5 tips to help you stand out at a virtual job fair

Virtual recruiting events are becoming more and more popular. Practical and efficient, it’s a proven formula, both for candidates and for talent acquisition experts. But how do you stand out from the hundreds of other job seekers there?

Elizabeth Cleary, talent acquisition expert at iA Financial Group, says that “virtual job fairs are becoming more and more popular in recruiting, but candidates don’t always know how to showcase their value and take advantage of the online formula.”

Just like regular job fairs, virtual recruiting events are an opportunity to:

• Switch roles: you get to interview the companies you’re interested in
• Talk to professionals to learn more about certain careers
• Learn more about projects and innovations going on at the companies that attend
• Stand out and take the first step in the hiring process

To help you land a job at this type of event, here are five tips from our team of talent acquisition experts to help you stand out from the crowd.

1. Reflect on your professional goals
   Before you start looking for a job, take the time to think about your goals and your needs when it comes to your professional aspirations. Reflect on your past experiences and make up a list of your motivations, times when your talent really stood out and the work environments where you felt most at home.

   This will help you identify fields and companies that could meet your needs.

2. Stand out by doing in-depth research on the companies you’re interested in
   These days, most job seekers take the time to look at a company’s website and social media before the interview. To stand out, take your research further. Look at the company’s Glassdoor or Indeed profile for a more comprehensive view of their challenges and their projects.
   
   You can even look them up on search engines, like Google, to see whether there are any recent news articles that have been published about your dream employer. There you could find relevant topics of discussion to break the ice with the talent acquisition advisors who are there online to meet you.
3. Clean up your online presence
   These days, social media is a valuable source of information for talent acquisition advisors. Make sure your Facebook, Instagram and Twitter profiles represent you at your best (or are locked in private mode). When it comes to LinkedIn, use your profile like a marketing tool to showcase your value. Describe your achievements and key tasks at previous jobs and try to get a few recommendations from coworkers or former coworkers.
   
   A detailed LinkedIn page can even help recruiters looking for new talent find you directly through that platform. Also, don’t be afraid to use the “Open to opportunities” function if you’re looking for a new challenge; this can make your profile more visible to companies who are recruiting.
4. Optimize your profile on the event platform
   Most platforms used for virtual recruiting events let you make your own profile. Make the most of it! Add your résumé, a link to your LinkedIn profile and a professional photo of you and make sure you fill out all the recommended sections.
   
   Pro tip: When you enter your name, also write your expertise or field and the position you’re applying for. That will help you attract more attention from employers!
5. Show openness and humility
   If you’re using a virtual recruiting event as an opportunity to explore new fields, take the time to reflect on your skills. Which ones would be transferable to a new job? What new skills would you need to get hired? Doing this type of preparation will help you present yourself to employers. You can also prepare some concrete examples of times when you were able to put your key skills to good use at your job.

Finally, if in talking to a talent acquisition advisor you realize that the jobs offered to you don’t match up with your aspirations, say so! There’s nothing wrong with being straightforward. It might even score you some points!

Now it’s up to you to stand out and land the job of your dreams. Good luck!