Bringing Human Connection to the Digital Era: A Guide to Hosting a Virtual Career Fair
Kortney Phillips
Aug 23, 2023 11:00:00 AM
The digital age has transformed countless aspects of our lives, and the HR recruitment sector is no exception. Traditional job fairs, with their bustling halls and crowded booths, are giving way to a more efficient and expansive model: the virtual career fair. But what sets it apart from its physical counterpart?
In today's digital age, the landscape of recruitment is undergoing a significant transformation. Enter the virtual career fair - a cutting-edge digital platform that reimagines the traditional job fair experience. But what exactly is it?
A virtual career fair offers a dynamic and immersive environment where employers and job seekers connect seamlessly, transcending geographical boundaries. It's not just a digital replica of a physical event; it's an enhanced experience. Imagine branded virtual booths, interactive chat sessions, and resource centers, all designed to make every interaction meaningful and productive.
A virtual career fair offers a dynamic and immersive environment where employers and job seekers connect seamlessly, transcending geographical boundaries. It's not just a digital replica of a physical event; it's an enhanced experience. Imagine branded virtual booths, interactive chat sessions, and resource centers, all designed to make every interaction meaningful and productive.
While virtual career fairs are revolutionizing the recruitment landscape, there's still value in the traditional in-person career fair. Here's why:
Human Connection: Nothing can replace face-to-face interactions. In-person career fairs allow for spontaneous conversations, fostering genuine connections.
Tangible Brand Presence: Companies can showcase their brand through physical setups, career fair swag, and live interviews.
Immediate Feedback: Direct interactions lead to instant feedback, helping recruiters gauge immediate reactions and adjust their pitches.
Networking Opportunities: Beyond job recruitment, these events are a hub for networking, opening doors to partnerships, collaborations, and more.
Mobile Integration: Even in in-person career fairs, platforms like 6Connex can be integrated for digital check-ins, QR code data collection, and post-event engagement through surveys and email campaigns, bridging the best of both worlds.
As we acknowledge the irreplaceable charm and benefits of in-person career fairs, it's essential to recognize the transformative power of technology in the recruitment sector. The digital realm has opened doors to innovative, efficient, and expansive recruitment methods, with virtual career fairs leading the charge. Let's explore the myriad advantages they offer:
The recruitment landscape is rapidly evolving, and virtual career fairs are at the forefront of this change. These digital events offer a plethora of advantages over traditional in-person fairs. Let's delve into the myriad benefits they bring to the table:
Global Reach: Virtual career fairs eliminate geographical barriers, allowing organizations to connect with talent from all corners of the world. This expanded reach ensures a diverse pool of candidates, enriching the talent acquisition process.
Cost-Effective: Say goodbye to the expenses of renting physical spaces, setting up booths, and other logistical costs. Virtual fairs offer a more budget-friendly alternative without compromising on the quality of interactions.
Flexibility: These events can be accessed from any device, be it a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. This flexibility ensures higher participation rates, as candidates can join from the comfort of their homes or on the go.
Sustainability: One of the most significant benefits is the positive environmental impact. By eliminating the need for physical venues and travel, virtual career fairs reduce carbon footprints, supporting a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach to recruitment. Sustainability to 6Connex is something we take personally. For a deeper dive into our commitment to the environment, we invite you to read our comprehensive Sustainability Report.
Real-time Analytics: Digital platforms provide instant data on attendee behavior, booth visits, chat interactions, and more. These insights are invaluable for refining recruitment strategies and understanding what resonates with potential candidates.
Enhanced Engagement: Features like live chats, webinars, and interactive booths make the experience more engaging for attendees. It's not just about viewing job listings; it's about immersive interactions that leave a lasting impression.
Branding Opportunities: Virtual environments offer myriad branding opportunities. From customized booths to branded webinars, organizations can showcase their culture and values in innovative ways.
Accessibility: Virtual fairs are more inclusive, catering to individuals who might face challenges attending in-person events, be it due to physical disabilities, geographical constraints, or other reasons.
Efficient Follow-ups: With integrated communication tools, recruiters can instantly connect with promising candidates, schedule interviews, or share additional resources, streamlining the post-fair process.
Virtual career fairs are not just a temporary solution or a trend; they are the future of recruitment. With their myriad benefits, from sustainability to global reach, they are set to redefine how organizations connect with potential employees.
