We get it. In the grand scheme of things, attending a virtual career fair might not sound like the most exciting thing you could spend your time doing. As much as you’d like to get a good jump start on your job search, there’s a lot you could potentially be doing with your time. Understandably, you want to know what’s in it for you and what to expect from the overall experience.
You’ve come to the right place for finding those answers. There are several great reasons for taking the time to attend a virtual career fair, so we’ve asked Rasmussen University Career Services director Elizabeth Lintelman to give us a rundown of the highlights that make attending our virtual career fair a can’t-miss opportunity.
Why attend a virtual career fair? 7 clear-cut benefits to consider
Looking for good reasons to put your best foot forward at a virtual career fair? We’ve got you covered. Here’s why it can be worth your time.
1. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with several employers quickly
One of the most obvious benefits of attending any career fair is the concentrated number of employers all in one place. Instead of combing through job postings and applying to cherry-picked opportunities hoping to hear back, a virtual career fair gives you the ability to meet directly with several employers in a short amount of time and—if all goes well—make a positive impression that helps you stand out.
Additionally, a shifting job market may lead to potential opportunities found outside of your geographic area.
“Due to COVID-19, many employers are considering remote workers, which expands their talent pool to the entire country,” Lintelman says. “Virtual career fairs allow employers to connect directly with top candidates regardless of location.”
Lintelman notes that there will be up to 85 local, regional and national employers taking part in this year’s career fair. That concentration of potential employers alone makes this event worth your time and attention.
2. You may find unexpected opportunities
Lintelman says one of the most common mistakes new job seekers make is rushing to judgment about a potential employer and assuming they won’t be a good fit.
“Too often, I hear job seekers say that they chose not to engage with an employer because they didn't think that they had employment opportunities that aligned with their field of study,” Lintelman says. “This couldn't be further from the truth. For example, if you think about major hospital systems, they also employ individuals with Business, Health Sciences, Criminal Justice, Technology and Education degrees.”
A virtual career fair provides a great opportunity to learn more about the less-obvious roles that may be a good fit with a given employer—and even if a company isn’t actively hiring for a position that fits, you may learn of other roles worth exploring elsewhere. Lintelman notes that attendees don’t have to actively seeking out a new job to benefit either.
“There is a misconception about career fairs that you need to be looking for a job in order to attend a career fair,” Lintelman says. “Virtual career fairs offer you an opportunity to engage with other employers and passively look at the employment market without raising red flags to your current employer that you are looking at other opportunities.”
Lintelman adds that even if you're not looking to change positions, career fairs offer a terrific networking opportunity.
“It's important to build your professional network as you never know when you will need to lean on external resources down the road.”
3. You can attend from the comfort of home
If you’re on the fence about doing something, little can drain your motivation to follow through like a potentially long drive to a location you may not be familiar with. The good news is that the Rasmussen University virtual career fair takes place entirely online and can be accessed from your mobile device. This means you can set aside some of the logistical concerns about getting to and from the event and focus your energy on making a great impression with potential future employers.
“Maybe you're shuffling kids to and from activities and only have a short time to log in from your cell phone while you wait in the parking lot—that’s okay!” Lintelman says. “You will be able to use a chat feature to engage in meaningful conversation whenever it is convenient for you.”
4. You can get your career questions answered by Career Services professionals
Never been to a career fair? Need some pointers on how to present yourself or follow up during your job search? Don’t sweat it! The Rasmussen University Career Services team will be available via live chat to answer your questions and provide helpful career search advice.
“Our Career Services team is dedicated to making sure that our job seekers are successful in navigating the virtual event and is committed to helping attendees position themselves in the best possible manner to employers,” Lintelman says. “We are happy to provide guidance on resumes, mock interviews or sample questions of how to engage with employers virtually.”
5. “Attendance” is flexible to fit your schedule
While the ideal approach is to attend the virtual career fair during its scheduled time and date, you’re not completely out of luck if you can’t make the timing work for your schedule. The virtual career fair event remains accessible after its scheduled time, so you’ll have the opportunity to browse employer booths and the content provided within them, apply for listed open positions, and review previously held public chats between employers and job seekers.
“The beautiful thing about a virtual career fair is that, when you upload your resume at the time of registration, employers will have access to your resume,” Lintelman says. “Even if you are unable to attend the day of the event, they'll still have your contact information.”
6. You’ll have access to helpful webinar sessions
Networking with potential employers is certainly a big piece of the appeal, but that’s not all you can find. During the virtual career fair, the Career Services team will be hosting a series of helpful webinars covering topics like professional communication, job search strategies and resources, speaking to your strengths and weaknesses, how to gain real world experience, and how to effectively use LinkedIn®.
“These brief ten-to-fifteen-minute-long sessions are intended to provide job seekers with resources and guidance on how to navigate today’s employment landscape,” Lintelman says. “Our Career Services team will also be available to answer questions during these sessions.”
These webinar sessions will be recorded and available for access after the event as well—so don’t worry if you miss a session while you’re learning more about your next potential employer.
7. Practice makes perfect
A professional job search typically has some bumps in the road. If you’re new to the process, it’s normal to have moments where you might fumble with your answers or not quite nail your attempt at introducing yourself as a job candidate. It’s hard to be great at any skill without practice. A virtual career fair provides a relatively low-stakes way for you to practice and refine your interviewing and professional communication skills—and that’s valuable no matter how you ultimately end up finding employment.
Rise to your next level
“What do you have to lose?” Lintelman asks. “There is no cost to attend; there is no requirement to engage in conversation with employers. But there's so much to gain and to learn from attending a virtual career fair.”
It takes dedication, effort and helpful resources like virtual career fairs to find the ideal next job. Now that you know more about the benefits of attending a virtual career fair, it’s time to put your best foot forward. Start by visiting the virtual career fair page to learn more about the event.
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