled training places, especially in trades, logistics and care. Fairs let them meet candidates and parents directly.
What it changes: A single regional event can fill several training places that online adverts miss.
02
Career changers and older applicants join the hiring pool
Fairs increasingly serve people changing sectors or returning after a break, not only school leavers.
What it changes: Exhibitors should bring roles with transferable skills and clear retraining paths.
Visitors from countries without a Schengen visa waiver
$90.00
about 15 calendar days
EU/EEA citizens and many visa-waiver nationals (including UK, US, Canadian, Japanese and Australian passport holders) can enter for up to 90 days in any 180-day period for business meetings.
Germany accepts ATA carnets for temporary admission of exhibition goods; list stand materials and demo equipment on the carnet.
Early March is cool and changeable: daytime highs around 7–10°C, night lows near 1–3°C, with a good chance of rain and wind. Bring a waterproof layer and comfortable shoes for the walk from the car park.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Mobile coverage is good on the fairground; free Wi-Fi is not advertised, so bring a data plan or hotspot for lead capture.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Cultural notes
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Spa-town pace
Bad Salzuflen is a compact spa town; shops close earlier than in Bielefeld and many restaurants stop serving by 21:00 on weekdays.
Cash still helps
Cards are widely accepted, but some bakeries, kiosks and the €1 gate may prefer cash; keep small notes handy.
Practical guides
Visitor & Exhibitor Essentials
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Flights
Destination: HAJ – Hannover Airport
Book 6–10 weeks ahead for the March fair; rail from Hannover to Bad Salzuflen is frequent and avoids a hire car.
Get to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: From HAJ take the S-Bahn to Hannover Hauptbahnhof, then a regional train to Bad Salzuflen (about 2 hours total); from PAD use a taxi or hired car (about 50 minutes).
Hotel → venue: Local buses run from the centre to the Messezentrum in about 15–20 minutes; a taxi costs €10–18.
Ride-hail: Uber and Bolt coverage is limited; use a local taxi rank or pre-book a radio taxi.
Public transit: Bad Salzuflen is on the Bielefeld–Herford–Detmold rail corridor; city buses connect the station to the fairground.
Parking: Free on-site parking at the Messezentrum; the car park fills early on Saturday.
Weather
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: March
Temperature: 1–10°C
Seasonality: Frequent showers and wind; snow is possible but rare.
Packing: Waterproof jacket, layers, closed shoes and a compact umbrella.
Plan your trip
Planning
Best day to visit: Saturday 13 March 2027
Saturday has the broadest mix of employers and visitors, with a full day (10:00–16:00) for several conversations; Friday morning is better for school students focused on apprenticeships.
T-14
Shortlist 8–12 exhibitors and note the roles or study routes you want to discuss. — Check the exhibitor list and stage programme before travelling.
T-10
Update your CV and prepare a one-minute introduction. — Bring 10 printed copies and a digital version.
T-7
Plan your journey and confirm parking or train times. — Saturday morning is busiest; aim to arrive at 10:00.
T-3
Check which stage talks you want to attend and block time for them. — Leave at least two hours for stand conversations.
T-1
Pack CVs, ID, power bank, water and a waterproof jacket. — Bring €1 cash for admission.
Sample visitor itinerary
Route-optimised day
09:30
Admission and hall orientation
Halle 20 main entrance
10:00
First block of employer conversations
Exhibitor stands, Halle 20
12:00
Stage talk and short networking break
Stage area
14:00
Follow-up meetings and CV drop-offs
Exhibitor stands and foyer
Side trips
2
Kurpark Bad Salzuflen
Spa Gardens
10 minutes from the fairground
Historic spa park, graduation towers and cafés for a quiet evening walk.
Hermannsdenkmal, Detmold
Landmark / Forest Walk
35 km, about 40 minutes by car
Iconic Teutoburg Forest monument with views and walking trails.
Networking spots
2
Stage area, Halle 20
Programme and informal networking
Stay after talks to meet speakers and exhibitors.
Halle 20 foyer café
Coffee and introductions
A practical place to debrief between stand visits.
First-timer guide
Follow-up playbook
Send a short thank-you note within 24 hours.
Attach the CV or portfolio you promised.
Reference the specific role or training place discussed.
Ask one clear next-step question.
Log the contact and consent status in your CRM.
Recruiters meet hundreds of people over three days; a specific 24-hour follow-up keeps your conversation recognisable and shows you listened.
