Virtual Career Fairs: The 5 Most Common Questions Answered!
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You won’t have trouble finding great video conferencing programs on the market. Let’s face it, without programs like Zoom, this entire pandemic would have been a much more difficult landscape to navigate. However, when it comes to virtual events, there are advantages to using a dedicated event platform like Premier Virtual.
Ultimately, whether or not you can use a video conferencing program to power your virtual career fairs depends on your needs. If you’re an employer with just a few job openings, you may want to host a virtual career fair to attract more candidates and gain exposure while doing so. In that case, a video conferencing program like Zoom can be a perfectly acceptable option.
However, if you’re hosting a career fair with multiple employers or your organization has dozens of job openings with locations throughout the state or country, your needs will far outweigh the features that video conferencing programs can offer for a successful event.
Essentially, video conferencing is just one element in a virtual career fair. While some of these programs offer additional features like chat and breakout rooms, they don’t include the unique features offered by virtual event platforms that will increase your event’s ability to mirror in-person events.
In the Premier Virtual platform, recruiters can review resumes well before ever speaking with a candidate. They can also view pre-recorded video resumes. If the employer feels it might be a good fit, they can enter into a one-on-one chat or invite the candidate into an interview using the integrated video feature. These features make it possible for recruiters to engage with more than one candidate simultaneously, increasing effectiveness and efficiency.
It’s also important to note that this is not a group chat that everyone else in the room can read. In the Premier Virtual platform, the job candidate’s communication is always ‘one-on-one,’ securing both parties’ privacy. The Premier Virtual platform also has a ‘smart-chat’ feature that follows the candidate throughout the event. This feature allows the candidate to start a chat and continue with the event without having to wait in a long queue or for a response from a recruiter that might be busy at the time. Whenever the recruiter is available and responds, the candidate will receive the chat message and continue the conversation.
This process is much more cumbersome with video conferencing. The host or employer would have to schedule an interview with the candidate ahead of time, or the recruiter has to ask that candidate to leave the main group and enter into a ‘breakout’ room.
There are many other advantages to using an event platform. For example, if you have multiple employers, you can customize the lobby so that each company has its hiring booth, complete with logo, bio, job openings, social media and website links, as well as downloadable PDFs. Everything you need to replicate an in-person event. Not to mention the robust reporting that employers receive before, during, and after the event that makes follow-up much more effective.
Event platforms also allow you to scale very quickly without needing additional upgrades or bandwidth. For example, a recent statewide career fair in Virginia had 350 employers with thousands of job openings that attracted over 15,000 job applicants. Those are numbers that could never be replicated in person or managed properly using video conferencing software.
Monetizing Your Career Fair
One key advantage is the ability to use our virtual platform to monetize your events. During Covid-19, many chambers of commerce organizations and event organizers in general, have had significant setbacks due to CDC guidelines for in-person events. Using a virtual event platform like ours allows you to easily monetize events by selling booths and securing sponsorships just like you would in a live event.
The bottom line is if you’re managing hundreds of employers, thousands of jobs, and tens of thousands of job candidates, it is simply beyond the capacity of video-conferencing platforms. When it comes down to virtual career fairs, choosing a virtual event platform that is dedicated to powering them like Premier Virtual is the wise business decision.
If you’d like to learn more about the Premier Virtual event platform, please visit www.PremierVirtual.com for a free demo.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
We set our standards so high, we always want to go above and beyond your expectations. As we power more and more events, 7,000 and counting, we keep learning what our clients need to succeed. Based on their feedback and focus groups, we’ve been able to completely revamp the platform and provide you with the best in class technology for hiring events.
Not only that, but we continue to release new updates each week. The job market is always changing and so is the technology that powers the tools and resources hiring managers need to fill open positions. To keep up with the latest we are always testing our platform to insure it provides the best possible features, so that you can host the best virtual hiring events.
