Virtual Career Fair Overview
Virtual Career Fair Overview
Virtual Career Fair Overview
Career fairs have almost become a rite of passage – crowds of professionally-attired students lining up at booths or tables to meet employers, hoping to make a connection that leads to a great opportunity. Maybe you’ve heard about career fair experiences from relatives, friends, or older students. Perhaps you have even attended some already yourself, so you know what to expect. However, as with many other aspects of life, some career fairs are taking on new forms. You have now been invited to participate in a virtual career fair. How will meeting with companies online change the career fair dynamic, and what can you do to boost your chances of finding that great opportunity?
The good news is that you will see many of the opportunities you would normally have seen and possibly even more! Rowan's virtual career fairs will have the same kind of employers who would have participated in an in-person fair. You may also see some new companies, located further away from your campus, who are able to participate since the fair is now virtual.
While the opportunities may be similar, the way you interact with companies will be very different. Instead of meeting a recruiter in person, you will only interact over video. As anyone who has used Zoom, Facetime, or any video chat or meeting software knows, video interactions can be great, but they are also slightly different than seeing someone in person. Many of the tips you have seen for in-person career fairs still apply. However, to prepare for video chats with employers, we have prepared the following resources to help you prepare for a successful event.
We hope you are able to join us for the following events sponsored by Rowan's Office of Career Advancement this Spring. Details on each event, including lists of attending employers, can be found in ProfsJobs at www.rowan.edu/profsjobs. All students have an account already (you must enter your Rowan email address click forgot password the first time accessing the site):
- Please check back soon for full listing of our Fall 2021 events.
Check out what to expect at a virtual fair (click the full screen once video starts to enlarge)!
Ready to Attend? Please review the following to ensure success at the fair.
RSVP Now!
How to RSVP to Virtual Career Fair
For best user experience, please use desktop/laptop.
- Go to www.rowan.edu/profsjobs to log in or click “Forgot Password” if you are new to the system (if you have never accessed the site before you may be prompted to enter some background information before being able to RSVP).
- Go to Events tab on left side of the page, on the next page select the Career Fair your planning to attend.
- Click the Attend button.
- Update your Chat Profile, you have now RSVP’d for the event!
- Upload your resume, if you have not already done so. This is the only way to pass a resume to an employer during the fair (Go to Documents tab on left side of page, then My Documents and upload your resume). Please note that your resume will be shared with ALL employers and graduate schools that will be in attendance.
- You can update your degree, major, graduation date and other information on the My Account tab on the left side ProfsJobs.
- You can greet employers with your profile picture by uploading it under Account/Personal, if your college has enabled this feature.
- Preview employers attending the event leading up to the fair to prepare!
Day of Event Instructions
Career Fair Instructions for Students – Day of the Event
- Go to student portal located at http://www.rowan.edu/profsjobs to log in or click “Forgot Password” if you are new to the system (if you have never accessed the site before you may have to enter some background information before going to next step).
- Go “Events” on left side of page and on the next page select the fair you are interested in.
- If you have not already done so (students that RSVP’s already completed these steps):
- Click “Attend”
- Update Chat Profile
- Upload resume by going to “Documents” tab then “My Documents” on left side of screen and add resume (all employers and graduate schools at fair will have access to your resume).
- You can update your degree, major, graduation date and work authorization under “My Account” tab on left side of screen.
- Navigate back to Career Fair and set status to “Online”.
- Within the Virtual Fair, navigate to the Employer section to find employers of interest.
- You can express interest in an employer by clicking on the star icon, which bring them to the top of your list. Employers can filter candidates using this expression of interest in the virtual career fair resume database.
- Click on the employer to view company profile and positions they are recruiting for.
- You can speak to employers in 1-on-1 video chats by clicking on Join Queue. The employers who you are waiting for will show up under Upcoming Chats along with estimated wait times.
- You can stand in multiple queues at once to maximize your number of video chats. Under Upcoming Chats, you can see how many total queues you are allowed to be in at one time.
- While you wait, you can join a group video chat with an employer by clicking on Group Chat. If you are in a group video chat, employers can still contact you for 1-on-1 video chats.
- If you are waiting in employer queues, make sure to stay within that virtual career fair. If you navigate away to other pages within the site, you may miss invitations from employers to video chat.
- When it’s your turn to video chat with an employer, you will see an alert pop up on the screen and hear a “ding” sound. (If using Safari, you will need to Allow Auto Play via Preferences/Websites/Allow Auto Play to hear the sound) Click on the alert to see instructions on how to video chat with the employer.
- Once you have started to video chat with an employer, watch the timer which will count down from the maximum time to zero. You also can see the positions that the employer is recruiting for.
- When you are done with your video chat, click End Chat, and you can write notes and use it for follow up after the fair.
- If you need to step away for a short break, set your Status to Busy. Employers will not be able to invite you to video chat.