Every virtual event is uniquely crafted to align with the host's vision and goals. Several factors influence its design, including expected attendance, the number of booths, and the variety of content—whether videos, images, or text. Additionally, the number of job openings a company intends to fill can determine the event's alignment with recruitment aims.
Thanks to advancements in technology, setting up a virtual career fair has never been easier. Organizations have the flexibility to design their event in-house if they have the necessary tools, collaborate with external experts, or tap into the expertise of tech vendors. User-friendly templates provide a smooth roadmap for organizers, guiding them from the initial welcome phase to booth design and interactive chat sessions.
Depending on budgetary constraints, companies can either opt for ready-made design templates for quick event creation or invest in a custom design that truly mirrors their brand essence.
Welcome to your comprehensive guide to hosting a virtual career fair. From the initial planning stages to the crucial follow-up, we've curated the industry's best practices for you in 9 easy steps.
You'll want to do your research and ensure you select the best event platform for your virtual career fair. A top-tier platform should offer a rich, immersive experience reminiscent of an in-person event, complete with branded exhibit halls, individual booths, webinars, and a comprehensive resource center.
For those with simpler needs or budget considerations, the platform should also provide a streamlined interface with real-time chat capabilities. With 6Connex, you're not only choosing a leading platform but also one that seamlessly caters to both elaborate and minimalistic event setups.
Factors influencing the cost include:
While prices can range from $8,000 to $80,000 per event, virtual fairs are generally more cost-effective than physical ones. Once you've set your budget and defined your needs, begin your search for the ideal software provider. For insights on selecting a provider, delve into our evaluation guidelines.
Remember, the event's scale is flexible. Whether you're aiming for a grand or intimate affair, modern software makes the process seamless. If you're anticipating a larger turnout than initially planned, platforms like 6Connex allow for easy adjustments.
Virtual booths offer a canvas for creativity. Showcase your brand and information in a format that resonates with potential employees. If designing isn't your forte, many platforms offer pre-designed templates for a hassle-free setup.
For your virtual job fair to truly shine, ensure that candidates can instantly connect with informed recruiters or hiring managers during the event hours. Are recruiters fielding the same questions repeatedly? A solution is at hand: Create a reference sheet with standardized responses. This not only ensures consistency in communication but also boosts efficiency. Moreover, with platforms like 6Connex, you can engage candidates using interactive tools such as webcasts, chat rooms, and Q&A sessions, fostering a dynamic virtual environment.
Many virtual career fair platforms come equipped with a feature that lets booth representatives sift through attendees based on their qualifications, determined by the details provided during registration.
What's even better? Recruiters have the capability to engage with these candidates in real-time, attracting them to the sponsor's booth. Such features empower organizations to expedite their hiring processes and swiftly address specific skill requirements. Hosting your career fair on platforms like 6Connex allows you to guide users through the virtual recruitment journey seamlessly, thanks to its intuitive, pre-designed templates, real-time analytics, and customizable virtual environments.
And as always, ensure your booth is staffed throughout the event for optimal engagement.
Engage with event partners, sponsors, and speakers well in advance. Partnerships and
sponsorships are invaluable for a multitude of reasons. They can enhance the credibility of your event, provide additional resources, and expand the reach of your fair to a wider audience.
Moreover, sponsors often bring in a unique set of attendees, further diversifying the pool of potential candidates. By ensuring everyone is familiar with the platform and its features, you can leverage these partnerships to their fullest potential. A pre-event walkthrough can be invaluable in aligning expectations and ensuring a smooth event experience for all involved.
It's crucial that attendees always have access to informed recruiters or hiring managers. Whether you're enlisting freelancers, interns, or in-house staff, ensure there's always someone available to assist.
Drawing attendees is paramount. Employ a mix of email campaigns, direct mail, advertising, PR, and social media to spread the word. Regular communication with registered attendees, including reminders and post-event follow-ups, can enhance engagement.
After prospective candidates have registered, it's crucial for organizations to establish consistent communication touchpoints. This can be achieved through regular email campaigns, social media updates, and other communication strategies, culminating in a final reminder the day prior to the event.
Post the live event, platforms like 6Connex offer attendees the convenience of accessing speaker sessions or recorded webcasts on demand. This feature ensures that the value of the event extends beyond its scheduled timeframe. Organizations should capitalize on this by sending periodic reminders about the ongoing availability of the virtual event.
