The Ultimate Guide for Virtual Job Fairs

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Virtual job fairs can be a great way to meet recruiters, potential managers, and future coworkers. 

What’s the best part?

It’s exactly as the name says, the fair is online. You can do it all from the comfort of your own home. 

Apart from meeting recruiters, virtual fairs are also a good way to find out about companies you think you’ll be interested in working for. 

You can talk with a hiring manager before an official interview and send your resume directly to them. 

All of this means you’ll need to understand how to prepare, like using the correct resume template to create your resume or drafting a well-made elevator pitch.

Read our virtual career fair guide below to create a job-winning strategy when you attend your next online networking event.

What Are Virtual Hiring Events?

A virtual hiring event is an online job fair that brings companies and candidates together. 

Much like an in-person career fair, an online fair allows you to briefly speak with recruiters to learn more about a company and its job vacancies. 

It also gives you a chance to impress a recruiter and land an official job interview.

Anyone looking for work from essentially any industry could benefit from an online career fair, that is especially true if you are: 

• A college student
• Someone that works in tech 
• A programmer  

Online career fairs have become more common since 2019 and are typically organized by associations, colleges, or companies. 

Where Can I Find a Virtual Career Fair?

To find a virtual job fair, there is one obvious place to start searching. The internet. 

However, you have to know which corners of the World Wide Web to find these types of meetups. 

Here are some examples: 

• Google Search: A quick search on Google will usually find you a virtual event in the near future.
• Social Media: Companies are typically active on social media and will mention any job fair they are taking part in. This is especially true for LinkedIn. 
• Academic Advisor or Career Counselor: If you are a student, your advisor will often be able to tell you where to look. 

Finding a virtual career fair isn’t that difficult. However, you should also ask the right questions to ensure the fair is relevant to what you are looking for. 

How To Prepare for a Remote Job Fair 

When on the job hunt, it’s always a bad idea to just wing it. That’s also the case for career fairs. 

Preparation is key, so read our tips below to organize yourself for a virtual fair the right way. 

Update your resume

Before you attend a virtual job fair, ensure your resume is up-to-date and relevant. If you have not updated it recently, now is a good time.

Use an online resume builder to create a professional-looking document that can be easily shared with employers.

This will save you time when it comes time for employers to review your credentials and decide whether they want to reach out for an interview.

Research the companies

Find out which companies will be present at the fair and what positions they want to be filled.

Try to learn as much as you can about:

• Job title and description: Learn as much as you can about an open position that appeals to you. 
• Company culture: Find out if the company’s values match your own. 

Researching these topics can also help you create relevant questions. 

Choose which companies are most important 

When you are creating your event, be sure to list the companies that you want to target. 

Save the best for last, that way you can practice with recruiters of companies that you aren’t that interested in first. 

If you feel you have a better chance of being hired by a certain company, or you agree with their culture, try to speak with them at the end.

Make your online profile stand out

Make an online profile. Your photo should be professional and up-to-date, and with a professional photo.

Your professional profile bio is important as it will give a brief introduction to recruiters. 

Ensure that your skills and work experience are easy to follow and understand on your profile, just like you would have them on your resume.

Rehearse your elevator pitch

Your elevator pitch is a quick verbal introduction of who you are and what you do, so it’s critical to know how to deliver it confidently and effectively.

Practice saying your elevator pitch out loud until it feels natural. It’s also a good idea to rehearse with a friend, that can even ask you a follow-up question. 

Pro-tip: Try to customize your elevator pitch for each company you talk with so that it’s not a generic introduction. 

5 Things To Do During a Remote Job Fair

Now that you have properly prepared yourself for whatever the job fair throws at you, there are some things you should keep in mind to ensure you make a great impression.

Having a great cover letter and resume is essential, but recruiters also study how you conduct yourself and how organized you are while you’re having a conversation. 

Go over the tips below to ensure you land an interview after the job fair. 

Dress for success

Although you’ll only be on camera, you should dress professionally.

Consider wearing the following:

• Button-down shirt 
• Blazer 
• Suit
• Dress

Even if recruiters won’t see your legs, it’s a good idea to wear pants or a skirt that you would wear to the office as well. 

Ask relevant questions

Asking the right questions can help you learn about the company and understand the position better. 

Here are some sample questions you can ask:

• What are your biggest challenges?
• What would be my most important responsibilities?
• How would you describe the culture of your team?
• Are there any projects or initiatives I could be involved in from day one that would allow me to take a leadership role and make a difference?

Have good manners

It’s essential to be respectful and courteous when you speak with a hiring manager or recruiter. 

If you’ve never done an online interview, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Remain focused: When you’re on a video call, it’s easy to get distracted by your surroundings or lost in thought about what you want to say next. 
• Don’t talk over the interviewer. This is a pretty simple one: if someone is speaking, then wait until they’re finished before responding or asking questions of your own.
• Always look at the camera: It is distracting for a recruiter if you are looking away from the camera. Remember, they want to speak to you face to face. 
• Avoid talking about salary: When everything else has been decided upon and both parties are comfortable, that is the moment to discuss financial matters.

Keep your resume on standby

When you register for a virtual job fair, have your resume ready to send as soon as the event begins. 

You never know when an employer might reach out and want to schedule an interview or get more information about your hard or soft skills or your experience.

Having that information ready will make it easier for them to contact you if they like what they see in your background.

It also shows you’re an organized person. Don’t keep a recruiter waiting if they ask for something. 

Talk about the next steps

Once you’ve finished interviewing with a company, it’s important to ask the interviewer if they have any questions. 

This will show them that you are interested in the position and allows them to ask you any pressing questions before making a decision.

After thanking your interviewer for their time, be sure to ask about how and when you should follow up with them about the next steps in the process. 

If they don’t give you an answer straight away about an interview, send them a follow-up email about a week later to touch base. 

If you have done all of these things before and during the virtual career fair, you’ll most likely be able to land an interview with at least one company. Doing your research, ensuring you are organized, and updating your resume will guarantee that you stand out at a virtual job fair.

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