15 Career Fair Tips For Employers Looking to Attract Top Talent

Careers fairs hold plenty of benefits for employers and job seekers. Employers have the opportunity to meet potential candidates and fill an open position. Applicants get the chance to interact and network with their future employers.

Job fairs are often filled with many other companies and competitors. They have the same goals as your business — to find the best candidates. You must ensure your booth stands out and your team has all the right information.

Whether you are a seasoned career fair exhibitor or it is your first time having your own booth, here are 15 career fair tips for employers looking to attract top talent.

1. Know Your Audience

Before you get started, determine the audience who will be at the career fair. Consider where the event will take place. Is it a university career fair or an event open to the public? Is the job fair industry-specific, or will it cater to various job seekers? This will help you identify your chances of finding qualified candidates.

Knowing your target audience will help you know which candidates to search for. Assess whether you are trying to fill an entry-level position or want to hire an applicant for a senior role.

2. Advertise the Event Online

Market the career fair once you confirm you’ll be exhibiting and include your booth number and job openings. Use your social media sites and website to post helpful information to everyone who wants to attend. This will create interest in the job fair and your brand. Here are a few fair tips to help you market the event:

• Provide the time and location.
• Use catchy captions to create interest.
• Create captivating images providing useful information.
• Tell applicants to come prepared with questions to promote valuable interactions.

3. Create Your Marketing and Printed Material

Job fairs are a good idea to market your brand and interact with potential candidates in your field. It allows applicants to ask questions about the industry and extra skills needed to land the job. Your marketing material also creates brand awareness. Design and implement the following marketing materials in advance:

• Name tags: Create a name tag for all your team members present. It will make it easier to network with attendees.
• Brochures: Provide applicants with a brochure highlighting your company’s values and culture. They can also provide contact details for attendees.
• T-shirts: Create a unified, professional look with matching shirts, jackets or vests. Use your company colors and logos to promote your brand.
• Business cards: Issue attendees and applicants with business cards with your contact information. This is a small, impactful way to get people to contact you.

4. Stand Out With Promotional Materials

Career fairs are a great way to provide promotional items to job seekers. Add your logo and use company colors to create customized promotional materials. Make a lasting impression with useful giveaways applicants can use instead of storing away.

There is a wide range of career fair items you can provide. Some are costlier than others. Create a budget and ensure you have enough material for everyone visiting your booth. You can hand out branded pens and drawstring bags to those attending the event. Find inspiration for your next job fair with these promotional items:

• Tote bags
• Webcam covers
• Sunglasses
• Custom earbuds
• USB flash drives
• Lanyards
• Bottles and tumblers
• Mousepads
• Hand sanitizers

5. Arrive at the Career Fair Early

Give yourself and your team enough time to set up before the event. This will help you be more prepared to interact with job seekers. If you set up early, it lets you and the team do last-minute preparations and meetings. Use our career fair tips for employers to help you plan your vital hours before the event:

• Make travel arrangements: Everyone can meet at the venue if the venue is in your area. But if the venue is in another city or is a distance to travel to, consider having your team travel together so everyone arrives at the venue at the same time.
• Consider the time and route: Determine what time you want to get to the venue. Estimate what would be a suitable time to head out to your destination. Consider traffic and map out your route. This ensures that you take the ideal route to get to the venue on time.

6. Create an Outstanding Booth

There will be countless other booths and tables at the career fair. You have to ensure your space stands out to potential candidates. It should be manageable but memorable to lead qualified job seekers to your team. Below are some helpful fair tips to help you set up your booth:

Venue Specifications

Find out what the specifications and restrictions are from the event organizers. This ensures you adhere to the venue requirements. Ask them about the dos and don’ts to prevent breaking any rules.

Decor To Create an Eye-Catching Booth

Plan the right decor to stand out to applicants. If you are against a wall, consider adding a banner wall or custom table and floor displays next to your table. Use a custom tablecloth with your brand logo and colors to market your business. You can also use screens to provide useful information and attract attendees.

Equipment You Need to Set Up

Gather the necessary equipment at your booth besides your promotional and marketing material. Ask the event organizer if they will offer tables, chairs or technical equipment to help you set up. If not, you need to arrange suitable transport to ensure you have your own. Equipment can include:

• Pens
• Notebooks
• Laptop and power supply
• Paper trays or boxes for resumes
• Extension cords
• Adaptor plugs
• Table
• Chairs

7. Decide Who Will Be On Your Team

Create a diverse team who will assist you at the job fair. Get people who usually screen candidates for open positions. They have the knowledge that can help you choose the best candidates. Consider having the hiring manager or the team leader at the job fair. These experts can answer complex questions or conduct a quick interview. Depending on the size of your booth, try to have at most five people on your team.

Careers fairs can last for hours, so you need to have enough people at your booth. You can rotate your staff to allow everyone to take a break without leaving the table unattended.

