Online career fairs: How to find a job in lockdown

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Normally, the students of the ESB Business School (ESB) at Reutlingen University would have strolled across the campus of their university at the end of March and looked at the stands of the companies that had come to the International Business Fair.

But this is not possible in pandemic times.

But the fair shouldn't be canceled either: “It is important to us that the contact between our students and the companies does not break off,” says Bianca Fecker from the ESB Career Center.

And so an alternative solution was sought.

The alternative concept had to be digital so that the trade fair could remain plannable regardless of the development of the pandemic.

The ESB offers its students such orientation events twice a year, in addition to the International Business Fair, or IBF for short, in March the somewhat smaller company forum with partners of the ESB takes place in autumn.

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After the IBF 2020 was canceled due to Corona, Bianca Fecker and Carolien van der Hulst from the ESB Career Center teamed up for the company forum for the first time with the company Talentspace.

“That worked well,” says Fecker.

"That's why we organized the IBF via Talentspace."

The provider specializes in organizing career fairs.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the start-up, in which the Axel Springer Group, to which WELT also belongs, is involved, has switched to digital solutions.

Talentspace looks after around 1,600 companies, including the majority of the DAX companies.

The provider organizes an entire platform for universities - comparable to analog exhibition stands.

Set goals

This is a great solution for Sina Woitke.

She was part of the ESB team that helped organize the online fair.

Woitke is studying international business in the third semester and is currently looking for an internship.

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According to career coach Walter Feichtner, trade fairs - whether digital or analog - are a good opportunity to get an impression of different companies.

“But it is also important not to get false hopes.

You don't normally get a contract offered directly at the trade fair, ”he says.

He advises participants to set goals for themselves before the fair: “Do I just want to get general information and know which employers there are?

Or am I looking for contact with a specific company? "

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47 companies from different industries took part in Reutlingen - from Accenture and Aldi to Commerzbank, Hugo Boss, Porsche and Thyssenkrupp.

Many of them introduced themselves in a half-hour “Company Presentation”.

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The online format hardly differs from an analogue lecture: An employee gives a brief insight into the company, its philosophy and its position in the market, but above all into their own everyday work.

Questions can be asked using the chat function.

In addition, the companies offer stands that are called “Booth” on Talentspace.

"Insight into the everyday life of the job"

But not only universities organize career fairs - there are also several hundred events, which often take place on exhibition grounds or in large event rooms.

This includes, for example, the “Stuzubi”, which is offered in various regions.

It is primarily intended for young people who want to find out more about courses and training opportunities.

Another major provider is the Staufenbiel Institute, which is also represented throughout Germany with the graduate congress.

These providers now also make online appointments available.

"For me, the insight into the everyday life of the job, which I might take on later, is particularly valuable," explains Woitke.

An employee who has the appropriate position can report particularly well.

Talentspace founder Jason Reich sees a great advantage in the digital offer: “While companies previously had to send four employees to a trade fair for a whole day, they can now involve ten employees for one to two hours each.

This makes the conversations and contact points more interesting for the participants. "

Dorothee Pfeuffer, Head of Talent Management at Commerzbank, confirms this. She knows from experience that the interest in company presentations is greater when the speaker comes from a higher hierarchical level.

But that is exactly what employees are who have little time.

This is why at Commerzbank: “In the future, the online format will remain a large part of our recruiting.” Nevertheless, the company does not want to completely forego analogue events “in order to get in personal contact” as soon as it is possible again.

One-on-one conversations via video chat

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Sina Woitke doesn't know anything else.

The pandemic began in her first semester, the first career fair in her studies had to be canceled, now career fairs are taking place online.

This has many advantages for Woitke: “The day is very easy to plan,” she says.

Because the entire program can be viewed online beforehand.

Anyone who already has very specific goals and is planning, for example, starting their own career or looking for an internship like Woitke should prepare well: Which companies are on site and at which locations are they active?

What career opportunities are there for me, are there currently any vacancies?

The choice of the right clothing also plays a role, says career coach Feichtner.

"Of course, the outfit should also match the industry I want to get into in the home office, but of course it doesn't have to be the costume at a career fair."

In addition, visitors can also seek personal contact with companies in the online event.

Many offer one-on-one interviews via video chat, in which personal questions from the participants or details about job advertisements and one's own career can be answered.

Sina Woitke also took advantage of this opportunity and thus gained a closer look at areas of responsibility or company processes.

In video chats, as at an analog trade fair, the following applies: “It is important to really establish a conversation with the other person,” says Feichtner.

Interested parties should therefore definitely ask questions.

But be careful: “You shouldn't ask when the company was founded, otherwise you will reveal that you have not looked up information.

And that doesn't go down well. "

The right questions

On the other hand, questions about everyday working life or more precise details that are not included in a job advertisement are appropriate.

"On the other hand, questions to the counterpart are also suitable to create a pleasant atmosphere for discussion."

For example: "How long have you been with the company?" Or: "How did you get started?" Although the experience of a recruiter may not always be representative of your own path, "you show that you are interested in others", says the career advisor.

“And soft skills are at least as important as the résumé these days.” Anyone who is afraid that questions will not come to mind can also prepare and write them down.

Woitke took exactly that into account - she collected the points before the trade fair and on the day itself she watched the company presentations so as not to ask twice.

"I was then able to use the conversation to ask individual questions, such as what a typical working day in an internship would look like for me, or specific questions about individual vacancies."

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These conversations have great advantages for the student: “In such a conversation you get to know your first employees and you realize: Does the corporate culture suit me?

Is that really mine? "

The ESB Reutlingen Career Center draws a positive balance after two digital events and can imagine different models in the future: “Since we offer two different career fairs, either one of them could be analog and the other digital.

Or we rely on a hybrid model with offers on site and additional digital workshops or presentations, ”explains co-organizer Bianca Fecker.

Talentspace founder Reich believes that the possibility of digital offerings could also change trade fairs in the long term.

“Because there are no fixed costs for the venue, many organizers opt for smaller formats with a focus on one topic,” he explains.

That could be automotive or business.

"Accordingly, we see that the events are generally smaller - but that more events are implemented."

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