How to Prepare for Virtual Job Fairs

Virtual career fairs are not all designed the same. Each offers the job seeker a different experience. However, some typical protocols should be expected when registering for an online job fair, especially for military-affiliated candidates.

You will complete tasks such as creating an online account, filling out a profile, and uploading a resume in preparation for the event. It is your responsibility to know what to expect and be prepared. In this article we will equip you for what to expect during the overall online hiring experience.

As a military-affiliated candidate, you have access to thousands of employers who commit to hiring veterans and their spouses. It is important to remember this when choosing the job fair you will attend. Access to these resources, either stateside or overseas, is a benefit unique to military families.

You no longer have to wait for an in-person event—access to employment is virtually in your hands, no matter where you are geographically. Selecting the right virtual venue is the first key to success.

There are many options for virtual job fairs. Your mission is to select the resource that caters to the military, veterans, and their families.

For example, Recruit Military has hosted 37 national virtual events serving nearly 40,000 military-affiliated candidates, and we identify their platform as a typical example of “how it works.”

Find virtual career fairs on CareerRecon.

Registration

The first part is registration. Depending on where you sign up, you may experience a variation on the following:

• The site may  ask you if you are an individual, an employer or an academic institution. You will select “individual,” and notice in parenthesis it says, “veteran jobseeker and their spouses.”
• That will prompt you to either log in or create an account. If this is your first time attending a virtual career fair or interfacing with the site, you will likely have to create an account.
• You may be asked for information, including your email address, name, phone number, address, state of origin (versus where you are serving, if applicable), and username and password. These are standard requests.
• Next, you will be asked to take a few minutes to answer questions (create a profile) that employers will use to “get to know you.” The expected questions include your highest level of education, basic information about your military service (branch, rank, etc.), and whether you are interested in furthering your education.
• They will also ask you to identify an area of work expertise. Select the option that best aligns with your experience instead of what job you are searching for (if there is a difference.)
• Finally, select appropriate responses to questions like “Are you willing to relocate?” They may also ask if you have an active security clearance or a service-connected disability.

You do not have to disclose disability information—there is an option “I prefer not to say.” It is your personal preference. There is no right or wrong answer, but it is important to remember that candidates with disabilities are a protected population and cannot be discriminated against.

The final step in registration is verifying your email address. Make sure you use an active account you have access to. An email will be immediately sent to your inbox, and you must log in and click the link to verify. You will know your registration is successful if the next screen reads something like “verification complete! Click here to login.”

Find virtual career fairs on CareerRecon.

Preparing For The Interview

Registration is complete and you are directed to your online profile. This is where you complete tasks such as uploading your resume, testing your camera and audio connections to make sure your device is compatible with the requirements of the digital event.

• When uploading your resume, be sure it is the most updated version and includes all your education, experience, and training. Avoid using military jargon in your resume aside from your official title.
• Instead, “translate” your experience into familiar terms. If you held leadership roles, be sure to include detailed information about how many individuals you managed and what your responsibilities entailed. Tutorials are provided for candidates who need more detailed instructions. You can find these by searching for “training materials to prepare,” if it has not already been sent to your email during registration.
• Ensuring your profile is complete is important because it is viewable to participating organizations. Remember to review the list of participating organizations and express interest in those who meet your criteria. You’ll be reminded to review all tutorials and training materials to prepare for the event.
• In addition to completing the steps above, you should look at your LinkedIn page and make sure it is ready for public viewing. This includes a professional photo, a compelling headline and detailed experience.

If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, create one. Another additional step is researching the companies that will be hiring at the virtual job fair. Do a deep dive into the company’s website, LinkedIn and news articles to understand their culture and values.

This is your opportunity to identify organizations you think will be a good fit with your values and skills. When you find a company that meets your expectations and their hiring needs align with your experience, learn as much about the organization as possible.

Taking the time to learn about things such as a company’s “mission statement ” or history can make a big difference when it comes time to interview.

Your knowledge of the company shows the employer that you have already invested time in them and highlights you as a serious candidate.

Find virtual career fairs on CareerRecon.

The Interview

When the time comes to attend the interview, you should treat it like an in-person interview. Dress for success, be sure to appear well-groomed, prepared, and on time, and create a list of talking points.

• Common prompts such as “tell us a little bit about yourself” can seem simple but can also lead to oversharing or veering off course in your reply. Having a list of talking points handy will keep you focused and help you remember important dates and milestones in your past.
• Be prepared to share examples of times you overcame adversity, examples of what you are most proud of, personal strengths and weaknesses and what you think you can bring to the position that other candidates may not.
• Ensure you have a quiet space with a neutral background for the interview. You should not rely on having features like “blur my background” because not every interface offers this feature.
• If you don’t have a designated office-type space, opt for a blank wall or a background that is not busy and does not advertise anything inappropriate such as political affiliation.
• Make sure to have a steady power source and access to your charger. You don’t want your device to run out of battery mid-interview. Keep a pen and paper next to you to take notes.
• Write down things like what they seek in a candidate, the requirements of the position, and what is important to them in a candidate.

Listening Is Key

Active listening is key during an interview. Anything that distracts you from the interview will be obvious—the dog barking, baby crying or doorbell ringing are normal occurrences in life, but try to avoid such distractions during the interview. If you find yourself distracted, you can always ask the interviewer to “please repeat the question.”

This will allow you to refocus your attention and is not frowned upon by employers. Finally, at the end of the interview, they commonly ask you if you have any questions. Always ask a question. Use your discretion. If it’s a logistics question you are unsure about, ask it, but have a second question that is more thoughtful.

If you are unsure what to ask, you can find helpful interview tips in the FAQ section of their website or by doing a basic internet search. Jot down a few questions you can ask at the end of the interview because they will likely ask.

Find virtual career fairs on CareerRecon.