8. Set a Plan of Action

Divide the responsibilities and positions of your team members before the fair to ensure everyone knows what to do and that all duties are handled. Consider your team members’ strengths when assigning tasks. Some staff speak to candidates well, whereas others are good at managing resumes and promotional items.

Determine who will transport the equipment and staff, set up the booth and get the extra items you didn’t plan for. Cover all your bases to have a successful career fair.

9. Stand in Front of Your Table

Show your enthusiasm by standing at your table. One team member can sit at the laptop helping applicants. Ensure the rest of the group is up and speaking to potential candidates. There are a few essential things to remember:

• You should have someone present at the booth at all times.
• Refrain from using your phone while speaking to attendees.
• Greet everyone passing and stopping by your table.

Job fairs can be intimidating for first-time applicants or graduates. Attendees might need help figuring out what to ask. Be friendly and inviting to everyone who stops by. If attendees are hesitant to head to your booth, you can approach them and start a conversation. Help them feel at ease and assure them they could be one step away from finding a job prospect.

10. Provide Information About Your Company and Open Positions

Candidates want to know who you are and vital information about the job openings. Each member must know what to say and what information to share. Be transparent about your company’s requirements so attendees know what to expect. Information you must come prepared with include:

• Available positions at your company.
• Entry requirements and primary responsibilities.
• Department and teams they will work with.
• The company’s culture and values.
• Services you provide.
• Things that make your company unique.

11. Prepare a List of Talking Points

Careers fairs are about effective interactions that help you find the best candidates. Prepare a list of talking points to encourage meaningful conversation. You don’t have to ask all your questions, but having a starting point can allow the conversation to flow. It will help you lead into your questions.

Acknowledge the location to create talking points directed to your audience. Ask them pre-qualifying questions to understand who can be a potential fit.

For example, you might ask the following at university and college career fairs:

• What are you studying?
• What year are you in?
• What are your plans after you graduate?
• What do you do apart from your studies (work part-time/ volunteer, etc)?

You could ask questions like these at public career fairs:

• Which qualification do you have?
• What experience do you have?
• What position are you interested in?

12. Plan Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Questions

While you may have talking points lined up, job seekers have a few questions too. These can be ‘frequently asked questions’ or questions that may catch you off guard. No matter what they are, answer all questions. Remember, they have a clear goal in mind too. Provide them with the right answers to make them a fitting job prospect.

Be mindful of the answers you give. You represent your company and want to create a positive image. If you need the right answers, refer them to the hiring manager on your team. Some questions candidates may ask include:

• What is the hiring process?
• What are the duties and responsibilities?
• Is there an opportunity for growth and development in the position?
• How has your experience been at the company?
• What is the company culture like?
• What do you like about the company?
• What challenges have you faced in the company?
• How can I get in touch with you after the career fair?

13. Provide Candidates With the Next Step in the Application

Decide whether you will be accepting resumes at the job fair. If not, provide attendees with the following steps to apply for the position. Place an email address on your brochure or business cards to which job seekers can send their resumes. Give potential candidates a chance to complete the application at the career fair. Set up a laptop and have a team member assist them.

If you are accepting resumes, make sure to take a look at them while the candidate is there. Take this opportunity to read through the resume to assess if they are the right fit. Ask questions about their experience and qualifications. Once done, place the resume in a paper tray or box for safekeeping.

14. Gather Feedback

Gathering feedback from your team is one of the vital tips for employers attending career fairs. It will help you assess how well the career fair went and the potential candidates to choose from. Feedback will help you identify what changes to make going into your next job fair.

Review the resumes of the candidates who impressed you at the event. Get everyone’s opinions and assess who they think is best suited for the position and company. The hiring team can determine the next step with the list of the best candidates. Gather feedback right after the event so you can promptly move to the next step in the hiring process.

Make a list of all the potential candidates you want to recruit. Identify which candidates match well to the open positions. If a candidate impressed you but is a student, consider them for future open positions.

15. Follow Up With Potential Candidates

Attendees are excited that they have met you at the career fair, so follow up with them as soon as possible to inform them if you are proceeding with their application. Ideally, you want to follow up within a day or two. Avoid keeping candidates waiting for an answer — they might decline job prospects while waiting for a reply from your company.

If a candidate impressed you, chances are they also impressed a few other businesses at the fair. Get them on board while you still can. Provide more information, including how long the hiring process is or the start date for the job. Let the candidates know what to expect from the hiring process. This includes:

• Written interviews.
• One-on-one or panel interviews.
• Online tests or practical assessments.

Browse ePromos Career Fair Promotional Items

Make a great first impression on potential candidates with promotional items from ePromos. We provide custom promotional material to help your brand stand out with items job seekers can use. Add your brand to the booth display and to quality items, from tote bags to tumblers.

We provide services to a range of industries, including health care and education. You can access large quantities for your entire team or group for a specific event or season.

Browse our wide range of products today or contact us for more details. We are always ready to help.