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Job fairs are loaded with benefits for businesses—and they’re not limited to recruiting

Job fairs usually seem to target those looking for employment, or people fresh off the graduation podium. As an employer, this may or may not be all that attractive. However, job fairs aren’t necessarily all about the talent pool.

Why job fairs are worth the hassle

Perhaps one deterrent from attending a job fair is the preparation and time away from the office they demand—especially when you’re not hiring. After all, a polished image is important any time a company steps out to face the public. The thing about job fairs is, they’re worth it—here’s why:

• They save time. Whether you have a position open or not, it’s always smart to be on the lookout for top talent. Job fairs introduce hiring managers to the talent on a much more meaningful level than online, and at higher volumes—all within a 4 to 5-hour event.
• Brand awareness. Simply put—job fairs are also public relation events. Companies attending job fairs will likely have their logo included in promotional work, and they lend a sense of establishment to participants. Plus, it’s a chance to develop your company reputation through public interaction.
• Better candidates. Job fairs tend to target specific industries and skills.  For example, AHA! Impressions upcoming job fair targets candidates to fill frontline positions at retail and restaurants.  They can also be excellent sources for young talent. Colleges often hold career fairs where recruiters connect with students, who are soon to graduate, or graduates, with degrees in relevant fields.
• Face to face interaction. Sometimes it can be more efficient to skip the resume—although not entirely. Cover letters, resumes, Skype calls—they all serve as screeners to get to the heart of the matter: who is this person? Job fairs let hiring managers start at the heart. Face to face communication offers the first glimpse into whether a person’s a good fit for your company culture, thereby significantly shortening the screening process.
• Networking. Job seekers aren’t the only ones making connections at job fairs. Obviously, such events are mixers for businesses from a spectrum of industries. Plus, they may even offer a unique look at your competition.
• The unexpected candidate. Sometimes the perfect candidate isn’t in your target zone, or vice versa. When you have several industries loaded into the same venue as a pool of talent, you never know who you might find. For example, a talented videographer probably knows enough about cameras to be an excellent sales rep.
• Making an early connection. Another advantage of career fairs are the connections made with passive candidates “just looking.”. Spotting talent early is an excellent way to nurture a relationship and give you an edge over your competition.

Don’t waste your time—or theirs

Of course, the true value of attending a job fair depends on what you do next. Establishing a next-step with prospects can be helpful. Planning lets them know you’re interested and prevents delays in the process. Delays can be costly to the hiring process.

Talented recruits have options. If you don’t act, they will; in competitive markets, that could mean they are getting swooped up by your competition.

Communication is so crucial to recruiting top talent that we wrote a blog about it. To learn more, visit our blog-page, “Don’t Keep Your Candidates Guessing: Why Communication is the Key to Keeping Candidates Interested”. If you need help with your employee selection process, contact us today!