The upgrades will significantly improve the user experience, for the host, employer, and job candidates by providing enhanced customization tools and improved design. Below is a comparison chart with the significant upgrades listed.
Schedule Your Training Demo!
In the next few weeks, we will be coordinating a series of training webinars. Your account executive or account manager will be contacting you with a complete schedule so that you can participate in the most convenient one. It’s because of our loyal clients that helped to make this possible, and for that we thank you, and look forward to your continued support! If you are not a client, please schedule a demo by visiting premiervirtual.com
Steve Edwards – CEO, Premier Virtual
Top 10 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Virtual Career Fair Platform
An effective virtual event platform is first and foremost, easy to use, at all levels. The participants need to have little to no learning curve, resulting in a positive user experience. It’s equally important for the host and other participating organizations or vendors to be able to quickly ramp up, which requires excellent support and a knowledgeable sales team.
With this in mind, all of your questions ultimately should address whether or not the features make the event easier to set up and use. After all, even the best technology is useless unless it makes sense to everyone.
Some platforms focus more on certain types of events than others. For example, if you have a trade show or a career fair, some platforms will offer more features and benefits because they specialize in such events. For this article, we will focus on platforms that specialize in virtual career fairs.
1) How will my recruiters or hiring companies communicate with the candidates?
The best platforms offer easy-to-access chat features that allow candidates to initiate a conversation with the recruiters. Also, there should be an integrated video chat, as well as an option to add whichever video platform your company already uses. This is important in the case of government agencies that may have firewalls or restrictions that do not allow for third-party teleconferencing access. You don’t want to be troubleshooting that the day of the event.
In addition, it’s important to understand if the chat is one-on-one or group chat. The best platforms offer one-on-one chat with the ability for the recruiter to quickly access a list of pre-programmed answers to be able to chat with as many applicants as possible. Finally, advanced chats will follow a candidate throughout the event, meaning the job candidate doesn’t have to wait in that recruiter’s booth (or in the queue) to receive an answer before moving on. At any time when the recruiter answers, the candidate will receive that answer in their chatbox.
2) What happens if the candidate or hiring company has an issue registering or during the event?
For the job candidates, registering for the event includes adding all of the contact info, uploading their resumes, and so on. This should be as easy to navigate as possible. Make sure to ask for a demo to see how this process works since many of the issues reported during the event revolve around user login, and uploading information. This holds true for the hiring companies that want to customize their booths, adding bios, links, and downloadable documents. With any issue, the best platforms offer 24/7 support and quickly respond to requests through either email, chat or even live calls.
3) How many recruiters can participate at the same time?
The best platforms offer an unlimited number of recruiters to participate. Typically events receive a large amount of foot traffic as soon as they start, so having extra recruiters at the start of the event is a good strategy. Each recruiter must understand how to access their admin dashboard and how to chat with a candidate or invite them into a video interview.
4) Do you offer training?
This leads to the next question…how will the host, hiring companies, and candidates be trained to use the platform? Again, the most important feature is ease-of-use, but when it’s a user’s first time, there will be some getting used to it. All platforms should offer a library of detailed training videos for each type of participant. These videos should be readily accessible as soon as the participant registers. Also, the best platforms offer a dedicated account manager that will schedule an onboarding call to show you exactly how the platform works, and make sure everyone on your team is ready. Beyond that, you can ask if they offer any other live webinar or group training options for your employers or registered job candidates, that are helpful the day of the event, usually just before it goes live.
5) How quickly can I set up and launch my event?
If you have an urgent need, you’ll want to know how quickly you can start using the platform. Premium providers make it easy for you to set-up, so that you can host your first event literally within 24 hours. This flexibility can save you in a pinch, but as with any successful event, you will want sufficient time to promote and get everyone trained ahead of time.
6) Is pricing based on the number of booths or resumes?
