10 Essential Tips for Preparing as an Attendee for a Virtual Career Fair & Why It Matters
With the rise of remote work and digital networking, virtual career fairs have become a staple for job seekers. To maximize your chances of success, we've gathered essential tips from consultants to career readiness coaches. From researching companies and aligning goals to crafting an impactful elevator pitch, discover the top ten strategies to prepare for your next virtual career fair.
- Research Companies and Align Goals
- Master Digital Storytelling
- Arrive Prepared
- Familiarize Yourself with the Technology Platform
- Show Enthusiasm and Authenticity
- Dress in Business Attire
- Network with Fellow Attendees
- Bring Talking Points
- Customize Your Resume for Targeted Jobs
- Prepare an Elevator Pitch
Research Companies and Align Goals
Do your homework on the companies you're eyeing. Before the event kicks off, take some time to research their missions, values, recent projects, and any job openings they have. This step is essential for a few reasons.
Firstly, it helps you focus your efforts. Knowing which companies align best with your career goals and values lets you prioritize who to chat with during the fair. This means you're not wasting time on companies that aren't the right fit for you.
Secondly, doing your research shows that you're genuinely interested. When you approach businesses armed with knowledge about their company, it makes a great impression. It shows that you're proactive and serious about potentially working there.
Plus, being clued up allows you to ask intelligent questions. Instead of generic ones, you can ask about specific projects or initiatives the company is involved in. This shows your interest and gives you a deeper insight into what it's like to work there.
And don't forget about tailoring your pitch. Knowing a company's recent projects or challenges means you can highlight how your skills would be a great fit. It's all about showing them that you've thought about how you could contribute to their team.
Lastly, being prepared makes networking easier. With limited time during the fair, knowing which companies you're interested in means you can focus on making connections with the right people. This can lead to more meaningful conversations and potential opportunities down the line.
Aliza Dodge, Consultant, EC1 Partners
Master Digital Storytelling
An essential tip for attending a virtual career fair is to master the art of digital storytelling. In today's digital-first world, your ability to compellingly convey your career narrative online is as crucial as your qualifications. This involves updating your LinkedIn profile or resume and integrating your professional story across platforms to create a cohesive digital identity.
At BeamJobs, we emphasize the importance of leveraging technology to enhance your personal brand. This means using multimedia elements like video introductions or digital portfolios to showcase your skills, personality, and professional achievements.
In a virtual career fair, where screens limit engagement, these elements can bridge the gap, allowing you to make a memorable and impactful first impression. This innovative approach to personal branding can truly set you apart in a virtual setting, making it essential and indispensable for standing out to potential employers.
Stephen Greet, Co-Founder, BeamJobs
Arrive Prepared
Be prepared. There are two ways to do so! First, consider the way you answer questions, record your answers, and play them back to yourself. Don't know how best to answer a question? YouTube has great career coaching channels for that; personally, I follow coaches like CareerShakers and Sho Dewan.
Then, research the organizations that you are interested in and prepare thoughtful questions.
Lynn Chow, Senior Recruiter, Cyperus Group
Familiarize Yourself with the Technology Platform
From my extensive experience as the founder of Cyber Command, LLC, and my time at IBM Internet Security Systems, one essential tip for attending a virtual career fair is to thoroughly research and utilize the technology platform beforehand. Understanding the technical aspects of the platform is crucial because it directly impacts your ability to engage effectively with recruiters and potential employers. This preparedness is crucial not only to make a strong first impression but also to ensure that technical difficulties do not hinder your opportunities.
For example, in organizing and participating in various virtual events, I've noticed that individuals who familiarize themselves with the event's platform can navigate between different sessions more smoothly, participate in Q&A sessions more effectively, and utilize networking features without hassle. This proactive approach to technology can significantly enhance your experience and performance at the fair. In one scenario, a participant who had prepared and tested their video and audio equipment beforehand was able to immediately step into an impromptu video interview with a recruiter, while others were still troubleshooting their setups.
Moreover, this tip extends beyond just understanding the platform. It's about leveraging technology to display a professional image. For instance, ensuring a stable internet connection, having good lighting, and minimizing background noise can drastically improve your interaction quality, making you stand out in the best possible way. This proactive preparation highlights your technical prowess and adaptability, traits highly valued in today's digital workplace.
In conclusion, my journey through the tech industry has taught me that while technical skills and experiences are invaluable, often, it's the mastery and strategic use of technology that sets candidates apart in virtual settings. Thus, investing time to get comfortable with the virtual fair's platform and ensuring your technology presents you professionally is a vital step in preparation.
