No matter what type of career fair your association offers, it’s important to optimize it so that you can delight attendees and generate revenue.
Follow these four best practices as you plan your virtual, in-person, or hybrid career fair to ensure the success of your next career event.
1. Simplify Event Registration
Streamline the event registration process to give registrants an easy, welcoming experience from the start. Here are some ideas:
- Make sure registration is easy to find on your website and that the registration platform is user-friendly. You can even use a QR code on your home page that takes job seekers right to your registration page.
- Test your website to ensure it is compatible and easy to navigate on tablets and phones. A good rule of thumb is that a job seeker should be able to register anywhere, especially from their smartphone.
- Include career fair information on your career center page so that job seekers viewing job postings can also see the upcoming event and register for it.
- Place your registration link on your organization’s social media platforms to attract job seekers from across the country who might be interested in attending your event. This tip is especially important if your career fair is being held virtually, as your attendance is not limited to a single location.
2. Offer a Variety of Networking Options
Networking is an essential aspect of any career fair. Be sure to plan multiple networking opportunities for your event. Here are some ideas:
Networking Options for In-Person Career Fairs
You can go the traditional route of hosting a networking reception at the end of the career fair. This is a great opportunity for job seekers to continue conversations they initiated during the career fair. You might also offer a welcome kickoff event at breakfast before the career event begins to start the day with high energy.
Another fun networking opportunity at in-person career fairs is to host a headshot booth. This will allow networking while job seekers wait to update their professional photos.
Games and drawings are also great ways to encourage networking connections at an in-person career fair. Allowing attendees to check in at various stations and booths makes it easier for the first conversations to start.
Finally, consider offering a résumé help center with mock interviews as another icebreaker.
Networking Options for Virtual Career Fairs
Think out of the box to come up with virtual networking opportunities. Using virtual event software can help. With the right event software, you can use video, audio, and text-based chatting in your virtual career fair. You can even use chat features to network and connect during event sessions. Talk with your career event software provider about what networking options are available to maximize networking opportunities for your attendees.
Invite members to connect after hours in a casual online setting by hosting events that can be run by region, specialty, or other themes. These events can also be mobile-optimized so attendees can log on from anywhere in the world.
3. Get the Word Out
For career fair success, it’s important to market your career event well. Here are some proven techniques:
- Use your association’s social media channels, website, and career center to market the event. Blogs and press releases are also great avenues for marketing your association’s career fair.
- Host a webinar about the upcoming career fair so that attendees can understand what to expect at the event and get to know the online event platform you are using. You can market your in-person event very similarly; just be sure to share travel accommodations and hotel booking deadlines to ensure your in-person attendees have all the information they need.
- Provide a map of the event location and an agenda so that your in-person attendees know where to go throughout the event. Putting this information on the back of their event name badge is also a great way to keep everything together.
- If you are using an event app, send the app and login information to registrants at least one week before the event so they can get familiar with it.
- Share video tutorials about any technology being used at your career event for both in-person and virtual events. Include a contact number in case anyone gets stuck and needs to reach out for troubleshooting.
4. Send “Thank You” Messages and a Post-Event Survey
This is a simple and effective practice, but it’s often overlooked. Sending post-event thank you emails and surveys can leave a positive impact on your audience. It can also give you valuable insights to help you improve your next career event.
Optimize Career Fairs for Your Association
No matter what option you select for your career fair – in-person, virtual, or hybrid – it will be a success if you help connect job seekers with employers and help grow and advance careers in your association’s industry or profession.
