Decide on your recruitment goal
Participate in a job fair to help boost your employer brand among candidates who are interested in your field.
Pick your team
Choose team members who’ll best represent your company during this event.
Consider:
Recruiters and HR staff. They network as part of their jobs. They’re best positioned to initiate discussions with candidates, present your business in the best light and manage administrative tasks (e.g. gather resumes or contact details.) They can also help coordinate interviews.
Hiring managers. They can screen and interview candidates on-site or virtual. They can also describe the scope of responsibilities for any positions they’re hiring for and answer questions from job seekers.
Other team members. Employees can provide an authentic account of what your work culture is like.
To make the most out of your participation in a job fair
- Speak to as many job seekers as possible. You’ll increase the chances of finding qualified candidates.
- Keep interviews within specific timeframes. Long queues will turn candidates off. Consider assigning someone on your job fair team the role of the interview coordinator to make sure conversations are structured and brief.
- Write down notes during interviews. It’s difficult to remember candidates after job fairs unless you take brief notes as you talk to them.
- Let candidates know of next steps. Inform qualified candidates when to expect hearing back from you (e.g. “We’ll call you by the end of next week to schedule an in-person interview.”) And tell candidates who’re not a good match at the moment, that you’ll contact them when there’s a suitable open position.
- Answer candidates’ questions. Job seekers want to know about your company as much as you want to know about them. So make sure you provide them with interesting information (e.g. about your teams, open roles and future plans.)
After the job fair
Contact attendees
Job fairs are only the first step of your hiring process. So, don’t leave qualified candidates waiting.
Contact job fair candidates to coordinate next steps. Those might include:
- Completing a detailed application form
- Participating in a screening call to discuss a position’s details
- Completing an assignment so you can assess their skills
- Coming in for an interview at your offices
Measure results
Follow up with the event team to discuss overall impressions and high-potential candidates. Decide whether this job fair was beneficial to your recruiting efforts and talk about ways to improve your strategy for next time.
- How many candidates did we source during the event?
- How many of them were qualified?
- How many did we interview in our company?
- How many did we hire?
Prepare for a job fair
With a little preparation, you can maximize your time and get better results at a job fair.
- Determine which employers are your highest priority to connect with.
- Research employers’ websites and social networking pages. Take notes as you research so you are well informed when speaking with these employers.
- Make a list of the questions you want to ask each employer.
You should also be prepared to talk about yourself to potential employers. They will want to know about you, and you will want to make a good first impression:
- Make sure your resumé is up to date. Plan to take a copy of your resumé for each employer on your priority list and a couple of extra copies.
- Work on what you want to tell each employer about yourself.
- Dress as though you are going to a job interview, as you may be interviewed on the spot.
What should I do at the job fair?
Focus on connecting with employers that offer you the best chance at employment and the answers to your questions. The following suggestions will help you get the most out of your job fair experience:
- Practice your presentation by starting with an employer that didn’t make your priority list.
- Focus on the employers on your priority list. But be open to meeting other employers that may catch your interest.
- Be sure to ask the questions you have prepared. It shows that you have done your research.
- Write down the employers’ answers. Doing so shows you are interested, and you will need your notes later when following up with employers.
- Offer your resumé and highlight major accomplishments. This is your chance to shine.
- If employers accept online job applications, let them know if you have already applied or plan to apply. If you don’t know how to apply, ask.
- Ask for business cards and collect employer literature.
- Be considerate of other job seekers. Don’t monopolize too much of an employer’s time.
- Thank each employer for spending time with you.
- Watch other job seekers who seem to be doing well to discover ways you can improve.
Some job fairs may also provide you with an opportunity to:
- Participate in on–the–spot interviews
- Meet with career and human resources professionals who can give you feedback on your resumé or portfolio
What should I do after the job fair?
Once the job fair is over, it’s important that you follow up with employers. Using your notes, write a thank–you email to each employer you met. Staying in contact will keep you fresh in their minds as they review resumés from the fair. Here are some tips on sending a thank-you email:
- Email the employer within 24 hours.
- Mention having met at the fair and the topics you discussed.
- If you have applied or plan to apply for a job with that employer, say so.
- Attach a digital copy of your resumé.
- Thank the employer for having spent time with you.