Budget
Costs & budget
Shell scheme
EUR 95–135 / m²
Raw space
EUR 65–85 / m²
Standard booth
9 m²
No public 2027 stand tariff is published; bands reflect comparable regional job fairs and should be confirmed with the organiser.
My Job Owl 2027 runs from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 March 2027 at Messezentrum Bad Salzuflen. Friday opens 08:30–13:00 for school students, while Saturday and Sunday run 10:00–16:00 for everyone. The three-day format gives candidates time to compare employers, attend stage talks and return for a second conversation.
Where is My Job Owl held?
The fair takes place in Halle 20 at Messezentrum Bad Salzuflen, Benzstraße 23, 32108 Bad Salzuflen, in North Rhine-Westphalia. The site is about 20 minutes by bus or taxi from Bad Salzuflen station, with free parking directly at the fairground. Follow signs for Halle 20 from the car park.
Is My Job Owl free?
No, entry costs a mandatory €1 for every visitor, paid at the door. The organiser keeps the price deliberately low so that cost is not a barrier and donates the admission proceeds afterwards. There is no online ticket shop and no free pass for the public; exhibitor staff enter through the organiser’s registration.
Do I need to register to visit My Job Owl?
No advance registration is needed. Turn up during opening hours, pay the €1 admission at the entrance and walk into Halle 20. Schools and larger groups should still contact the organiser in advance so that arrival and guided visits can be coordinated. Individual visitors do not need to book a slot.
Who should exhibit at My Job Owl?
My Job Owl suits employers with real vacancies or training places in Ostwestfalen-Lippe: Mittelstand manufacturers, skilled trades, hospitals and care providers, public institutions, universities and training providers. It rewards exhibitors who bring recruiters rather than only marketing staff, because visitors arrive ready to talk about apprenticeships, dual study, entry-level jobs and career changes.
What kinds of jobs are on offer?
Expect apprenticeships and vocational training, dual study programmes, university degrees, internships, entry-level graduate roles and experienced-hire positions. The mix spans global manufacturers, local trades, healthcare, public administration, logistics, retail and education. Friday is tailored to school students; the weekend adds graduates, skilled workers and people considering a career change or further training.
Is My Job Owl open to the public?
Yes, the fair is open to the public as well as to schools and employers. Anyone can buy the €1 ticket at the door, including parents helping a child choose an apprenticeship, graduates, skilled workers and people considering a career change. It is not a closed trade-only event, although the exhibitors’ focus is recruitment rather than consumer sales.
What are the opening hours?
Friday 12 March 2027 runs 08:30–13:00 and is aimed at school students. Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 March run 10:00–16:00 for all visitors. Arrive before 14:00 on the weekend if you want time for several conversations and a stage session, because many exhibitors begin packing up in the final hour.
How many exhibitors attend My Job Owl?
The organiser presents the fair as the largest job fair in Ostwestfalen-Lippe with more than 165 exhibitors and over 10,000 square metres of floor space. Those figures describe the 2027 edition’s scale. The last completed edition in March 2026 reported 160 exhibitors on 10,000 square metres, so the 2027 target is a modest increase.
Can I park at Messezentrum Bad Salzuflen?
Yes, free parking is available directly on the Messezentrum grounds, according to the organiser. The car park fills quickly on Saturday morning, so arrive before 10:00 or consider the bus from Bad Salzuflen station. The hall entrance is a short walk from the parking area, with level access for most visitors.
Glossary
1
Ausbildung
Germany’s dual vocational training route, combining a paid apprenticeship at a company with part-time vocational school over two to three and a half years.
2
Duales Studium
A degree programme that alternates academic study at a university or vocational academy with paid work and training at an employer.
3
AZUBI-TAGE+
The co-located training and study fair at My Job Owl, focused specifically on apprenticeships, degree courses and internships.
4
Fachkräfte
Skilled workers with completed vocational or academic qualifications; a core recruitment target for the region’s Mittelstand employers.
5
Quereinstieg
A career change into a new occupation, often through further training rather than a second full apprenticeship.
6
Berufsmesse
A careers fair where employers, schools and training providers present apprenticeships, study routes and job openings to visitors.
7
Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL)
The region of eastern North Rhine-Westphalia covering Bielefeld, Herford, Minden-Lübbecke, Lippe and parts of Paderborn, and the fair’s catchment.
Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
