Staffing is costly, no question. Recruitment drives can be laborious and lengthy processes, but a great and cost-efficient method of getting your company name out there and attracting applicants is by participating in a recruitment or careers fair.
Here’s how to make the most of this opportunity.
Target the right audience: lots of recruitment fairs take place throughout the UK, but not all will be appropriate. Take time to research fairs for your industry, those that are being held in geographically sensible locations or that might attract people with the skills that you need. For example, a financial services company seeking actuaries might attend a fair at Heriot-Watt University, an institution that is renowned for its actuarial mathematics degree course.
Prepare: consider what your audience will want to know, i.e. the basics – who you are and what you do. Print up booklets that provide the relevant details. Pack a laptop so that visitors can flick through the company website. Print off a list of current vacancies, job descriptions and application forms so that interested parties can apply straight away.
Come armed with branded posters and other display material to make your stand look good. Get staff to wear branded t-shirts, however much they moan, so that they stand out. Ensure, if nothing else, there are piles of business cards on the table that give contact information.
Give-aways: everyone likes free stuff. If your budget will stretch, clearly branded goodie bags are a sure fire way of attracting people to your stand. Include a copy of the staff magazine and maybe a pen. Sweets are cheap and fuss-free; it doesn’t matter what the bag contains, just get them in people’s hands to ensure free advertising for the rest of the day.
Prize draw: encourage people to leave their details or register for job alerts by putting their names in a draw. Alternatively, hold a small competition on the day to ensure people return to your stand.
Bring the right people: not just HR and the recruiting manager. If your company has a mentoring or employee rep scheme, maybe invite some of the bubblier members along to describe their roles. Invite reps from the social and charity committees, to demonstrate the company’s corporate responsibilities, values and fun sides.
If you are at a university recruiting IT graduates, bring with you other former graduates and people doing IT roles. If you are trying to recruit shift workers, invite existing shift workers so that specific questions can be answered.
The trick is to put yourself in the delegate’s shoes. If you were visiting a stand at a recruitment stand, what would you want to know? What would make you interested in the company? What would make you want to work for them?
