By Ann Eastham
Contributor, Career Services
Growing up, I always heard the old adage, “It’s not what you know; it’s who you know”. Networking for jobs was done in person, and when I was looking for my first few jobs, I simply walked in the front door of where I wanted to work (or who had a hiring sign in the window) and asked for an application. Much to the frustration of job hunters who grew up like me, times have changed. The job hunt and application process have moved online, and career fairs are now moving to the digital space.
Traditionally, Career Fairs are events with multiple employers seeking out specific candidates and can be hosted for a local community, by a university, or by a specific group of employers. These events can be large, oftentimes held in conference rooms, with table after table of recruiters; however, this approach will limit the recruiters to candidates within a specific geographic area and only those with the ability to make it to the physical event. Since recruiters want to reach the best, they’ve taken the Career Fair formula and applied it to today’s technology.
Virtual Career Fairs (VCF’s) are becoming more and more popular across a wide variety of employers. Companies like Booz Allen Hamilton and federal agencies, such as the Department of Transportation, have recently hosted their own. In my opinion, the VCF platform bridges the gap between making that personal connection, while still utilizing the era of technology that you live in. Imagine for a moment that you are in the process of moving to a large metropolitan area and you learn that there’s a VCF for the employer you would like to connect with the week before you relocate. You now have the opportunity to chat with the recruiter prior to your move, and gain a connection which may hopefully lead to a job!
While it may go against the normal face-to-face connection factors when looking for a job, this is how the job market is shifting. Making use of this new way of connecting with a recruiter can open up doors that simply wouldn’t be possible otherwise. My best advice is to keep an open mind and explore all possibilities; you never know exactly which one is going to work for you.
In a later blog, I’ll discuss how to make the most of attending a VCF as different preparation is needed and expected than a traditional career fair.
[Related: So Long, Interview Suit: Here Comes the Virtual Career Fair]
About the Author: Ann started her education at the University of Findlay and completed and Associates degree in Equestrian Studies in 2005. After working for a few years in a wide variety of farm/ranch jobs, she completed her Bachelors in Health Care Administration at Ashford University. Ann served as a clinical technician in an ICU/Telemetry unit before working as a Clinical Research Coordinator for Cardiac, Vascular, and Thoracic surgery.
In 2011, Ann transitioned from working in the healthcare field into higher education and started as an Academic Advisor. While working as an advisor, Ann developed a passion for assisting students in converting their education into careers and became a Career Coach in 2014. Ann currently works with students in the health, nursing, and Intelligence/National Security, and Military industries.
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