Learn how to enhance engagement at virtual recruitment events with tips on creating hype, interactive booths, networking opportunities, gamification, and more to attract both employers and candidates.
We’ve probably all attended a recruitment event at some point in our career, but have you ever attended a virtual recruitment event?
The premise of these events is pretty much the same as in-person events, only everything lives online. It is for this reason that many people prefer virtual recruitment events as it means they can explore lots of different job opportunities with ease.
Instead of having to walk around large exhibition halls, visiting multiple booths and engaging in conversations that might not necessarily interest them, virtual recruitment events allow attendees to make connections quickly and easily.
This is a benefit for both employers and employees alike, as it means positions can be filled much quicker. It also means employers can source high-quality talent, as you have a bigger pool of candidates when moving over to a virtual space.
This is just one advantage of virtual recruitment events, but we’ll explore these in more detail below.
One concern surrounding virtual recruitment events is engagement. People often fall into the trap of thinking these events will be boring, due to their online nature.
Oh, how very wrong they are!
In this post, we’re going to outline some top tips for boosting engagement at virtual recruitment events to ensure they are a success for all parties.
There are lots of benefits of virtual recruitment events compared to in-person events, some of which we have outlined above.
Below are some of the other benefits that can be enjoyed when moving over to the virtual space:
1) Attendees feel more relaxed and comfortable as they can engage in conversation with potential employers via 1-1 video call. Meeting with employers for the first time can be very intimating, especially if this is someone’s first job since graduating, so doing this in a virtual setting can take some of the pressure off.
2) It allows for more meaningful, targeted connections as attendees can choose which companies they want to engage with and learn more about. Often at in-person events, people get side-tracked or pulled into conversations that don’t really interest them.
3) Much more cost-effective, as you don’t have to pay for a venue, catering requirements, or travel.
4) Allows employers to find candidates much quicker, therefore filling more roles with ease.
5) Allows employers to source more high-quality candidates as they have a bigger pool of talent to choose from. As there are no geographical barriers to virtual recruitment events, employers can engage with potential candidates across the globe.
6) The process can be made more fun through a range of interactive games and quizzes. Instead of just standing at a booth chatting to candidates, employers can provide games throughout the virtual event which can enhance engagement further.
7) You can measure the effectiveness of your virtual recruitment event through analytics. Performance indicators such as the number of visits to a booth and video views can help companies work out their return on investment and overall success to inform future recruitment strategies.
Now that you know the benefits of hosting a virtual recruitment event, let’s take a look at some of the ways you can sustain engagement throughout the event.
After all, you want attendees to find suitable job roles, and similarly, you want businesses to find the right type of candidate, otherwise they will not support your event in the future.
You need to get the word out there about your virtual event and create some hype.
If no one knows about your event, then no one is going to attend! You want to attract as many candidates as possible to ensure your event is a success. This also means that businesses will want to come back to your virtual event in the future when they are hiring, as they know how effective it is.
The first step to generating pre-event hype is leaving yourself enough time. You should start your marketing campaign around a month early as this gives people enough time to make space in their diaries.
You should send your first invitation around a month in advance, making sure to include all relevant information such as dates, times, event agenda, and which businesses will be at your event.
If there are any high-profile companies attending your event, then make sure you give these a special mention. Seeing a big name at a virtual recruitment event can really push more attendees to sign up.
You should also mention any freebies or giveaways that you’ll be handing out, as this is always a great incentive for people to give up their time and attend.
Make sure to follow up with those that didn’t register around a week before your event to give them a final push.
Social media is your best friend when it comes to spreading the word about your virtual recruitment event.
Make sure you post relevant information across all of your social media channels so that you target as many people as possible. You should also tag the relevant companies on your social posts as this will encourage them to share the content on their own channels too.
As well as writing posts, you should also create videos for social media to give people a flavour of what the event has to offer.
You could create short teaser videos for Instagram and TikTok, highlighting some of the key companies who are attending your event, and the types of job posts they have available. Imagine if Google or Barbour had a Booth at your virtual event, people would be rushing to sign up, as these are big companies that a lot of people recognise.
Your teaser video doesn’t need to be much longer than 30 seconds, as you’re using it to entice people to the main event, by generating enough excitement.
If you’ve hosted virtual recruitment events in the past, then make sure you share videos of these as it gives people an idea of what they can expect. Also, make sure to record testimonials with companies and candidates who have found the right match, as you can use these video testimonials to promote future events.
Always think one step ahead!
In the intro, we touched on the fact that many people believe virtual recruitment events are boring, simply because a computer screen is in the way.
However, by choosing the right virtual event platform, you can enjoy a whole host of features such as being able to customise exhibitor booths.
If you have 50 companies promoting their job opportunities at your virtual event, then you don’t want all of their booths to look the same. And there’s no need for them to either!
With the right virtual event platform, exhibitors can customise their booth to make sure it is reflective of their branding.
This makes the event much more personal and immersive as companies can visually communicate their offering to attendees.
Imagine if you were attending a virtual event, and every single booth looked the same. It would be incredibly drab and dreary and you wouldn’t know which one to visit first.
However, by investing in a platform such as iVent, exhibitors can create bespoke booths which truly reflect what their brand has to offer.
We don’t use templates, it’s that simple.
Everything is built from the ground up by our in-house experts to ensure its functionality is a perfect match to individual event objectives.
Are you ready to get started?
One of the most important things about virtual recruitment events is the networking opportunities as this is how employers and employees interact.
