How to Crush a Virtual Job Fair

February through March is prime time for on-campus recruiting. Virtual job fairs are more popular than ever due to these pandemic times and many universities are having remote classes. In Fall 2021, 90% of employers reported they attended a virtual career fair compared to one-third previously, according to NACE, the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Virtual job fairs are an easy and convenient way to start conversations with potential employers and sharpen your interviewing skills. Here are some tips to help you stand out in the virtual crowd:

1.     Show LinkedIn some love

Make sure your profile on LinkedIn is up to date and optimized. “Consider LinkedIn as your personal brag board,” says Daniella Hartigan, Corporate Recruiting Manager, Collabera. This isn’t the place to keep it short. Your profile should serve as your portfolio with examples of past work, responsibilities, accomplishments, and awards. Space is not limited so having more details and keywords will deliver better rankings in search results. Before job fair events, recruiters are proactively searching LinkedIn for the best candidates and inviting them to connect before the event.

2.     Check in with your school

If you don’t hear about a job fair at your school, that could mean it's happening online. Dig a little deeper by taking a look at your school’s social media accounts to see when and if any virtual career fairs are scheduled.

3.     Do a tech check

Ensure your computer is set up, plugged in, or fully charged. Double check that Internet connection. Close any extra apps and silence your notifications to give your potential employer your full attention. Set the stage with a plain background so your interviewer looks at you and not your poster collection. 

4.     Look sharp and act sharper

It’s a potential job interview, so you still need to look your best in professional attire. That means a jacket and tie or blouse instead of a t-shirt. While speaking with the employers, make eye contact through the screen in order to create that personal connection. Pump up the energy so your enthusiasm comes across on screen, even if that means you need to have a cup of coffee or other caffeinated beverage right before. If you feel like you might be overdoing it, then it’s probably just right.

5.     Prep your Qs

Not only is a career fair the perfect opportunity for an employer to get to know you, but also the time for you to learn more about the company. Be prepared with some follow-up questions. Major themes our Collabera recruiters are ready to talk about when they go to career fairs: career progression and advancement, training and development offerings, mentorship opportunities, and corporate social responsibility goals. Think about aspects of a job that are important to you and ask how the employer matches up.

You got this.

Check out jobs at Collabera, a technology and talent solutions provider engineering the world’s best software and experiences. Our purpose is to enhance every life we touch through the power of human-centric technology. We work with 59% of the Fortune 100 companies to deliver innovation at the intersection of software engineering and human experiences.