A virtual careers fair is an event bringing employers and job seekers together in an online environment as opposed to a physical one. It works in exactly the same way as a traditional careers fair you might attend at your university, but just involves interaction with employers through your laptop or computer from the convenience of home.
What Does It Entail?
To participate in a virtual careers fair, you will usually have to register, create an online profile and upload your CV. Once completed, you can access the fair through any device from any location in the world, and just like a traditional careers fair you can browse exhibitor booths, network with others, look at job boards and apply for jobs. Interaction with employers with take place through the likes of live chats, presentations, webcasts, polls and more, however this will vary from fair to fair.
Where and How Can I Find One?
To find out about virtual careers fairs that may be applicable to you, look on your university website, careers service, and local training organisations. The National Careers Service have also been hosting virtual job fairs for each region of England, so to see when the next virtual careers fair relating to jobs in your area may be, follow the National Careers Service.
What are the Benefits?
You Can Attend from Anywhere
As long as you have a sufficient internet connection, you can attend a virtual careers fair from anywhere in the world. It means you eliminate the hassle of travelling to a physical event, saving time and money that may have even prohibited you attending in the first place. Furthermore, with Covid-19 still restricting events, it means you can still attend a careers fair that may have been cancelled.
Virtual Careers Fairs Can Be More Targeted than Traditional Ones
As jobseekers usually have to register to attend an event, many virtual careers fairs ‘pre-qualify’ entrants to make sure they have the necessary qualifications or experience applicable for the positions being advertised. This means you won’t have to worry about fighting with unqualified applicants for time to engage with employers.
Time to Prepare and Impress
Being online, you will usually know the list of employers attending before the event. This provides you with time to research the companies who you most want to engage with and prepare what you want to say. As you will be engaging in an online capacity it may mean less stress than having a face-to-face conversation, removing the possibility of stumbling over your words and forgetting what you wanted to say.
Provides a More Agile Exchange of Information
Being online, employers are able to share a lot more information with jobseekers including media like corporate videos, photo galleries, presentations and FAQs. It provides you with a deeper insight into the employer’s business, something that physical fairs may not be able to provide due to time and resource limitations.
Ultimately Land Yourself a Job
Many employers attending a virtual careers fair may be looking to recruit on the day of the event. With a form of application process upon registration, virtual careers fairs help speed up the hiring process for employers. This means that although you may think it is simply a great way to network and find out a bit more about opportunities available, it also provides the chance of being hired for a role there and then.
To find a virtual jobs fair relating to careers near you, visit the National Careers Service on twitter.
If you are looking for more information relating to help, support and opportunities in your area, visit our page, dedicated to assisting you with just that.