Making sure these interactions are still achievable in a virtual environment is key, otherwise attendees will get bored and lose interest.
It’s important they can reach out to employers and ask any questions they might have such as the requirements of the job post or finding out more about the company. Whatever questions they have, there should be an easy and accessible way for them to communicate, otherwise they’ll not feel engaged.
Aside from standard features such as chat and video call, you should also be looking for a virtual event platform that offers a bit more functionality.
With the iVent platform, we provide a whole host of ways for employers and candidates to connect, some of which are detailed below:
This allows exhibitors to plan their meetings with ease. From scheduling meetings in advance to instant meetings with delegates who are in your booth, this feature transforms the way connections are made.
You can also start a video chat with up to 25 people, and screen share which allows exhibitors to interact with more people than ever before.
From an attendee’s point of view, they can find information about the meeting host including who they are and details of their social media links. This saves them time sifting through various channels as all of the information lives in one place. They can also message the host directly if they wish to reach out on a 1-2-1 basis.
A virtual lounge is a great way for people to come together in a more relaxed setting. Perhaps a presentation has just ended and people have some burning questions or some creative ideas that they want to share? Well, this is the place for it!
This allows people to network in between meetings or presentations without it feeling forced. Instead, they can grab a cup of tea, sit back, and facilitate meaningful conversations.
Online networking can also be leveraged during a presentation as companies can engage and collaborate with attendees whilst the presentation is taking place.
As a host, you can also take advantage of tools such as screen-sharing, whiteboards, polls, tests, and live chat so you can engage attendees through a variety of formats.
You also have the option of a multi-presenter view if you’re hosting a panel discussion. This allows numerous presenters to be on screen at the same time and creates the feeling of everyone being in the same room.
We’ll keep this section fairly short and sweet as we’re covering it in more detail below.
Essentially, it’s important your chosen virtual event platform provides a number of gamification opportunities as this is a fantastic way to keep your audience engaged.
It always adds a bit of fun and personality into your virtual event instead of everything being super corporate. Whilst the main aim is for businesses and candidates to find the right fit, there are lots of ways to make this happen.
Another great thing about gamifying aspects of your virtual recruitment event is that it can help candidates to feel more relaxed. Searching for a job can be intimidating enough as you’re trying to put your best foot forward.
However, introducing a range of games can help candidates loosen up and feel more confident when it comes to asking questions.
As we’ve noted above, gamifying your event is a great way to boost engagement.
There is a range of different games you can introduce to your event, so it’s all about working out which games suit your audience best.
On the iVent platform, we offer a range of interactive games such as custom treasure hunts. This allows you to scatter clues across your virtual event platform and then provide any prize you like to those who solve the puzzle.
By providing a prize, you are further incentivising attendees to participate as everyone loves a free gift!
This game also benefits exhibitors too as you can direct attendees to specific booths by placing clues there and initiating more conversations. This is very valuable as you can direct people to departments that have the most job openings.
Aside from treasure hunts, we also have a vast selection of games, ranging from photo booths, to Pac-Man games, and more.
Whichever game you think will work best to engage your audience, we can fully brand it for you.
It’s all entirely customisable, and we’re always here to work with you on coming up with new ideas!
At in-person events, swag bags are something attendees can take away with them to remind them about the event.
Usually, they’re full of lots of branded merchandise which allows the brand to stay fresh in the minds of their audience.
You might be wondering how swag bags will work once you move over to a virtual setting.
Well, there are two ways you can approach it. You can either send attendees physical swag bags before the virtual event to help them get better prepared. This could include branded items such as notepads, pens, and mousepads – all of which are useful, as these are things they can use during the actual event.
The other option is to send virtual swag bags which could include items such as video content, eGift cards, vouchers, or online courses.
There are lots of benefits to sending virtual swag bags, most notably because they’re more cost-effective (no shipping involved), and attendees receive them instantly.
Swag bags are a great way to boost engagement at virtual recruitment events as you could use them to direct attendees to online courses which could enhance their career opportunities.
Now for the biggie!
Choosing the right virtual event platform is the backbone of all of the tips we have outlined above. After all, this is where your virtual recruitment event will be hosted, so you need to be sure it has all the features and functionality you require.
What’s more, you want a platform that is intuitive and easy to use.
You don’t want to spend countless hours explaining to each exhibitor how the platform works, as this will eat up valuable time and resources.
Instead, you want to choose a platform that seamlessly integrates with your virtual event, and enhances the experience of both the companies promoting jobs and the candidates searching for their next career move.
At iVent, our team of experts are always on hand to help you create and execute a winning virtual recruitment event. However, you’ll be pleased to know that our platform is so easy to use that you might not need us!
Unlike some other platforms, there are no fancy plug-ins or downloads to worry about, which allows you to fully concentrate on the event at hand.
To find out more about our platform, simply get in touch with our friendly team.
Making your virtual recruitment event engaging should be the goal of every event organiser, period.
After all, it’s your responsibility to make sure that the environment you create is fit for both businesses and candidates.
To facilitate this process and to make sure the event is a success, you need a platform that is flexible and adaptable to your requirements.
Working alongside us here at iVent is one of the best decisions you’ll make, as our goal is to always exceed expectations. From creating customised exhibitor booths to providing a range of interactive features and meeting functionality, there isn’t a lot you can’t do with our bespoke platform!
To find out more, simply scroll down and hit the red ‘Contact Us‘ button and let’s get discuss your project requirements.
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