VIRTUAL CAREER FAIRS: NO SOCIAL DISTANCING NECESSARY
By Margaret Walshe, Learning Specialist, Publicis Health
When the COVID-19 global pandemic began to shut down much of the world in March 2020, a majority of people had to quickly alter their lives through social distancing and isolation to ensure the health and safety of themselves and others. Many in the corporate world shifted to full-time working from home, while many college students around transitioned to full-time online courses.
For students looking to pursue careers in the corporate world after graduation, the recruitment process has been transformed, as well. Student candidates now are challenged with meeting recruiters via video conferencing or chat boxes.
Another key component of the job search—career fairs—also has been altered by the new virtual working world. Traditional, in-person career fairs have largely been replaced by virtual career fairs. In times B.C. (Before COVID-19), career fairs consisted of rows of six-foot-long tables, seas of recruiters, and sometimes upwards of 500 students searching for their dream job. There was pressure for a flawless handshake and a pile of printed résumés to be distributed to others.
Fast forward to the present, and students are expected to stand out among the career fair crowd from behind a computer screen. Students have hung up their best business attire and now rock the signature quarantine uniform: a blazer paired with sweatpants.
If you’re a job-seeking student who is daunted by the virtual career fair process, you may be asking, “How do I put my best foot forward to organizations at a virtual fair, when I may never meet that person ... in-person?”
Virtual career fairs aren’t just the wave of the future, they are today’s reality. Although it’s largely unchartered territory and seems vastly different from what many are used to, it’s important to recognize the similarities and solutions that exist for you to be equally as successful over Zoom as you would be in person.
Since it’s impossible to completely eliminate the stress you may be feeling about the job search, here is some advice if you’re planning to attend a virtual career fair.
Go to the beginning of the fair if you can.
As the adage goes, the early bird gets the worm. In the case of career fairs, the early bird gets to meet the most engaged recruiters. Career fairs are long affairs—even in a remote setting—and recruiters often talk to many students over the span of four hours. By the end of the day, students’ faces and credentials start to blur together for the recruiters. By heading to a virtual booth, scheduling a one-on-one meeting with a recruiter, or attending a group session closer to the start of a career fair, you will get to meet recruiters while they’re fresh and you’ll have their fuller attention.
Being tech-savvy matters.
Since interactions with employers are through a computer screen, your communication skills are more important than ever. From exceptional grammar in the chat box, to ensuring that your audio and video functions properly prior to the start of the fair, the smallest details can help or hurt employers’ perceptions of you. Also, use your time wisely. Just because you’re sitting behind a monitor doesn’t mean you can’t share your résumé. Always have a link to your résumé readily available and send it through the chat box during your conversations with employers.
Your background says a lot about you—make it memorable for the right reasons.
Attending a virtual fair means employers get a glimpse into your life on a whole new level—your home. Limiting distractions in your background is important, but it’s also a unique opportunity to share something about yourself. It’s worthwhile to consider strategically adding a single item to your background that could be a conversation starter. It could be a guitar if you’re a musician. It could be your favorite movie poster hung on your dorm room wall. Or maybe you love to cook and have your best recipe book sitting on display (my personal guru is Ina Garten). Career fairs aren’t features in Architectural Digest, but they are an opportunity for you to make a great and memorable first impression with a prospective employer.
That said, employers are empathetic and understand that you can’t always be in the perfect setting for video conferencing. Everyone has their own hiccups or technology bugs that may pop up. So, if your dog barks, or your roommate walks in during your conversation—don't sweat it! And for the days when your backdrop is just not up to par, the “blur your background” feature on Zoom is a great solution.
Spot the company that is at the bottom of your list and meet with them first.
When you finish step one and arrive early, consider a one-on-one or group session where the stakes are low. Rip off the Band-Aid. You will have a low-stakes chance to practice your personal pitch, ask engaging questions, and understand the conversation flow of table talks.
Be a “Recruiter’s Pet." It’s actually a good thing.
In grade school, there’s a negative connotation to being the “Teacher’s Pet.” In the world of career fairs, this is not the case. Being the most engaged with recruiters and asking the most questions is the best way to make an impression. Virtual career fairs make it easy to be a wallflower, but it’s important to resist the urge to simply sit back and listen or watch while others ask the questions. Also, take advantage of platforms like Handshake, which allow you to set up individual chats during career fairs and give you more time with the recruiter.
Don’t be afraid to talk to employers at companies you don’t know.
In order to maximize your career fair experience, you should be strategic and thoughtful when deciding which organizations to visit. Researching companies ahead of time can make all the difference so you avoid asking questions like, “What does your company do?” But even if a company doesn’t have a renowned reputation compared to other companies at the fair, each company is seeking prospective talent to hire. Never rule out a “no-name” organization—the best opportunities are often unexpected.
While this list doesn’t solve all of the perils you may face as a job or internship seeker, keeping these points in mind can help you put your best foot forward. Attending a virtual career fair can have its limitations, but it also brings new opportunities. As you continue to navigate the unchartered waters of the virtual job search, remember that it’s not just the students figuring out these virtual career fairs, employers are still getting the hang of it, too!
Happy networking!
Margaret Walshe’s career has thrived over the past 5 years at Publicis Health on the Talent Programs Team. She has become a people development expert through her help in leading all Early Career development programs within Publicis Health agencies, including their Summer Internship Program. In addition to Learning & Development, Margaret also manages campus recruitment efforts and partnerships across the country. Outside of her role in Human Resources, Margaret serves as the national co-lead and founder for Publicis Groupe’s business resource group, GENNEXT, which is dedicated to developing young professionals and supporting the organization’s next generation of talent by providing guidance, empowerment, and specialized resources to young professionals by young professionals across the entire network. Connect with Margaret via LinkedIn.
