Hiring Fairs –  they can work if done right.

Introduction

Hire Fairs are growing in popularity, especially as the economy improves. The benefit of attending Hire Fairs is that you can meet multiple candidates in one place. By doing so, you can attract more people to your company or organization by offering a central location where the candidates can meet with you one-on-one. This helps reduce travel time and costs for those looking for work, while allowing employers to easily find qualified talent through pre-screening before bringing them into the office for further interviews.

Biggest benefit for Hire Fairs is the immediacy.

For the most part, the appeal of going to a Hire Fair is the immediacy. There’s no need to schedule an interview, wait for a call back, or wait for a rejection letter. You can get right down to business and make it happen right there on the spot. In fact, if you’re really lucky you might even find yourself walking away with an offer before you’ve made it all the way home from your commute! How awesome would that be? Hiring managers are busy people too so why should they spend their time scheduling meetings with candidates when they could just as easily hire someone at one of these events? One thing’s for sure: The more people who show up on their turf during their event – and not yours – means that you have probably failed somewhere along your hiring process (or maybe even before).

If a screening has to be done, it’s usually done on the spot.

If a screening has to be done, it’s usually done on the spot. However, you can also decide to do it at a later time. This may be an option if you want more information about the candidate before hiring them. Or maybe you just want to make sure that they are still interested in working with your company before offering them the position. You may also decide that screening should happen over the phone rather than face-to-face or in person. For example, if you need someone who can speak English as a second language and have an accent but are not sure how strong their accent will be after many years living in Canada or America then perhaps having an interview via Skype might be better than trying to figure out whether this person will fit into your team culture by meeting them for coffee or lunch first hand.”

Hire Fairs are usually centrally located.

Hire Fairs are usually centrally located. This means that they are easy to reach from the surrounding area. Most Hire Fairs are held at a hotel or convention center, which makes them highly accessible for job seekers and employers alike. The location of these events is usually posted on the website or in an event listing so it will be easy for you to find them once you arrive there.

Target markets can vary, generally it’s for those that are in need of employment.

As with any other type of marketing, there is a group of people you want to target. In order to find out who that is and how to reach them, you need to do some research. Target markets can vary, generally it’s for those that are in need of employment. Target markets can be based on location, industry, education level, etc. Target markets can be based on what the company is looking for (i.e., tech companies may have a different target market than non-profit organizations).

Candidates will have opportunities to meet with the hiring manager directly.

At our hiring fairs, candidates will have the opportunity to meet with the hiring manager directly. This is a great opportunity for candidates to get a feel for the company and culture, as well as ask any questions they may have about the position. The hiring managers are also happy to make introductions between you and other members of your potential team!

Hire Fairs are generally friendly and engaging environments.

Most candidates are excited to be there, and the hiring manager is likely excited about the prospect of hiring someone new. As you start to set up your booth, think about how you can use some basic psychology to create a more positive experience for everyone. First off, make sure that all of your materials are highly visible but not overwhelming. Candidates will have plenty of time later on in the day to browse through everything if they want—but they shouldn’t have their attention snatched away from you by excessive signage or brochures.

There may be swag, donuts, coffee and other snacks to keep your energy levels going as you meet people.

There may be swag, donuts, coffee and other snacks to keep your energy levels going as you meet people. Snacks are a great way to keep energy levels up. Donuts are a great way to keep energy levels up. Coffee is a great way to keep energy levels up. Snacks and coffee are a great way to keep energy levels up.

People will often bring equipment like laptops, tablets and smartphones to make the interview process easier.

  • Bring a laptop, tablet or smartphone. It’s very likely that hiring managers will ask you to complete an interview form on their device. It’s also possible they may use it themselves to demonstrate the company’s software or website.
  • Bring pen and paper. You never know what questions they’ll have for you during the fair, so having something to write on is always helpful!
  • Bring a list of questions to ask them at the end of your interview (i.e., “Why do you like working here?”). This will help ensure that nothing gets left out during any part of this process—and if there are any lingering doubts about whether this job is right for them, those questions can help address them as well!

Prepare well before attending a Hire Fair!

  • Make sure you have a resume ready to go.
  • Prepare for the interview process.
  • Dress appropriately and be on time!
  • Bring all necessary equipment (if applicable). This includes everything from a pen and paper, to a laptop and mouse, or even some hardcopy resumes if you are still looking for your first job after graduating. If you don’t bring anything with you at all, then it could look like an oversight or lack of preparation on your part—and that’s never good! The same goes for any other equipment required by your potential employer; it’s best not to leave these things behind just in case they ask if there is anything else they need during the interview process.

Conclusion

If you’ve decided to hire new talent and are looking for the best way to do so, consider holding a hiring fair. This helps you reach out to candidates who might not have heard about your company or job opening before. It also allows them to learn about what working at your business would be like from those already employed there!

Michael Brethorst, MS

Chief Contributor

We provide practical and usable real world solutions to common and complex Healtcare and Human Resource questions. All of our articles are based in fact.

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