This is a very important question since some of the best-known platforms do have charges for booths or resumes that exceed a certain threshold. Your initial price may be based on 100 booths or resumes, and if you go beyond that you are charged accordingly. This can be prohibitive and results in charges you did not budget for. The best platforms offer a flat rate price, with no upcharges. Pricing can also be discounted when you sign up for yearly, or multi-year licenses that are paid upfront. Keep in mind, the more you use the platform the more value it offers, and the less you pay per event on a flat-rate/licensing model.
7) What kind of reports will I receive?
The data collected and reports you receive, offer some of the biggest benefits of participating in a virtual career fair. Your employers or hiring managers will love it when they receive a complete list of who attended the event, who visited their booth, a copy of all the questions asked, and of course, all of the resumes submitted. The best platforms offer real-time reports that update as the event goes on, and some have integrated APIs that automatically move that data to your existing CRM tool. You can also ask if there are reporting tools such as ‘ranking a candidate’ or other ways to make notes during the event which are very helpful to improve the follow-up process.
8) How many people can be on the platform at the same time?
The reliability or stability of a platform is ultimately the most important factor. If the platform crashes or lags, it will interrupt the event, causing candidates to leave or have a poor experience. Make sure to ask if the platform you are considering has had any issues like this, or you can check their reviews on reputable sites like G2, Capterra, and Select Software to see what others have said. Premier Virtual recently powered an event for the workforce board in Virginia that saw over 15,000 job candidates and over 350 employers on the platform at the same time, with no downtime! That’s the kind of reliability you want to know your platform will provide.
9) Can I use the platform for other types of events or purposes?
It’s amazing once you have this tool, how many other purposes you can use it for. Make sure to discuss with your sales rep all of the different possibilities including things like; internal training, onboarding, webinars, trade shows, etc, and see how the platform can be adapted to handle these requests. Once you start using the platform for other purposes you add more value, reducing your cost per event and increasing the return on your investment.
10) Is there a wait time between events, or can I host unlimited events?
Finally, make sure to ask if the use of the platform is truly unlimited when you license it. Some platforms require you to wait up to 14 days between events which can limit your options. The best platforms do not require any wait time between events and believe me, you will want to use the platform as much as possible once you have it!
If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us to schedule a free demo so we can address any other needs you may have.
Waste Management is getting set to host their first virtual career event and they’ve chosen the Premier Virtual platform to power it! This event is specifically intended to hire CDL Drivers and Diesel Mechanics across the nation. Waste Management (WM) locations from the east coast to as far west as Denver will be participating intending to fill 60 open positions. A second virtual hiring event is planned for later in the year with approximately 200 job-openings to fill in many different areas.
Lindsay Stanley, the Talent Acquisition Advisor for WM is spearheading the event and is extremely excited about the possibilities.
“Virtual hiring events are a new initiative for us, and we are optimistic about the possible outcomes. Here we have an event that can help us find qualified candidates that are in high demand, in a competitive marketplace. This gives us another tool to use and allows us to coordinate it in such a way that all of our locations can participate and benefit at the same time.”
“In many cases, we’ve partnered with local schools and universities to help get the word out, and we’ve seen a lot of positive responses already. Although we have participated in virtual hiring events, we’ve never hosted our own, so this is very exciting for us. We see it as a cost-efficient, and most importantly, user-friendly technology, which is why we chose Premier Virtual.”, said Lindsay.
Lindsay continued to explain that when she was doing her research, she put herself into her driver’s shoes, in the sense that the platform needs to be intuitive and efficient. Lindsay grew up on a farm and recognizes that not everyone is on the phone or super tech-savvy. Her goal was to ensure that their virtual career fair felt just like walking into a big hotel lobby and seeing all the booths, just as you would in an in-person event.
“That’s exactly what we’ve been able to accomplish with the Premier Virtual platform, and we love it! All the booths are set up, we have all the names and logos, our lobby looks just like Superdome! You can choose which location you want to apply at and there will be two staff members in every booth. We’ve directed our hiring team to schedule interviews right then and there and make full use of the integrated video feature for one-on-one conversations.”
