When talking about job opportunities, career fairs have become attractive places for the two sides of the equations to meet; on one side, there are companies looking for candidates to fulfill their job openings, and on the other side, stands job seekers in search for their dream careers.  Although there are mixed feelings about the real potential a career fair offers to both sides, it continues to entice both parties to participate at these kinds of venues.

In an effort to have their graduating students land a job, universities conduct career fairs at their own campuses.  These events are attended by prestigious companies that are, in most cases, invited by the university, or invite themselves by contacting the university and indicating a particular interest.

At career fairs, students have the opportunity to learn about companies in their specific field of interest while companies invest their money, time and efforts in pre-screening potential applicants for their line of work.  The following are things companies should do before and after a career fair to maximize the return of investment in this type of event.

 

Before the event:

  1. Make sure your booth is attractive and stands out from the rest. The use of alluring images and audiovisuals is recommended for quick and effective presentations. Remember that a good first impression is key. Prospect applicants will be more inclined to stop and find out more about a company that has caught their eye.
  2. Prepare souvenirs with your company logo. Job seekers tend to stop by and ask questions at stands that have something to give out. Souvenirs will not only make a good impression but also serve as a marketing strategy.
  3. Ensure personnel attending the booth are friendly and prepared to talk about your company. They must not hesitate to sell services and products.
  4. Conduct stand intelligence. Right before doors open to job seekers, designate personnel to visit other stands and learn how competitors are set up. Determine the differences to attract possible applicants.

After the event:

  1. Generate a precise list of contacts and potential candidates that visited your stand.
  2. Follow up with all new contacts and promising candidates generated during the career fair. Here is where the majority of the companies fail; having a list of potential candidates and not following up is like not having a list at all. When contacting people from your list, do not discard their contact even if they are not interested. Instead, move the contact information of those not interested to a “contact later” list.
  3. Set up job interviews with qualified and interested candidates as soon as possible. This will keep the applicant interested and motivated to continue with the next exposure.
  4. Evaluate the effectiveness of participating in the career fair by determining the number of people on your list, follow-ups, and job placements.