5 Tips to Get Hired at an Online Job Fair
5 Tips to Get Hired at an Online Job Fair
How to get ready for AARP' s online career summit on Sept 29
Getty Images While workers may have their pick of jobs right now during the Great Resignation, finding the position that matches your financial needs and personal goals can still be challenging. One option that can help job seekers connect with employers conveniently is a virtual job fair. These events — which can be found by searching online job boards, LinkedIn or the websites of large employers, for example — give you the opportunity to meet with recruiters over the internet and participate in webinars that help you learn about how to build skills that can help you land a job. At 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 29, AARP will host an online career summit, "." During this event, you’ll be able to connect with employers that are hiring and hear tips from experts about how to get hired in this rapidly changing job market. The massive job losses during the pandemic, a widespread shift to working from home and the widespread number of workers switching jobs mean that people looking to get hired will have to learn some new techniques. AARP’s Summit is one way workers can get up to speed. Register for AARP s Online Career Summit
Join us for the AARP Online Career Summit, "." The Summit starts at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, September 29. This event is free and can be accessed via smartphone, tablet or computer. There will be many employers participating in AARP's Summit, including FEMA, Macy’s, and Work At Home Vintage Experts. The event is free and can be accessed by phone, tablet or computer. To make the best impression on recruiters during an online job fair, it's best to do some prep work before you log in to the event. Here are five tips to help you get ready for a virtual job fair. 1 Get your résumé ready for recruiters
In recent years, it has become common practice to customize your résumé for each job you apply for. That way you can make certain that your résumé includes many of the same keywords that appear in the job posting, which can help you get noticed by the software that does the initial search for the most qualified candidates. For an online job fair, unless you're only looking for a specific type of job opening, you may want to consider using a résumé that describes your job skills and work experience more broadly. That could open doors with more of the recruiters who are participating. Learn more about some . 2 Polish up your social media profiles
First impressions often make a big difference in who gets hired. While your résumé might be the initial contact you make with recruiters at an online job fair, many of them will quickly move to social media networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram to get a better sense of your background and personality. Before the job fair, take some time to , making sure that it includes any new professional achievements. Also, be sure to review your other social media accounts to edit or remove any posts that include content that might make an employer hesitant to hire — suggestive photos, heated personal arguments or political opinions, for example. Join today and save 25% off the standard annual rate. Get instant access to discounts, programs, services, and the information you need to benefit every area of your life. 3 Make sure your Wi-Fi is ready
Don't let technical difficulties get in the way of successful job networking. In most cases, you won't be able to log in to the job fair before it starts. That means you can't make sure the software works well on your phone, tablet or computer in advance. But you can check that your before the job fair. The FCC recently offered these tips for improving your Wi-Fi connection. 4 Be ready to be on camera
Most of the communication during an online job fair happens via text chats. But if a recruiter thinks you might be a good fit, he or she might ask you to do a quick video interview on the spot. While you don't need to dress up in your best business attire for the job fair, you should be certain that you're camera-ready if an employer asks. . 5 Follow through on follow-up
The strength of online fairs is that they let job seekers meet with many recruiters quickly. But those recruiters also will have many candidates that they have to keep in mind. Sending a thank you note or follow-up email is one way you show an employer that you're serious about the job opportunity. Remind the recruiters of details from your discussions, highlight your skills and experience that fit the job opening and ask about any potential next steps. Editor’s note: This article originally was published on Sept. 28, 2020. It has been updated with information about the September 2022 job fair. More on Work & Jobs
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