- If you need to leave the fair, set your Status to Offline. You will be removed from any queues that you are currently in.
- When the fair is over, you can access your notes, the representative’s name and email, and use this information for thank you notes.
Best Practice Tips
Best Practices for Students
- Internet Explorer is no longer supported. Please use another browser
- When joining an employer chat, instead of downloading Zoom, GoToMeeting, etc., select the option to join the meeting online and it will be faster to join
- As long as you are in a queue, remain in the fair so you do not miss any employer chat requests. Please do not navigate to other areas
- Make sure you click the “Attend” button so that you can join chats
- Before the fair, mark your favorite employers by clicking on the “Interested” star icon, so that they will display at the top of your list
- After each video chat you complete, scroll down to view the Notes field. Enter Notes after each chat, before you join the next, so that you do not forget key information.
- Log into ProfsJobs before the fair to make sure you have the most updated resume uploaded to the fair and that your “Chat Profile” is current
Virtual Interview Tips
You applied for a great job, you waited and waited, and you finally got an invitation to interview! You have already done your research on the company and read interview tips and strategies, so you know you can ace it. Then, as you are signing up for a slot, you suddenly realize that the interview will be virtual. How will the interview differ from what you were expecting? What else should you do to prepare?
Virtual interviews are becoming more popular these days, as employers realize that they can be more efficient in interviewing candidates and can consider students from a more geographically diverse set of universities. Fortunately, much of what you already learned about in-person interviews still applies. You just need a few additional tips so you can master the virtual interview too!
Tip 1: Use a Stable Device
When in a video interview with an employer, consider using a laptop or desktop that is resting on a desk or table. This ensures that your screen does not move while you are talking to the employer. If you decide to use your mobile device, find a way to prop it up so you don’t need to hold it. Even if you are blessed with nerves of steel and steady hands, a table or desk location will always provide better video. You will feel more comfortable if you can speak freely without worrying about moving or dropping your device. Whatever device you choose to use, make sure the camera works, and that you are either plugged in or are fully charged, with several hours of battery life.
Tip 2: Check Your Wi-Fi or Internet Connection
For the best experience in a video interview, you will need a steady and reliable Wi-Fi or internet connection with download and upload speeds of at least 2 Mbps to support video chats. Oftentimes, turning your system off then back on again will give you a clear internet connection prior to the start of a virtual session. If you do not have access to a good connection in your residence hall, home or library, ask your career office to see if they have any suggestions. Wired internet connections are often more stable and reliable than wireless.
Tip 3: Check Your Background and Lighting
Well before your video interview with an employer, check your surroundings to make sure that things in your background are orderly. You don’t want to be embarrassed by compromising items in the background, such as open bottles, controversial materials, or a pile of dirty laundry. Just before the interview, remember to scan the area again quickly, in case something changed. If you choose to use a virtual background, make sure it is appropriate. Also consider finding a quiet place where you can concentrate and not be disturbed by roommates, family members, or pets. If you do not have access to such a place in your residence hall, home or library, ask your career office to see if they have conference rooms, interview rooms, or open offices that can be used. Lighting is also an important consideration. If there is a bright light behind you, your face will not show up well on camera. Avoid having bright sunny windows directly behind you. Try to have some light on your face, so that the employer can see you when you are talking. Bright sunlight directly behind your screen is another hazard to avoid; you will look much better during the interview if you are not constantly shielding your eyes!
Tip 4: Turn Notifications Off
While you are in the interview, you will want to focus your attention on connecting with the employer. To avoid being distracted, consider turning off notifications for social media, news, and other applications. A notification at the wrong time might make you miss an important question or make you stop in the middle of a brilliant answer! Your goal is to make the employer think that you are very interested in their company. Focusing on being completely present during your interaction with them is critical!
Tip 5: Dress Professionally
Yes, the interview is virtual, and it might be tempting to see it as being more informal. However, it is still an interview and is not like a Houseparty chat with friends. Professional attire will help you to make a good first impression with an employer. Some experts advise dressing as if you were attending an interview; others say that business casual – button-down shirt or blouse – is reasonable. Try to stay away from T-shirts with logos, ripped clothes, or tops that reveal too much. From a video perspective, it is also good to wear solid colors, avoiding clothes with lots of patterns, stripes or plaids. Your goal is to have the employer focus on you as a person and not to be distracted by what you are wearing.
Tip 6: Have Your Resume on Hand
Similar to an in-person interview, it is a good idea to have a copy of your resume nearby. The employer may start by asking you something specific on your resume, and you will want to be able to speak to it without missing a beat. You also can use the backside of your resume to take notes that may prompt questions to ask the employer or that can be referenced in your thank you note.
In many ways, a video interview is just like an in-person interview. Maintain eye contact, smile, and be confident. Remember to follow up. The main difference is in being able to make a good impression on camera. If you remember to use the strategies for in-person interviews, with these minor adjustments, you will be on your way to acing a virtual interview!