How to Organize a Virtual Job Fair?

The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally shifted the way in which people work. Since 2020, virtual events in general have tremendously increased in popularity, as have virtual job fairs. Chances are, that’s only going to continue. Not surprising, since the majority of job searches start online.

What is a virtual job fair?

A virtual job fair is an online event that allows networking between job seekers and potential employers. The entire event takes place online. Virtual job fairs are safe, cost-effective, and not limited by geographical restrictions, therefore providing access to a wider talent pool. The virtual format also gives event participants access to far more data. By accessing job seekers’ profiles and resumes before having a meeting, employers can personalize their job offers and streamline the hiring process.

The rising popularity of virtual job fairs brought a huge range of virtual job fair platforms entering the market inspired by the need for online solutions. A good virtual job fair software can help event organizers and recruiters discover new ways of connecting employers and candidates in the virtual environment. And, it is also more affordable to host, therefore also saving recruiters and job seekers time and money.

Preparation, planning, promotion and a good online job fair software ensure success. Consider the following steps to make certain your job fair runs smoothly.

1. Make a plan

Before choosing the right virtual job fair platform, you need to first develop your event strategy and create a plan. This includes determining the number of attendees you want, how many days will the job fair last, which organizations and businesses you might invite and how you want to promote the fair to potential participants. You also need to define your event budget. Although virtual job fair platforms are cost-effective, you still need to count it in the overall budget.

2. Choose the right virtual job fair software

Now you are ready to choose the job fair platform that will ease your event organizing. Since there are so many different platforms available on the market, it is essential to do thorough research before deciding and, if possible, book a demo to try it out for yourself. Some of the basic features to look for include live streams, chat rooms, branded booths, and job boards.

To determine which platform fits your needs best, it's important to consider two main things. First and most important is the stability of the platform. With an event organized for hundreds of people, you don’t want glitches. Good event customer support before, during, and after the event is essential.

Of course, it is as important to select the platform with the right set of features that will effectively allow participants to interact with one another. AI event matchmaking is a popular solution to this concern in the event tech industry.

The b2match AI Meeting Recommender system uses actual machine learning algorithms that process large amounts of data in order to recommend interesting profiles to every participant, all while remaining GDPR compliant. Job seekers and recruiters naturally produce this data through their profile details and by simply using the platform. While gathering data, the algorithm is also processing it at the same time. This continuous cycle allows it to find out what each participant is interested in. Once the recommendations are generated, they are ready to be presented to participants. This stimulates engagement and interactions at a virtual job fair.

Whatever your desired objectives and goals are, the virtual job fair software you select must have the tools necessary to achieve them.

3. Design your virtual job fair

Here is where the real work starts. Get familiar with the software with the help of your customer success manager, create your event website, set up registration, and start working on defining the content you will offer to your participants.

Perhaps you will approach external speakers and utilize the integrated video conferencing and live-streaming features to attract a bigger audience. You might also consider creating materials to make available for your participants to download before, during and after the event. Great quality content can sometimes make a real difference and add more value to your job fair.

Tip: Be sure to test your registration form to ensure it works smoothly before releasing it to the public.

4. Promote your event

Once your registration is up and running, you can start enforcing your marketing plan and promoting your virtual job fair. Be proactive and use any media that fits your target audience. Some of the most popular ways to promote your job fairs are through email or social media. The b2match virtual job fair software has many email templates you can use in your communication with the attendees. It is also easy to integrate Walls.io into the platform by simply adding the link of your created social wall to your event's configuration. The social wall will allow you to add a page to your event website which is essentially a social feed full of posts supporting and promoting your event. Authentic experiences shown in real time.

5. Engage with your participants

Increase engagement by staying in touch with your attendees even after they sign up. Keep your attendees well-informed. Push notifications on a virtual job fair platform can help remind your recruiters to go through the participant list and book interviews with suitable job seekers. Emails can be used to remind job seekers to upload their CVs and create an attractive participant profile.

Tip: Prompt attendees to test their devices and internet connection before the event to ensure everything works perfectly on the day of the event.

6. Go live!

Before the event day, test everything on your virtual event networking platform. This is especially important for some of the elements like live streaming, Q&A sessions, webinars, recordings, or other areas where you must prevent any technical issues.

Once your event goes live, monitor the performance metrics and get real-time feedback from your attendees. A virtual job fair software provides you with better analytics allowing you to clearly show the fair’s ROI. Make sure you know your recruiters and job seekers are satisfied at every stage of the event. Keep in touch with your participant to resolve any problems they have.

7. Follow-up right after the event

Saying thank you or asking for feedback after the event is essential to create a long-lasting connection with your attendees. This is also an excellent time to share any recorded videos or resources your attendees will benefit from.

Of course, the event planning process always carries the risk of technical issues you might encounter along the way. This is why it is important to choose a reliable virtual job fair software with professional event customer support. b2match, the virtual job fair software that specializes in event matchmaking, gives you all the tools you need to organize a virtual job fair, including your dedicated customer success manager who is there to make sure your event is a success. Book a demo or talk to our event experts to learn more.