Expand the Reach of Your Employment Search: Attend Job Fairs from Anywhere!

Gayle Oliver-Plath

Founder and CEO, CareerEco, Georgia

Securing a teaching position often depends on networking, but making connections can be especially difficult when you are seeking work in a new area of the country, have recently graduated, or are planning to transition into the teaching profession from another career field. One strategy that can expand the scope of your job search and minimize these potential hurdles, is connecting with recruiters real-time during a virtual career fair. If you have never attended a virtual job fair, you may be surprised by the benefits of these online recruitment events: ü Share your resume with multiple employers ü Make connections with recruiters ü Gain insight from other educators that will help you better understand the profession ü Access questions asked by other candidates that you had not previously considered ü Learn about and apply for positions that you didn't know existed

One great resource for teachers is CareerEco, which triples as a job-search engine, Virtual Career Fair center, and graduate school finder. Virtual job fair experiences allow participants to enjoy the job search in a much less stressful environment from the convenience of work or home. Virtual job fairs offer the benefit of being able to thoughtfully consider your answers and present your best self even before you visit the school in person. Job seekers can think of online events as the “open-notes” version of the job interview. Following some general guidelines for leveraging the full potential of virtual fairs can elevate your applicant status: ü Become familiar with participating districts by reviewing their profiles and websites ü Research job openings which are of interest to you in advance ü Prepare a list of quality questions to ask. Avoid lackluster questions like “are you hiring?” ü Test your technology a day or two before the event begins. ü Be professional. Remember you are being evaluated as a potential employee.

Virtual Fairs aren’t just beneficial to applicants. Online recruiting is gaining popularity with employers as well: ü Availability. Because job fairs can be conducted online, employers are able to meet more people like you, without the difficulty of navigating your busy schedules. ü Virtual recruitment events are less expensive than traditional job fairs, allowing school districts to utilize their budgets effectively and responsibly. P.S. you don’t have to travel either. Everyone wins! ü Online recruitment provides employers with digital files that are more manageable than stacks of paper resumes. Recruiters can quickly access your profile, set up an interview, and stay in contact with you after the fair. ü Your specialties shine. Because they have access to your resume ahead of time, recruiters can better understand your areas of interest and how you may fit into their school systems.

Still not sure if this online job fair is right for you? Here’s what others said about virtual experiences: ü “I got four solid job leads while sitting in my living room, drinking coffee. Can’t beat that.” ü “I was able to search for openings, have my resume viewed, and communicate with employers I was interested in, all without leaving my desk. Plus, it’s less pressure for the job seeker and recruiters.” ü “This format allows someone like me, who lives 2,000 miles away, the opportunity to visit with representatives from those districts when I am not in a position to attend an actual job fair.” ü “In my one planning period at school, I’ve been able to speak with 6 different employers. I normally wouldn’t be able to network this much without having to dedicate a full Saturday in my busy schedule to attending a job fair.”

Although looking for a job can be a seemingly daunting task, your dream job will ultimately be worth the investment of your time. By using the technology that is literally at your fingertips, next job may only be a keyboard stroke or two away!