A virtual job fair is similar to a traditional one where job seekers and employers meet for employment opportunities. The virtual part of a virtual career fair is the only difference since it is through an interactive online platform.
Likewise, it would help if you should prepare for a virtual fair as you would for an in-person event. You can speak with recruiters and hiring managers about prospective job opportunities and even secure an interview. Check out tips to follow to make the most of your hiring opportunity.
What is a Virtual Job Fair
Virtual hiring events help connect employers with workers. Local businesses can promote open positions, and start-ups can find employees immediately. An online job fair has virtual meeting rooms where people can participate in discussions or break away into private chats for one-on-one or small group meetings.
Many employers have a private chat open to ask questions and get more information about the business and vacancies. Job fairs are only as beneficial as your engagement in them. The following are things you should do BEFORE the online virtual job fair, so you are prepared.
Register
Make sure to save your spot, as some fairs may have a user threshold. Some popular companies may require appointments for one-on-one time with a representative or ask candidates to review certain material. You can also become more familiar with the website, user interface, and other facets.
Do Research
After registering, check which organizations will participate as employers. Virtual career events should list registered businesses and any scheduled events. Review businesses in your industry or you have an interest working for so you can be better prepared. Representatives appreciate candidates that are familiar with their company.
Polish Your Resume
You will need to submit a resume to each company, so you should make sure you have a clean copy. Since you will send your CV digitally, you should save your document as a PDF. Formatting may show differently in various versions of Word and other writing applications, which can make your resume look unprofessional and sloppy.
Practice Your Elevator Pitch
An elevator pitch is a brief self-introduction, less than 30 seconds. It helps you connect with the recruiter and illustrate key selling points about yourself. Your pitch should:
- Be brief. You do not need to recite your entire resume or work history. You can recap your professional profile into a single sentence or a few words. For example, “Web Designer”, “Soon-to-be MBA graduate”, and “Marketing professional for 15 years”.
- Spark interest. You can share your skills and background or an idea that engages the listener. Whatever you share should be persuasive and interesting. For instance, “Advocate for energy conservation”, “Financial problem-solver”, and “Graduated in the top 3 percent of my class”.
- Mention your professional goals. You should share your career objectives as they relate to the organization. You may have the goal to relocate to New York City with a well-paying job in your industry, but that does not help a recruiter in your hometown. You could say, “Looking forward to securing an accounting role” or “Meeting and sharing ideas with people in the IT field”.
Practice this short dialog since you will have to recite it for each employer. You may consider practicing answers to common questions like:
- Why are you interested in the company?
- What type of work are you looking for?
- How is your past experience relevant to this position?
- Tell me about your worst and best professional characteristics.
Seeing yourself in the camera may heighten the pressure to speak after a recruiter asks you a question. Practicing answers and having bullet notes on hand can prepare you and reduce anxiety.
Prep Your Tech
An easy virtual career fair can suddenly become difficult if you run into technical difficulties. Make sure your internet connection is stable enough for video conferencing. Likewise, make sure you have your laptop plugged into an outlet, as streaming can drain batteries quickly.
Similarly, make sure your environment is ideal for the job fair. Loud noises and distractions can affect recruiters’ impression or prevent you from best representing yourself. Plan to participate in the event in a quiet room with a shut door, and let family or roommates know not to disturb you during the designated time.
Dress for Success
Even though you can meet with employers in chat rooms in the comfort of your home does not mean you should be in your pajamas. Hiring managers may request video chats, so you should dress for an interview. It would help if you appeared clean, tidy, and professional.
You should also consider the background the recruiter might see. A blank wall is the best background, and there needs to be sufficient light for conference calls. Do a test run on another video chat app and see what potential employers may notice behind you.
Attending a Virtual Career Fair
Whether you signed up for a virtual internship fair or a hiring event, you plan to make connections and a good first impression. Virtual career events make it easy to sit on the sidelines, but you will need to exert yourself to meet new people in your field and secure job interviews.
An online virtual job fair is a great option if you are better at writing than speaking. Since most virtual interactions are written, clear and concise communication is effective with recruiters. While your grammar does not have to be perfect, slang and profanity come off as unprofessional.
There is an Amazon virtual job fair where individuals can find careers exclusively with the company. Some positions include Fulfillment Center Warehouse Associate, Grocery Fresh Associate, Locker Associate, Delivery Driver, Customer Care Advisors, and Pharmacy Technicians.
You can also find virtual hiring events on Indeed through the hiring platform. Companies can schedule virtual fairs and reach larger talent pools, while job seekers gain more opportunities from a worldwide market.
After Virtual Career Events
Follow up with contacts you made during the job fair. You can reach out as soon as the following day or workday. Express your interest in the opportunity and thank them for their time and consideration.
You may also want to refresh their memory on who you are, as they meet dozens to hundreds of other candidates at events. This is when your elevator pitch comes in handy. Consider what part of your introduction impacted on the recruiter, and use that content to remind them and set you apart from other individuals.
Make sure your follow-up email, call, or message has your accurate contact information and resume if requested. If you are a creative, make sure the contact has access to your portfolio or work samples.