I also have to commend our Account Manager, Jordan who has been a phenomenal help and walked us through a few challenges. She made it so easy to upload a logo to all booths, add all links so that everything is unified across the board.”
Our team at Premier Virtual is proud to power the WM virtual career fair and looks forward to another successful event. The two-day virtual career fair will be held this Wednesday, March 17th, and Thursday, March 18th.
If you would like more information on the Premier Virtual platform, please visit:
www.PremierVirtual.com or call 561-717-9717.
Premier Virtual has powered more than 1,000 virtual hiring events in less than 1 year! Let us show you how you can host your own event.
Regardless of the challenges Covid-19 poses, virtual hiring events have proven much more effective and efficient than their in-person counterparts.
In this webinar Premier Virtual CEO, Steve Edwards and a round-table panel of current clients will discuss the best practices for hosting and marketing your event.
These clients all have multiple successful events under their belt and their experience is invaluable. The panel will also be answering any questions from attendees. As we confirm our panelists, we will update the list here.
Premier Virtual has powered more than 1,000 virtual hiring events in less than 1 year. These events have helped more than 10,000 employers fill critical positions from over 100,000 registered job-candidates that attended.
We look forward to your participation, click here to register for free.
Veteran-owned Tech Company Premier Virtual, Helping Veterans Get Back to Work!
As part of a tribute to their fellow service members, Premier Virtual is promoting ‘Veteran’s Week’ from November 9th to November 13th, 2020, to bring attention to veteran-focused virtual hiring events and increase participation from employers and veterans alike.
CEO and founder of Premier Virtual, Steve Edwards, is a U.S. Army veteran. His company is the platform provider for a growing list of military and veteran-focused organizations hosting virtual hiring events in November.
‘It’s beyond my wildest dream to have once been recruited by the Army, and now I own a company that helps so many different branches of the military and associated organizations to not only recruit others, but to create employment opportunities for veterans like myself.” Said Steve.
After completing his service to our country, Steve moved to South Florida and attended Florida Atlantic University. Once he graduated, Steve joined a local recruiting agency and began putting on in-person job fairs.
Nearly nine years in, Steve began looking for a better way to recruit, as in-person job fairs performance and effectiveness continued to decline. His quest to find a suitable option came up empty. He decided he would have to build the answer he was looking for, and Premier Virtual was born.
To launch his new venture, he partnered with his lifelong friend Gary Chambers, and together they took Premier Virtual from concept to reality…then Covid hit!
Unlike many other industries that have been decimated by the pandemic, the virtual world has increased, and that put Premier Virtual in high demand. The platform mirrors in-person job fairs that allow job-applicants to meet and interview with recruiters efficiently and safely.
Needing to scale quickly, Steve reached out to fellow veterans he served within the Army. Now they work side by side with Steve and Gary as part of Premier Virtual’s management team.
• Zach Shifflett, Director of Sales
• James Richardson, National Account Manager
Premier Virtual is not only Veteran-owned but also managed at the highest levels.
Keeping true to their pledge, Premier Virtual has secured agreements with a growing list of military and veteran-focused groups that host virtual job fairs to provide employment opportunities for Americas’ Veterans.
In November and the coming months, Premier Virtual will be powering the virtual hiring events for:
• Paychecks for Patriots – CareerSource Florida
• Red, White & You – Workforce Solutions Texas
• NC4ME (North Carolina for Military Employment)
• U.S. Veterans Chamber of Commerce
• Soldier For Life
• MassHire – State of Massachusetts
• Veterans Advantage
• The American Legion
• Maryland Dept. of Labor for Veterans
• Virginia Statewide Veterans Job Fair
“Being veteran-owned, we always take a little more pride whenever we can power military or veteran-focused virtual hiring events like these. It means that what we’re doing is truly making a difference in helping military personnel to get recruited and then to re-enter the workforce.” Said Jamie Varraso, Vice President of Business Development.