Thanks to the covid-19 pandemic, the in-person hiring process was obligated to bend with the waves and go online. New strategies and tactics for hiring freshers came into place. Campus career fairs have had to take the support of Virtual Career Fair Platforms to host the event online so that students could attend in large numbers from the safety of their homes.
Similarly, there are various kinds of online platforms available to conduct events online, for example, Virtual Property Fair Platforms and Virtual Trade Fair Platform facilitate buyers to look through properties and products online, via an online fair. On a Virtual Job Fair Platform, like Dreamcast, however, companies with comparatively lower brand awareness would not be able to attract as many candidates as those brands with high consumer awareness. That is why there are a few things that can be done to step up the brand’s virtual fair to attract a larger number of candidates.
Lay some groundwork:
Reach out to various universities before the event. Conduct mini workshops and debates to spread brand consciousness so that when the students attend the main event, they are familiar with the brand and more students will be keen to work with the company. One day with a ten-hour event is not enough to familiarize candidates with the brand which is why reaching out to the students or desirable candidates beforehand would lead to a better turnout.
Scale up to get the cream:
Candidates with the most up-to-date resumes with good courses and internships backing them up often do well. Similarly, good companies that have a good brand image, reputation and attractive job offer manage to capture the attention of the top talent. One way to do this would be by making the brand more reachable; distributing various kinds of pamphlets and brochures, using social media to post informative videos, conduct workshops, and seminars or webinars and live Q and A sessions. This will help to effectively showcase the company, its work culture, identity, and goals for future growth.
Networking tools:
In an offline setting, it’s easy to swap phone numbers or social media handles, however, on a Virtual Fair Platform it might be a little harder. The whole point of a Virtual Job Fair is to associate an employer with prospective employees and that can’t happen if the event is not equipped with the right tools. That is why it is essential to understand the facilities and tools the platform offers so that it can be put to use in the event and effectively connect job-seekers and employers. Usage of text-based chatting options, audio, and video communication allows employers to easily seek out new talent and thus enabling on-the-spot screening.
Dynamic webinars:
A university student’s day is full of coursework, virtual meetings to facilitate group activities, and family time leaving them with some time for themselves. This thus makes it harder to attend more events like live career fairs. Therefore, posting content from the career fair on demand would help to gain more attention from job-seeking candidates as they would be able to go through the media at their convenience. By including polls, surveys and quizzes two-way communication between the employer and job seeker can be enabled.
Freebies:
There is nothing more a college or university student would appreciate than a free tote bag or a pouch or any kind of merchandise from the brand. This helps give the applicants something to remember the event by and thus increases the chances of them applying. It also helps further brand image among the other classmates and increases the number of attendees for future events.
Simplicity is key:
As mentioned before, college students already have a lot on their plate which is why having a complicated application process might deter them from applying to the company. The team must go through the Virtual Career Fair Platform and the application portal so that they are familiar with the software, the shortcuts, and the facilities provided. This way they are comfortable with operating it from their end as well as, directing students efficiently on how to attend and follow the event and submit their applications, along with being able to successfully clear their doubts or anxieties that might come in the way.
WCAG compliant:
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines or the WCAG guidelines are basically a set of suggestions set to make online content more accessible to those who are disabled. It covers a wide range of impairments and disabilities like deafness, vision impairment, learning disabilities, cognitive and speech limitations, and others. All university students should be allowed a chance to grow, no one should be left behind or treated unfairly, which is why virtual career fairs and application or screening processes should be WCAG compliant. It will allow fairgrounds for all students to be able to see what jobs suit their skill-set and put their best foot forward.
Keep the buzz:
To keep the stream of applicants coming in, it is necessary to keep the event going. While it’s physically impossible to keep on live streaming, there are ways to keep the discussion on or keep candidates talking about it. One way could be through social media. By creating a Twitter wall and hashtags students who attend the event can communicate with each other and the company. It works well, considering college students have their own phones and access to their own social media accounts where most of them maintain an active profile. This makes it easier for employers to reach out to them during and after the event is over.
Conclusion
Companies and corporations might see them as risky as it’s relatively new and a good turnout is not guaranteed but college students are equally nervous and under pressure from their universities and families, therefore it might be a good idea for the team to take things slow so everyone is comfortable, and the event is successful.