These reminders can highlight the following:
With meticulous planning behind you, it's time to unveil your virtual career fair. Remember, the event's success hinges on interactivity and brand presentation, ensuring a steady influx of top-tier candidates.
The event might be over, but the work isn't. Engage with candidates that your recruiters are connected with. Track their progress in the hiring pipeline to gauge the event's success. While in-person interactions hold value, virtual career fairs offer unparalleled convenience and reach, ensuring a consistent flow of quality candidates.
Embrace the future of recruitment with virtual career fairs, blending efficiency with impactful brand presentation.
Embracing the digital realm, online career fairs offer unparalleled advantages. Within a structured digital environment, every attendee action, conversation, and engagement metric, from views to click-through rates, can be meticulously tracked and assessed.
Harness the power of these insights. The comprehensive reports from your hosting platform are invaluable for refining your approach. Dive deep into the data to discern which features resonated with attendees and which didn't, ensuring each subsequent event is even more tailored and effective.
In 2019, the iWorkinSport event team recognized a growing demand from exhibitors to access a broader talent pool. While their events were gaining traction, especially the iWorkinSport Job Fair, replicating the physical event in multiple locations was both resource-intensive and expensive. The team began exploring the feasibility of hosting their events virtually. João Frigerio, iWorkinSport’s General Manager, noted, “The iWorkinSport Job Fair was renowned for its high-caliber sports management graduates. With increasing global interest, we needed an efficient way to cater to this demand.”
After evaluating various virtual event platforms, the team had a checklist of essential features:
6Connex stood out not only for meeting the basic requirements but also for its extensive platform features. In December 2019, iWorkinSport hosted their first virtual event using 6Connex. The timing was fortuitous. With the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, Frigerio promptly decided to transition all 2020 iWorkinSport events, including the Job Fair, to a virtual format.
Frigerio emphasized the importance of the Job Fair as a platform for exhibitors and candidates to engage professionally. Moreover, the event's agenda, featuring renowned speakers, was a significant attraction. He said, “We needed our content to be accessible in real-time and on-demand, both during and post-event.”
The exceptional client service from 6Connex further solidified Frigerio's decision. He praised, “The care and attention provided by the team is phenomenal and a primary reason for our continued collaboration with 6Connex.”
The virtual iWorkinSport Job Fair saw an impressive turnout of over 500 attendees, with an average engagement time exceeding six hours. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with participants labeling it the “career fair of the future” and a “priceless experience.” One exhibitor remarked, “Despite the pandemic's challenges, the iWorkinSport team delivered a fantastic virtual event with significant networking opportunities.”
Buoyed by the success, iWorkinSport planned subsequent events, crediting the 6Connex platform for reducing costs, enhancing program awareness, and boosting attendance. The platform's longevity also allows them to engage candidates and exhibitors with iWorkinSport content between events.
As for the future, Frigerio envisions a hybrid event solution for combining the virtual platform's reach with the personal touch of a physical event.
“The care and attention provided by the team is phenomenal and definitely one of the main reasons why I wanted to continue working with 6Connex.”
- João Frigerio, iWorkinSport’s General Manager
As the frontrunner in event solutions, 6Connex is dedicated to delivering expansive audience engagement and profound content interaction for diverse sectors, from marketing to HR. Our state-of-the-art, secure, cloud-based platform has been the cornerstone of countless successful global events. Our offerings span virtual environments, in-person events, mobile apps, and webinars. Expect more from your events. Experience the 6Connex difference. Schedule a demo or reach out to our seasoned experts to learn more.
Dive into the future of events with our insightful webinar, "Embracing AI in Events: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges," happening on September 26th, 10 am CST | 4 pm BST. Join our esteemed speakers: Dahlia El Gazzar - Founder of DAHLIA+ Agency, Stephen Kaufman - Chief Product Officer at Inriver, and Henry Tran - CTO at 6Connex
Explore the transformative potential of AI in event planning, and engagement, and the challenges it may bring. Stay informed and inspired as we navigate the thrilling opportunities and challenges that AI brings to the dynamic world of events.
6Connex is the leading provider of in-person, hybrid, and virtual event technology for enterprises worldwide. Our cloud-based product portfolio includes event management tools, in-person event apps, virtual venues, webinars, learning management, and more.
From internal meetings to large scale conferences, we allow you to engage and transform big ideas into real-world results.
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