A Career fair is an event in which employers, recruiters, and universities provide information and opportunities to job seekers. Job seekers attend career fairs intending to meet new companies and potential co-workers, speak about upcoming opportunities, fill out resumes and applications and, ask questions regarding their industry.

Career fairs have always been a big deal, and can definitely spark some nerves for those who have never attended one or are really trying to get their foot in the door. With all of the change in our world due to COVID-19, A large majority of career fairs are now being held virtually. There have been virtual career fairs prior to COVID as well, but they didn’t gain much traction as there wasn’t a need for it.

How do they work?

Now, companies and job-seekers alike are taking advantage of amazing technology to attend career fairs and network. You may be wondering-“How the heck is a virtual career fair even possible with tons of companies and even more job seekers?”. Well, useful platforms like Brazen, VFairs, CareerEco, Meetyoo and more, allow companies to organize or participate in career fairs online while still achieving the same goal.

Tips For Employers:

When selecting which platform to use for a virtual career fair, companies should consider the target audience of their event and the features that will be useful and essential to making it a success, including customer support, customization options, interactive tools, security, and analytics. From there, companies can design their virtual booths and utilize other features such as uploading information packets and videos for job-seekers to watch, virtual tours, and even connect their ATS (Applicant Tracking System) so that job seekers can upload their resume and apply for open jobs! The opportunities don’t stop there. There are so many other features that can be added to virtual job fairs to make it just as spectacular as an in-person fair!

Tips For Job-Seekers:

As a job-seeker attending a virtual career fair, there are some things to do to prepare. Once you’ve found a career-fair (or multiple) that you want to attend, the first step is to register. This should be relatively simple and only take a few minutes depending on what is required to register. Additionally, some virtual career fairs may require scheduling to meet with different companies/recruiters. If this is the case, browse the different booths that will be at the career fair and schedule appointments.

After deciding who to meet with, it is a great idea to research those companies. This is a basic piece of advice for any career fair or even interview. Additionally, make sure when it starts, you stick to all the appointments and utilize any resources the company provided in their virtual booth. While you may not be face-to-face with the recruiter, there may still be a chance for you to interact with them one-on-one.

After the career-fair has ended, you should follow up with the companies and recruiters you spoke to, just as you would following a regular career fair. This helps reinforce relationships and is sure to make your name stick out.

Takeaway:

Career fairs are one of the best ways to network and locate opportunities as a job-seekers. It is also a fantastic way for companies to get their name out there. Even though COVID-19 has put a halt to in-person events, virtual career fairs have so much to offer and can be just as beneficial!