Reade Taylor, Founder, Cyber Command
Show Enthusiasm and Authenticity
First, be present and energetic. Make sure to have the enthusiasm, passion, and excitement for the virtual career fair. You want to put your best foot forward to shine in the interview.
Also,be authentic! Bring the most authentic self to any interview, and focus on generating genuine connections virtually. Make sure to connect on LinkedIn after the career fair and do the follow-ups.
Alice Ou, Founder, Coach Alice Bootcamp
Dress in Business Attire
Virtual events and career fairs can be a tricky environment to navigate and network; however, one of the most essential tips I know for preparing for a virtual career fair as an attendee is to ALWAYS dress in business attire!
Even if you know a specific virtual career fair is meant to be casual and isn't as business-strict as other in-person career fairs, it's vital that you treat it as such to show the recruiters and other job seekers that you are taking this very seriously. Nothing shows commitment and dedication more than putting in 100% effort in your clothing and appearance during these career events, especially virtual ones.
If you dress well and give a great first impression based on your attire and looks, it will be much easier for others in the virtual call/chat to strike up conversations with you and be interested in what you have to say! They will see how dressed up and ready you are to talk and chat about future job and business opportunities, not just for your own career growth but to benefit both parties' futures as well.
Chris Hunter, Director of Customer Relations, ServiceTitan
Network with Fellow Attendees
When preparing for a virtual career fair, factor in how you'll be interacting with other attendees present there. Your fellow attendees are, in essence, your peers. They share similar ambitions, challenges, and possibly even insights that can be beneficial for your career growth. If you form valuable connections with them, it could lead to valuable exchanges of information, advice, and even job leads that you might not have come across otherwise. Yet, many attendees are too caught up in trying to impress potential employers and skip out on this part.
I advise preparing for these networking opportunities by keeping two things ready—digital business cards and genuine initiative. The former condenses all your professional information, like your skills, experiences, and contact details, into a shareable format. The latter sets you apart from the crowd, demonstrating your enthusiasm and drive.
Riley Beam, Managing Attorney, Douglas R. Beam, P.A.
Bring Talking Points
My top tip for attendees is to research the employers who will be attending and prepare some talking points and questions suitable for each that you are interested in before the day of the event.
Typically, these events will list the companies that are participating on their website. They'll also have some basic information about these organizations that you can use to identify the ones you think will be the best fit for your career. You can then dig a bit deeper into these specific companies you've highlighted.
Start by reviewing their website and social media pages. I also recommend searching for them on platforms like Glassdoor and LinkedIn to get the employee perspective, and looking for any recent news articles or other recent updates about the company online. As you're doing this research, you can jot down notes about any questions you want to ask, points where you feel you're particularly well-aligned with the organization, or other details you want to mention or ask about during the session.
Doing this kind of legwork before the career fair can benefit attendees in multiple ways. For one thing, it ensures you're using your time at the fair in the best possible way to connect with the companies that you'd be most interested in working for. It will also help you stand out from the other attendees because you'll be able to demonstrate exactly why you'd be a good fit for the organization, and your knowledge about the company and what they do will show that you're genuinely interested in them specifically, not just looking for any job.
Rob Boyle, Marketing Operations Director, Airswift
Customize Your Resume for Targeted Jobs
I genuinely believe that the most essential tip for preparing for a virtual career fair is to customize your resume and cover letter to align with the specific job descriptions and agency requirements of the organizations you're targeting.
By highlighting relevant skills and experiences using strong action verbs and quantifying your achievements, you can significantly enhance your chances of catching recruiters' attention. Moreover, optimizing your LinkedIn profile to mirror your resume and cover letter provides recruiters with a comprehensive overview of your qualifications and professional background.
Following the virtual career fair, it's crucial to follow up with recruiters via LinkedIn to reinforce your interest in the discussed positions and maintain professional connections. This proactive approach showcases your enthusiasm and dedication to pursuing opportunities within their organization, potentially leading to further discussions or interviews. By staying active on LinkedIn, you can continue nurturing relationships with recruiters and remain on their radar for future job openings or networking opportunities.
Michael Hurwitz, CEO and Co-Founder, Careers in Government
Prepare an Elevator Pitch
Engaging in a virtual career fair is a significant step for professional growth and expanding employment opportunities. It offers convenient access from anywhere and assists with establishing connections with potential employers.
My advice is to research registered companies and their job openings beforehand to communicate with them about relevant skills and experiences in your elevator pitch during interactions. These initial engagements may lead to valuable mentorships, informational interviews, or direct employee referrals for future jobs.
Lolita B., Career Readiness Coach, Hopeworks
Learn more about how Maricopa Corporate College can support HR professionals in administering career training and professional development programs.
Terkel creates community-driven content featuring expert insights. Sign up at terkel.io to answer questions and get published.