4 ways to make the most of online job events

Ongoing rules regarding gatherings and travel restrictions have meant that traditional industry events, whether trade fairs, in person coffee chats, exhibitions or conferences, are something of a distant memory.  This has meant that organisations have had to innovate, bringing events online and making better use of software to make digital events even more important and effective than ever before.

This has also extended to the recruitment industry; job fairs and career events are now run remotely with great success across the UK.  In fact, digital attendance can be an advantage; event calendars are more rigidly structured, with meetings more likely to run to schedule, and time and cost to the delegate is more effective, particularly if the event is usually away from home. If you’re new to online job events, here are some tips to help make sure you get the most out of your experience.

Be Prepared

It might seem obvious, but make sure you are aware of the date and times of the event, checking for any last minute changes to the programme. Likewise, ensure your PC or tablet is updated and that you have downloaded the latest version of any software or platform you might need.  The last thing you want is to be late for a first meeting or workshop because of system updates! It might be worth putting together a small list of things you need to check before the day, including all of the above, but also making sure any stationery you might need to have is at hand, as well as making sure those around you know you are in event attendance and may not be available throughout the day.

Assess what you want from the event

As a job seeker, you are likely attending an online career fair or event with the aim of securing employment. However, spend some preparation time asking yourself what you want from this particular event, especially if it is a large event with multiple opportunities for engagement. Is it the opportunity to speak to a particular company – do you have specific questions for them, or want the chance to speculatively apply for a role? Do you want to build networking relationships from a particular industry – do you have a delegates list ahead of schedule? Or perhaps you want to attend speaker events so you can learn career-based skills to use in your current role or in the future?  Identifying your goal can help you make the most of your event.

Engage with the content

Chances are you will be inundated with information from many different businesses, agencies and recruiters. Although you will have your own agenda for attending the event, spend some time afterwards reading and assessing what organisations have sent you, there might be something you have overlooked that you can follow up on later, or invitations for further follow up events. Transcripts of conference speeches or Q&As may be available on social media, so make sure you are following the event organiser and page on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter and like and comment on posts.

Make contacts, build your network

Keep note of any interesting or important contacts you meet during the event – this is a great  opportunity to connect with people you may not have had the chance to meet in ‘normal’ circumstances and to build your professional network on LinkedIn. Engage with your online network so it is working for you, whether that’s to create new business, find a new role or just build professional relationships with individuals in similar professions.  Successful networking is about interacting and building meaningful connections and ensures you are noticeable in a competitive market.