How to Prepare for a Virtual Career Fair
With increasing popularity in virtual career fairs, this new experience can be daunting at first. We have broken down how to prepare for a virtual career fair so you can attend with confidence and walk away with desired results.
This guide will walk you through what to expect before, during, and after a virtual career fair.
Before Virtual Career Fair
Research
Research ahead of time which companies will be attending and specific job postings that you are interested in. Once you have identified these opportunities, take the time to further research them (i.e. company values, new product launches, company mission). Draft some thoughtful questions to ask recruiters based on the information you have researched — this will demonstrate your interest in the company and how knowledgeable you are.
Based on the research you have done, rank the attending companies to maximize your time during the career fair. We would suggest taking this a step further and creating a timed plan for which company booths, workshops, and 1:1 chats you plan on attending.
Prepare for Career Fair Networking
The thought of networking may seem very intimidating, but the virtual career fair experience will allow you to network from the comfort of your own home!
Prepare a short elevator pitch of yourself that you can use when introducing yourself to recruiters. This pitch can consist of your name, school, program, anticipated graduation date, and relevant experiences. You can tailor your pitch based on the company and position you are interested in to stand out as a candidate.
Take the time to update your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn, and any other relevant platform. Ensure to read details provided by the organizers of the career fair, as you may have the option of uploading your resume to the platform. Be prepared to have a resume PDF and links available for recruiters if they ask for any information on the spot. Check out our articles How to: Network at a Career Fair, YNCN’s Student Resume Guide, and How to Build Your Online Presence for more information.
Test Platform and Technology
Log into the virtual career fair platform before the career fair in order to familiarize yourself. This will help you feel more confident on the day of the career fair if you are already comfortable with the technology! Some platforms allow attendees to fill out additional information on their profile — logging in ahead of time would allow you to complete this at your own pace.
Testing the audio and video capabilities ahead of time would avoid technology issues during the career fair. Check that your camera and microphone are working in a quiet and well-lit environment.
During Virtual Career Fair
Read the Room
Depending on the virtual platform used, when you join a company booth you may be entering a video chat that has already started. Before introducing yourself, take a moment to see if there is already a conversation going on or any key information posted by the recruiters in the chat. Different companies may facilitate their virtual career fair booths in different ways. While you wait for an appropriate time to introduce yourself, take notes based on what other students are asking to develop additional questions.
It is also important to keep in mind some standard video call etiquette such as muting your microphone when you are not speaking and turning on your camera if possible for a more personable interaction.
Introduce Yourself and Stand Out
It is time to showcase your personal pitch that you spent time preparing for! Be ready to have a conversation with the recruiter about the company and position(s) you are interested in. Keep in mind that the recruiter only knows the information you have shared in your personal pitch so make connections between your experiences and the role you are interested in. This is the time to ask the thoughtful questions you have drafted beforehand, learn more about the company, and confirm any important application details.
If you would like to turn on your camera while chatting with recruiters, ensure that you are dressed to impress. Pick out an outfit that you are comfortable in and is professional. Be aware of your body language throughout conversations as this is part of the image you are communicating to the recruiter.
After Virtual Career Fair
Follow up
Follow up with recruiters you met to thank them for their time and further express your interest (via LinkedIn or email). Additionally, let the recruiter know if you are planning on submitting an application!
As recruiters meet many candidates during career fairs, make sure you include the highlights of your conversation so they have something specific to remember you by. When sending connection requests on LinkedIn, consider including a note with the context of the career fair you attended to refresh their memory. Adding recruiters on LinkedIn is great for future opportunities and growing your network.
Track Your Applications
With many deadlines for different positions, it is difficult to keep track of all applications and next steps. We recommend setting up a tracker for yourself to organize all application deadlines and steps! This way all the research and deadlines you need to be aware of are organized in a central location.
Make the most of the time you spend preparing and attending the virtual career fair!
Additional Resources
Here are some additional resources that you can take a look at:
