Why Host a Hiring Event?
Hosting a hiring event is a great way for recruiters, companies and employers to find and acquire amazing new talent.
What many people don’t realize is that recruitment fairs can do a lot more for a company and their bottom line than just providing a forum to fill a job gap.
Here are just some of the many perks that come with hosting a recruitment fair:
- Is an efficient way to fill multiple vacancies
- Can diversify and increase talent pool by attracting a greater amount of people than a standard interview
- Provides a forum to get to know potential employees on a deeper level
- Gives employers the opportunity to make a great impression
- A smart way to gain exposure and grow the company brand
- Allows for great networking opportunities
6 Steps to Putting Together an Outstanding Recruitment Event
1. Choose a Killer Team
Having an amazing team on board is like having a secret weapon when it comes to hosting a job fair.
Hiring managers and recruiters are obvious first picks to have on board, but also consider standout individuals who are confident and creative enough to serve as the face of the company.
Longstanding employees can also be a boon, since they have proven a strong commitment to the company and its interests.
2. Outline a Game Plan
Once the team is assembled, it is time to start working together to get the wheels in motion. Start with the basics, like agreeing on a common purpose and general goal of hosting the event, then start dividing up responsibilities and getting more into detail from there.
Important things to decide on in the preliminary planning stages include:
- What is the ideal location for the event?
- On what date and day of the week will the event be held?
- What time will the event start?
- How long will the event last?
- What promotional material will be given away?
- How will the event be branded?
- What kind of staff will be required?
- How will the event be advertised?
- What will be the social media strategy?
3. Budget It Out
Once the planning has gotten to the point that there is a good idea of what the event will look like, it’s time to start budgeting for the costs.
It is unrealistic to expect a recruiting event to generate a profit, but cost-sharing strategies are a smart way to open up a little extra room for spending and keep the budget on track.
5. Choose the Venue
If the ground work is all laid out, the next step is to book a venue. When choosing a venue, it is important to keep a few key considerations in mind. The ideal venue will accommodate all the following:
- Look for a venue that is available for the date and time that the team came up with for the event. If the first choice venue is already booked during these hours, it might be a good choice to consider looking elsewhere, since, after all, timing is everything.
- Check out the parking situation. Inadequate parking can have a negative effect on the overall turnout, so if the venue doesn’t provide enough free parking space, be sure to look into viable alternatives like readily available public transit or even providing a shuttle system.
- Pay attention to the size of the venue. It is important that the venue has enough space to comfortably accommodate all the people that are expected to be there as well as provide a little extra space should the event be busier than expected.
- Be sure to clarify whether the venue can accommodate all necessary equipment. Be sure to find out if there are any hidden charges.
- Make sure that the venue fit the budget. This one might seem obvious, but it is also the most important consideration here, so it bears mentioning. If the entire budget gets blown on the venue alone, it won’t be much of an event!
4. Get the Wheels in Motion
Once the venue is booked and the event is planned out, it’s time to execute it, and this is where the real fun begins. Start by dividing concrete tasks and creating a concrete timeline to make sure that everything gets done.
Here are some of the main things to integrate into the timeline:
- When the event will be announced
- How and when invites will be distributed
- When the event website will be up and running
- Outsource any necessary talent like photographers, caterers, etc.
- When and where the signs and branding will go up
- When the agenda will be finalized
- When all necessary supplies will be delivered to the venue
- What time all the key players should arrive (get there early!)
Taking all the details into account well in advance will minimize the chances that anything will fall through or get looked over when the big day finally arrives.
5. Recruit and Train Support Staff
One of the final preparatory steps is to hire any necessary support staff and make sure that everybody is fully briefed on what is expected of them throughout the course of the event.
Make sure everybody shows up early so that any kinks can be worked out before the show really gets going.
6. Thank Everybody Involved
Once everything goes off without a hitch and the job fair is a big success, be sure to take a moment to let everybody know that their hard work is appreciated. This step may seem simple, but it goes a long way.
The Takeaway
Throwing a recruitment event is a lot of work, but it is more often than not well worth the effort.
That said, hiring a professional recruitment advertising agency can be a great way to take a lot of added stress off the shoulders of the planning team. Not only does a professional agency have the knowledge, expertise and manpower to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch, but they can help manage other complicated aspects of the recruitment process, like PERM advertising in Dallas or immigration advertising in Dallas as well.
