The dos and don'ts of impressing employers at an ACCA Virtual Careers Fair
ACCA's Virtual Careers Fairs (VCFs) are an amazing way for ACCA members and future members to meet employers.
Simply put, ACCA’s VCFs are like a ‘normal’ physical careers fair, where employers are on hand to talk about their companies and to offer jobs. There are also experts talking about CVs, job interviews and career path strategies.
Businesses come to VCFs because they want to share information and help you succeed. They want to get to know you and whether you would fit their firm's values and culture, so be personable, express your interest and enthusiasm, while remaining professional and you can’t go wrong.
And like a normal careers fair, you need to prepare in a similar way, but with a few added things to consider for a virtual setting. So here are some useful dos and don't on how to have a successful VCF.
Do: Have a plan
You want to (virtually) arrive at the event with an idea of the sectors you’re interested in and of the employers in those sectors in attendance. Think about the experience you have (if they answer is none, that’s fine, many employers will be offering entry level/trainee roles) and what kind of roles might best suit your skills.
Do: Research employers
Next, and this is vital, employers at previous VCFs have said how important it is that you have at least a basic knowledge of their organisation before talking with them. This is a very simple thing to do, a quick Google search can give you an idea of their size, sector, services, products, key people, and even culture.
If you want to make a really good impression, read about the companies you’re most interested in, get to know their industries and relevant trends, pinpoint organisational targets and strategies that resonate with your professional goals. These are all good talking points that can help you to meaningfully engage with employers and hopefully be remembered by them.
Don't: Bombard people with your CV
A VCF is the chance to meaningfully engage with employers, recruiters and their representatives, so don't waste the opportunity by simply bombarding their inboxes and the chat rooms with as many CVs as you can. They will think you're not seriously interested.
Think about your approach, engage in conversation, ask good questions, show you've done your research. There's an etiquette just as there is in the 'real' world. Some organisations don't even accept CVs, preferring you submit an application via their website. Meanwhile, HR personnel and recruiters at the VCF will be speaking to high volume of attendees and will likely not provide individual feedback on CVs, unless they ask to do so.
So, think about you're going to introduce yourself and how you're going to have valuable interactions.
Do: Prepare your approach and your pitch
If you want to make the best impression, how you introduce yourself is key. Employers may invite you for a 1-2-1 video call, a voice call, or respond to text messages from within the networking area in the VCF platform, a bit like WhatsApp. Candidates can also chat in the employer’s general chat area within their booth.
An employer doesn’t need to know your life story but they will need some context about you and your circumstances before they can have a meaningful conversation with you.
Therefore, consider preparing a short elevator pitch, but avoid copying and pasting to every employer without taking the time to tailor to them, as this will be obvious. If you choose to simply introduce yourself then make sure you let them know some key facts, such as whether you’re currently at school, college or university and why you are particularly interested in their organisation. Let them know what kind of position you are looking for (eg an apprenticeship, traineeship or graduate role).
Furthermore, in the same way you’re looking for employers, employers are also on the lookout for you. They’re looking for attendees that match their criteria and if that happens to be you, they can make contact and ask to speak you on the day. So be ready to talk about what makes you a potential asset.
Do: Register with ACCA Careers
If you haven’t done so already, register with ACCA Careers. This has several benefits:
- Many of the employees advertise jobs on ACCA Careers throughout the year
- The majority of job applications at a VCF are made via the ACCA Careers job board, so if you’re already registered and familiar with the site, you have a head start
- The careers advice on ACCA Careers will be invaluable in helping you prepare for the big day
- And beyond the VCF, on any given day, ACCA Careers has tens of thousands of jobs advertised globally from of the world’s biggest employers and careers advice content uploaded daily
Don't: Forget to ask questions
Be ready with some well-considered questions, not ones you could easily find the answer to on Google. For example, if you want to know the closing date of a certain vacancy or what the application process is like, you should be able to find this easily on their website or in the list of resources they have provided on their virtual stand. If this isn’t the case then you should use the opportunity to ask, but make sure you’ve looked properly first.
The best kind of questions are those making the most of the person you’re talking to and their experience of the company, information you can’t find answers to online. For example, what do they like most about working there? What is the culture like? What’s the most challenging or exciting thing about working in that sector or for that firm? Do they have a top tip for someone applying for a role straight from university?
Do: Polish your CV
While we advise that as a general rule you should adapt your CV to each job application you make, we strongly recommend coming to the VCF with an updated CV, so that it won’t take you too long to adapt it when you submit job applications or an employer asks to see your CV.
We have loads of advice on ACCA Careers about CVs, as well as from our CV writing partner at CV Writers, who will be in attendance at the VCFs to provide live advice and even CV reviews.
Do: ‘Really’ stand out
Don’t be shy — take part in conversations within group chatrooms and ask questions during webinar sessions. To do this well, refer to the first point — do your research. This will help you to contribute in a relevant and informed way that will ultimately make you a memorable candidate for employers.
Don't: Forget to dress to impress
You might end up talking to hiring managers on video calls, so look the part, be smartly dressed, with neat hair, just as you would for a face-to-face event. This also helps you to mentally ‘get in the zone’, to feel as if you’re doing something official even if it is from the comfort of your home.
Do: Think about your home virtual set up
One of the only points here that differs from preparing for a physical careers fair. Make sure your technology is working, especially the mic and video on your computer or smartphone, and that you have a stable internet connection. Choose a peaceful, comfortable place away from unwanted distractions and interruptions. Remember that you’re trying to make a good impression, so if you look good on screen, with a nice, tidy backdrop and good camera angle, it will go a long way. You can read more about a good home office set up here.
Do: Consider work visas beforehand
Be mindful that some organisations will sponsor visas, but many won’t and this will usually be made clear in the information presented at the stand. Organisations won’t want to waste your time if they are unable to offer you an opportunity.
Do: Follow up
Finally, following up. Don’t let all the preparation and hard work you put in before and during the VCF go to waste by not following up on your applications and new connections. Even a simple email telling the representative that you really enjoyed meeting and talking with them, and if there’s any further information they’d like from you, to not hesitate to ask. This can go a long way to cementing you as a credible candidate in someones mind.
Good luck!