If you're hoping to leverage the next job fair to recruit a few top shelf employees, there are ways to get the word out to the masses as well as separate the wheat from the chaff. While you might think that employee recruitment at a job fair is going to be like shooting fish in a barrel, finding the kind of employees that are going to make your time spent at a job fair worthwhile can be improved through proper planning.For instance, take advantage of your company's brand to attract attention and make your booth stand out at the job fair. Use banners and posters to not only give a professional appearance but also to make it easy for prospective employees to find you amongst all the other booths. We, as human beings, are naturally attracted visually to object which is why print advertising in all its many forms is so effective. Make your booth as attractive as possible and make the best of the space that you have been given to advertise your company to job seekers.
Be sure to be prepared with business cards, job descriptions and flyers for both job seekers and also other employers at the job fair. Having this information in a handy, easy to disseminate format can help you to make the best use of your time as well as make it easy for potential employees to check out what your company is all about and what openings you have available without them feeling threatened or obligated to do a pseudo-interview. After all, nobody likes being cornered by someone that is acting like a used car salesman and your demeanor should portray your company's corporate culture.
In addition, take advantage of this opportunity to get to know others in your field and to make contacts that might be of use to you in the future. You never know who you're going to meet and it is always a smart business move to network with others when the opportunity arises as functions such as a job fair. There very well may come a time when you can do someone a favor or when one of your contacts refers someone to you at just the right time. So, be sure to network and exchange business cards with as many people as you can while recruiting at your job fair.
Make sure you have plenty of help with you to man your booth so if you do find an outstanding candidate for a position, you can spend some time talking and building rapport with your candidate. There is nothing more frustrating than being interrupted continuously while you are talking with someone of interest and you certainly don't want to ignore other potential candidates when you are recruiting new employees at a job fair. You might even want to consider having a semi-private place inside your booth where you can sit and talk with potential candidates for a while and perhaps even have some drinks or snacks handy.
A job fair really is a great opportunity to fill those positions that you are having a tough time finding the right fit for and also to get your company's name out in front of the workforce. By being prepared and making the most of your time, you can cast your company in a favorable light as well as cut your interviewing time of unqualified candidates by targeting those that you are interested in on the spot, thus saving your company precious time and money.
