Virtual career fairs provide a unique way to engage potential job candidates. However, achieving success requires many strategies like those used at in-person career fairs, but with the added bells and whistles available through virtual event technology.
Here are some essential tips to maximize your participation in a virtual career fair.
Before the Event
Get to Know the Platform: Learn how to navigate the virtual event platform. Check for resources and webinars on tools and features to leverage during the event. You’ll likely receive multiple emails from the vendor platform that point out things to read and do – make sure you scan them for items of interest.
Create Your Institution’s and Your Profiles: Put together your institution’s profile, repurposing content already available on your institution’s website and social media profiles. Don’t forget also to build your profile, including uploading a photo that candidates can see during the event.
Prepare FAQ and Engagement Prompts: Have a list of frequently asked questions about your institution and its employment opportunities handy so you can copy and paste responses in your room chat during the event. Also, develop a list of engagement prompts (i.e., questions that spur conversations) that you can use when chatting with candidates or post when your room gets “quiet.”
Share the Event on Your Social Media Channels: Inform your followers that you will attend the virtual event and encourage those interested in working at your institution to register. Not only are you allowing passive candidates to connect, but you’ll also make the event organizers happy about your efforts to increase registrations.
Check Your Tech and Prep Your Space: Many virtual job fair platforms enable employers and job seekers to use video and audio. If you want to use these features during the event, find a quiet, professional space to set up and test your camera and microphone.
During the Event
Have a Presence at the Start of the Event: No one likes visiting an empty booth, in-person or virtually. Log into the event early and post a welcome message. If you can’t be there at the start of the event, make sure you include a note in your institution and personal profiles on when you’ll be there and, if possible, log in at some point before the event to post a welcome message that also includes when you’ll be back online to chat. If you plan not to staff the room during the event but instead schedule private appointments, again, make sure you include that in your institution and personal profiles and your welcome message.
Proactively Post Messages and Engagement Prompts: If someone comes up to you in your booth at an in-person job fair, would you stand there and say nothing? At a virtual career fair, while candidates might introduce themselves and ask questions once they enter your room, they’ll likely take a few moments to assess and see if they want to stay there. Beat them to the punch and invite them to ask a question or ask what positions they’re interested in.
Think Beyond Chat: Turn on your camera and/or microphone so that candidates can take a break from reading text and see and/or hear you. You don’t have to be “on” the whole time – you could go “live” every fifteen to thirty minutes, but also gauge if there are enough room visitors to warrant a “live” presence to warrant the effort.
Highlight Job Openings and Employee Benefits: Post links to your institution’s job postings and information about workplace culture and employee benefits. If the option is available, you could do a screen-share and do a short presentation about employment at your institution.
Showcase Your Institution’s Brand: In addition to recruiting, take this opportunity to market your institution’s brand. Share links to news and updates, encouraging candidates to follow your institution on social media and subscribe to emails.
Keep Tabs on Engaged Candidates: Jot down some light notes on who you chatted with and who to connect with after the event. The virtual event vendor can provide information on individuals who registered for the event so you can look up contact info and other details later.
After the Event
Download Reports: Many virtual event platforms provide a variety of post-event reports that you can download and review, such as chat room transcripts and information on registered candidates (e.g., their experience, interests, contact info, etc.).
Follow Up with Qualified Candidates: Don’t let the good ones get away! Reach out sooner than later to beat other employers interested in them and show enthusiasm about having them move forward with career opportunities at your institution.
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Broaden your recruitment with low-cost virtual career fairs! We host HERC Jobs Higher Ed Virtual Career Fairs throughout the year, from regional-focused to theme-based events. Get info about upcoming events and more.