Exhibitor Success Tips

Before The Career Fair

Read our Exhibitor FAQ about returning to in-person events.

1. Select and Assign the Right Representatives

   • Reps should be personable, outgoing, knowledgeable and passionate about your company and its job openings.
   • Bring reps who are willing to seek out & engage job seekers, not wait passively to be approached.
   • A military background is a bonus and can help reps relate to the attendees.
   • IMPORTANT: Inform your RecruitMilitary Client Success Coordinator of your participating team members for each event to ensure they receive the electronic check-in and all event requirements prior to their arrival.

2. Make Sure Your Table and Recruiters Stand Out

   • Make sure your reps are easily identifiable— wear a badge or a shirt with your company logo on it.
   • If you have veteran representatives, consider creating a sign to stand on your table that identifies them as veterans. Example: John Smith—Navy veteran or Mary Clark—Army veteran.
   • Make your table stand out. This is a great opportunity to brand your company in the veteran community.
   • Plan to use table-top displays, banners, backdrops, and panels to attract job seekers to your booth.

3. Identify Your Job Opportunities

   • Via your organization's event profile on our job board, manually post your open positions.
   • Ensure that your reps know what jobs are available and are able to talk knowledgeably about those positions.
   • If you need to direct job seekers to apply online, please explain why. This is the #1 complaint and detractor by job seekers, but is quickly and easily overcome if explained why.

4. Advertise Your Participation at the Career Fair

   • Tap into your company's marketing resources to get the word out that you will be at the career fair with opportunities for veterans. Draw more job seekers to your booth by letting the world know that you will be there.
   • Make use of your company's social networking tools (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) to announce your participation in the event.

5. Build Your Brand and Reputation in the Veteran Community

   • "Everyone told me to apply online." Change the perception and stand out. Instead of sending job seekers directly to the website, find ways to help the candidate feel they made a good use of their time by visiting your booth.
   • Explain applying online allows them to forward their application to various recruiters at one time.
   • Share while you are representing your organization at the event, you are not the recruiter for all positions. You welcome answering their questions about the company and providing insight as to the company's culture, but applying online really does maximize their opportunity of being seen by all company recruiters.
   • If your organization requires candidates to apply through an ATS, provide instructions on how to most effectively access it and use it.
   • Scan the QR code of all candidates who visit your booth. Even if they still need to apply online, the interaction is more personal.
   • IMPORTANT: Scanning the individualized QR codes of all candidates also allows you to review all booth visitors and plan your follow-ups.

At The Career Fair

1. Break the Ice

   • To help make candidates comfortable and to gather valuable information from job seekers, ask questions like:
   • "What branch of the service were you in?"
   • "What is your area of expertise?"
   • "What types of careers are you interested in?"

2. Make the Job Seekers Comfortable

   • Greet the job seekers with a smile and "hello."
   • Do what you can to make them feel at ease.
   • You have a short time to make an impression on them, and you are giving them an opportunity to make an impression upon you.
   • Listen to what they have to offer.

3. Engage Job Seekers

   • Don't wait for job seekers to come to you.
   • Draw them into conversation as they walk by. (Especially important if you represent an employer they might not be familiar with.)
   • Ask what sort of positions they are looking for. Have a match? They'll love hearing about it.

4. Know Your Talent Pool

   • Job seekers at our events are a diverse bunch.
   • You will find a broad range of experience and backgrounds, from those transitioning from military service into civilian life to those who already have years of civilian experience.
   • Also in attendance will be reservists, members of the National Guard, and military spouses.

5. Scan Candidates’ QR Codes

   • Scan the QR code of all candidates who visit your booth. Create a more personal experience for the job seeker, rather than having them apply anonymously online.
   • Those with little or no civilian work experience will not know about OFCCP requirements or the use of an ATS to route resumes efficiently.

6. Don't Leave Early

   • The number of job seekers may be dwindling as it approaches 3:00, but unless you absolutely have to, don't be tempted to leave early.
   • It is very disappointing for job seekers to arrive as exhibitors are packing up or already gone. Some make a tremendous effort to attend, even traveling hundreds of miles.
   • Be there for them. They'd never leave their duty post. Let's do the same for them.

7. Thank Them

   • Recognize that these job seekers are veterans and military spouses and sincerely thank them.
   • We owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women who have sacrificed and served. Convey that appreciation in your words and actions.
   • Help them in any way you can. It is our time to serve them.

8. Schedule Interviews

   • Job seekers are eager to get the hiring process going.
   • To have your pick of top candidates, schedule those interviews ASAP.