A career fair, also known as a job expo, has traditionally been the method for job seekers to explore their options. Employers searching for quality help enjoy these events, as well.
Maybe you’re hoping to find the job of your dreams, or you’re on the other side as an employer looking for intriguing candidates. Either way, a career fair is a smart opportunity to take advantage of.
But now that the world has gone virtual, many of these events have moved to online functions instead.
Is a virtual career fair worth the time and effort? Absolutely!
These events made the switch for safety purposes, but now virtual venues are the preferred hosting medium. If you’re considering joining one, these advantages will convince you to go.
1. They’re Convenient
If you have to get dressed up and drive to a job fair, you’re losing a lot of other chances for productivity in your day.
Between the preparation, distance, traffic, and time spent trying to find your way around, the day is gone before you know it. And only part of that time was spent networking.
It’s easy to convince yourself not to go when you know the day is going to run like that. But if you can roll out of bed, get dressed, and head to your computer, the convenience makes the process much more productive.
2. You Can Streamline Your Search
Preparing for a career fair helps you streamline who you’ll talk to, where they are located, and how to make the most of your time. A virtual fair works the same way, but you don’t have to think about location logistics.
Since most of your connections will be made through a chat box, getting to know the attendees minimizes your search time.
If you’re a potential employee, read through the list of employers who will be there and prep your CV or resume accordingly. Save each document with a clear name that tells you who to send it to. Then, when you’re connecting with that company, you can quickly submit it for them to review.
Streamlining your search ahead of time also gives you the chance to write out questions. When you’re in the moment in person, it’s common to draw a blank and forget.
If you are given a tentative job offer during this time, they should have a contract template accessible. Ask for a chance to review the contract terms and schedule a time to reconnect after the fair.
3. You May Be More Comfortable
Not everyone is comfortable around strangers or in large crowds. A job expo is full of both of these.
You might be less nervous from the anonymity of your computer. Your conversation will flow naturally, making you more impressive and articulate.
Because you took time to prepare questions and get a little background on each person you’re interested in talking to, you’re also going to be more confident.
4. You’ll See More People Attending
The same reasons you’re more likely to attend a virtual career fair attract others, too. Job seekers and employers outside of the geographic radius will be at the expo.
While this means more competition, it can be a good thing. If you don’t have your sights set on working in one particular city, you can interview with employers all over the world. You may have to relocate, or they could have remote job openings.
However, these same employers are less likely to invest the resources and time into heading to your local career fair if they’re on the other side of the country (or globe).
5. It’s More Cost-Effective
A virtual career fair is more cost-effective for everyone. The hosts of the fair don’t have the logistics and overhead expenses to deal with.
They still have advertising, marketing, and digital aspects. Cutting back on the physical requirements lets them put more of their budget into the virtual components.
As mentioned earlier, it’s also more efficient for remote companies and job searchers. They don’t have to invest in transportation, lodging, and meals or miss work to attend the virtual expo.
With more attendees as a main attraction, you’ll be the one who gets to benefit. Your job-hunting process could be completed after one virtual career fair.
Conclusion
Remote meetings are now an accepted method of communication everywhere. Virtual fairs are the next in a long line of events to take advantage of this digital connection.
With so many benefits to an online career expo, your dream job could be on the other side of the computer screen waiting for you.