Clara Boles
September 09, 2021
Newsletter ArticleQ&A Session with Kodie Williams, AgCareers.com Virtual Career Fair Coordinator
What is the biggest piece of advice you would give job seekers going into a virtual career fair?
K: Talk to as many people as you can! There is a huge advantage in building a relationship with them. Even if they don’t have a job you are interested in, just getting in the habit of introducing yourself and talking with different professionals is great.
What are some of the most important steps job seekers can take to prepare for the fair?
K: 1.Get your resume ready to go, have it updated! I recommend having a couple of different versions of your resume as well.
2.Research the companies. If there are some that interest you, specifically make sure to research them, and find out what jobs they are hiring for.
3.Talk to professionals who may offer you advice prior to the fair. They may give you some tips on how you can stand out in a certain field.
4.Have an idea ready for how you are going to pitch yourself. Know how you are going to introduce yourself, explain you, explain your experience, what you offer and what you are looking for.
Where can you find a virtual career fair to attend?
K: We have a list of Career Fairs found here on our website, AgCareers.com. The AgCareers.com Feed Your Future Virtual Career fairs all over Canada and the US can be found here: /feed-your-future.cfm Job seekers can also look on social media, if you follow employers you are interested in, they may also post on their profiles when they are attending virtual career fairs.
How far in advance should you sign up for a virtual career fair?
K: I would recommend signing up at least a week in advance. This will give you plenty of time to prepare for the fair.
What do you recommend wearing to the virtual career fair?
K: I always say business casual, even though for some fairs people do most of their communication through chat. Being dressed up puts you in a correct mind set of being professional! Plus, someone might want to meet via video, so it is always good to be prepared!
How should the job seeker make themselves comfortable with the virtual platform before the fair?
K: For AgCareers.com Feed Your Future Virtual Fairs, we actually send a “Job Seeker” how to guide that you can look at beforehand. Once job seekers log into the career fair, we have videos there too with instructions. We also recommend just asking questions to the career fair staff. We are more than happy to help!
The fair is over. What now?
K: If you feel you had a valuable conversation with an employer, I recommend reaching out with a follow up email and even connecting with them on LinkedIn. This is a great way to stay in touch and make yourself stand out!
