How to Attract the Best Recruits at Job Fairs

Stand out at this year’s Career Fairs and Job Fairs

During an interview, potential recruits go through a rigorous process to prove they’re the right fit for your company. However, your company also goes through a vetting process: when job-seekers see your stand at job fairs and career fairs. Therefore, it is essential that your company and your brand are presented in the best light to attract the best talent.

Preparing for Job Fairs – 3 Rules

It is too easy to add job fairs to your calendar and then forget about them until the week before. These events are important and require advanced planning. Planning ensures a successful event at which you stand out from the crowd. It also avoids potential recruits from walking past your stand to those of your competitors. Rule number one for job fairs: plan in advance. 

What will also be helpful is to decide the types of candidates you want to attract. Knowing who your perfect candidates are will help you choose the most suitable information – and giveaway gifts, that will remind them of your company. It is also very useful to focus on your branding: how it comes across will build a positive perception in the mind of attendees. Have your brand guidelines to hand when choosing your career fair giveaways. Ensure they are printed using the correct logo and Pantone colours, and any message is printed using the correct font. Rule number two for job fairs: organise and order your career fair swag in advance.

Career fairs also allow you to position your brand in ways that might be difficult to get across online. So, ensure your most professional and cheerful employees meet and greet the talent that attends these fairs. Brainstorm the sort of questions attendees might ask. Then agree on a general script.  After all, job fairs can help you to save time on lengthy interviews down the line. Rule number three for job fairs: get current staff to ‘sell’ your company.

Be the Star of the Show 

Promotional Products are a great way to show that you’ve thought about the kind of candidates you want to appeal to. Get in touch with suppliers 6-8 weeks in advance of the fair and ask for recruitment swag ideas that highlight your branding, company culture and match your target audience. If you’d like to get those creative juices flowing, check out these fun, useful promotional products that will get your company brand noticed.

Pocket-Sized Notebook & Pen Set

Everyone loves a handy-sized notebook and pen. Better yet they have lots of space on which you can print your logo and message. Branded notebook sets are a practical and cost-effective way to get your name out there.

Recycled CD Case Pencil

Pencils are a simple but very effective gift. These are made from recycled CD Cases and are available in 13 popular colours. They are suitable for full-colour printing.

Vacuum Insulated Bottle

A water bottle with your logo is always useful and makes a great career fair giveaway. These double-walled stainless steel vacuum bottles allow drinks to stay cold for 15 hours or hot for at least 5 hours.

Drawing Set

Go the extra mile and show you care about looking after your employee’s mental health with mini adult colouring books and pencils. These are a relaxing way to spend a few minutes doodling before getting back to work.

Sticky Notes Set

Who doesn’t love sticky notes for all those essential diary reminders or book page markers? These sticky note sets can be colourfully branded with your logo and your message. They go down well especially with those who are studying for exams.

 rPET Foldable Shopping Bag

‘Bag for life’ shopping bags are a must for your shopping trips. Stand out from the crowd with clear branding and social responsibility for the environment with these rPET 190T foldable bags.

Mesh RPet Bags

Eco-friendly products as we don’t want to promote waste and plastic overuse. These rPet mesh bags are functional, small and compact. They can hold vegetables, fruit and nuts. They are popular with all age groups.

Give it socks!

Do something different: give them socks. Who doesn’t love receiving a pair of colourful socks? These socks can be branded or unbranded. Socks are an especially unique gift in that you don’t often see them at career fairs, so they’ll certainly put you ahead of the rest.

Bamboo Toothbrush

Have something linked to your industry and age group. An eco-friendly corporate gift such as a bamboo toothbrush for millennials is ideal! These are perfect to put your branding on and are something employees will look at every day. The toothbrush comes with charcoal-nylon bristles and a 100% biodegradable handle.

Reflective Key Hanger

Reflective key hanger that can be attached to any backpack or set of keys for immediate visibility during the darker times of the day. These come in a wide variety of colours with a large printable area on one side.

Put your employer brand front & centre at career fairs

Promotional products and job fair marketing materials shouldn’t be an afterthought for your job fair recruiting strategy. They should play a significant role when organising these events. Make sure you have job fair giveaway items ordered early to ensure everything is ready for the career fair. At Gift Innovations we can show you how to enhance your employer branding at career fairs with quality job fair giveaways.