Want the benefits of a career networking event without all the hassle of attending?

Then look no further.

Virtual career fairs are a convenient and efficient way to reach out to employers and secure unique opportunities – from wherever you are in the world.

If traditional jobs fairs haven’t been working out for you, virtual career fairs could be just the ticket.

Attending is easy, and the potential rewards are great.

How does a virtual career fair work?

Graduateland hosts a range of virtual career fairs sometimes focused on a particular industry or sector, or with recruiters based in a certain location.

Regardless of the theme though, they are always accessible from anywhere. Just log in using your Graduateland account and join the event.

You could be sitting on your laptop in a café or lecture hall, or simply at home on your phone. So long as you have an internet connection, you’re invited.

Convenience is one thing, but virtual career fairs also do the business.

There’s so much you can achieve by attending – not least landing a new job or kicking off a promising recruitment process.

Here are the top 6 reasons to log on to the next one:

1/ Talk to the right people

There are many types of virtual career fairs

First off, virtual career fairs come in different shapes and sizes. There may be an event tailored perfectly for what you’re looking for.

From opportunities in tech in the Greater Copenhagen area to jobs centered around sustainability – keep your eyes peeled for the right career fair for you.

Check out Graduateland’s upcoming events to see what fairs are on the horizon.

You will be matched with the most relevant companies

When it comes to actually making contact with companies you’re interested in, virtual career fairs help steer you in the right direction.

Ahead of time, you can check out the companies in attendance to get the lowdown on their business and check for current job openings.

Your profile – so long as it has been updated to include relevant, up to date information – will help determine who you should be paired with. This ensures you speak to recruiters most beneficial for your job search.

This also helps companies. They will be able to see your profile ahead of time, meaning your discussion will be more informed (so you can get straight down to business).

2/ Attend from anywhere

You can log in from the comfort of your own home

The most striking difference between traditional and online job fairs is that, with the virtual variety, you don’t have to go anywhere.

The convenience of attending from wherever you have a decent internet connection feeds into many other benefits we’ve highlighted below.

Distance is no longer a factor

While remote attendance can be a major advantage for some people, it completely changes the game for those that would not be able to attend in the first place.

This means that you can open your job search out to different countries, cities, and regions and that you don’t have to miss an opportunity due to the logistics (and cost) of travel.

It also ensures that you get to speak to the right person. Recruiters don’t have to travel either, making it more likely that you’re speaking to someone in a position to make a genuine job offer.

3/ Stay prepared

To make the most out of any jobs fair it’s vital to be prepared and to do your research beforehand.

With virtual career fairs, this part gets easier.

Profiles for each of the companies attending can be browsed in advance, along with the vacancies they have available (and which they are aiming to fill).

What’s more, all the extra research you do can be noted down and kept close at hand.

In fact, this goes for everything you prepare in advance. As you’ll be chatting to companies digitally, you won’t want to waste time with small talk, and you won’t want to miss your chance to ask important questions or give full, impressive responses.

Here’s a handy 5-point plan to keep you right, based on what recruiters have told us they look for:

  1. Update your profile (including your resume)
  2. Prepare an elevator pitch
  3. Browse companies and vacancies
  4. Do background research on companies and the industry
  5. Make a note of your questions

4/ Network with ease

Virtual career fairs put the ‘network’ in networking.

While there are clear benefits to networking in person, virtual career fairs offer something different to supplement that.

With online jobs fairs, it requires comparatively little effort to get your name out there and make connections. Simply by attending and chatting online to companies you’re interested in can prove hugely beneficial.

Conversations at virtual career fairs are less about personal chemistry and are more focused on your skills, experience and achievements – and about what questions you ask and how you talk about yourself.

As it’s online, your name (more so than your face) is likely to be remembered more readily at virtual career fairs, and your profile can be marked out by a company for future opportunities.

5/ Get your questions answered

Chatting to recruiters online gives you a certain freedom to ask the important questions.

While in person you might struggle to pose a question the right way, or your recruiter might not give you as straight an answer as you’d like, at virtual career fairs you can get straight to the point.

Not to mention that you can prepare your questions carefully in advance (see reason number 3).

This allows you to make the most of your time and ensures you are able to make informed choices about which opportunities to pursue.

6/ Log off with a job

There is one overarching reason to attend a jobs fair: to get a job.

Virtual career fairs, despite being online, are no different. Attendees can ideally expect to walk away (or, in this case, log off) with a job offer – so long as they play their cards right.

In fact, one in five candidates proceeds from chatting to a proper interview with the company after attending Graduateland’s virtual career fairs.

As with any career fair, recruiters are also there for only one reason: to fill vacancies.

With virtual career fairs, you’re more likely to be talking to companies whose vacancies you’re a decent match for (see reason number 1).

By ensuring you are fully prepared ahead of time (see reason number 3), and that you’re talking to companies with openings you are interested in, you will be putting yourself in the best position to receive an offer.

When the times comes, make sure to ask the right questions (see reason number 5) and give a good account of your skills, experience, achievements, and education.

While we can’t guarantee you’ll receive an offer, you may be invited to interview or to apply through a formal channel with a recommendation from the recruiter.

At the very least, making a good impression boosts your chances with a company in the future, taking you one step closer to landing a job.