Rethinking Traditional Career Fairs: Inclusivity and Job Seeker Experience.

??In my first month as a freelance Career Advisor with Key Business Skills , I had the opportunity to attend four career fairs locally in Milton Keynes and Northampton both as an attendee and an exhibitor. My main objective was to explore potential opportunities for local job seekers and raise awareness about our fully funded services. To outsiders, I may have seemed like just another person searching for employment.

??However, this experience turned out to be quite enlightening for me. While I have attended industry-focused shows in sectors such as machine learning and oil and gas on an international scale, what I discovered at these career fairs was truly eye-opening.

The Accessibility Challenge:

All of the fairs I have attended have lacked the necessary accommodations and support for neurodiverse candidates and individuals with disabilities. ?? Sensory overload, overwhelming crowds, lack of clear signage, small booth spaces, and unfamiliar environments can pose significant barriers to their participation. Most did not have easy access to the accessible bathrooms. ?

To create an inclusive environment, recruitment and events teams must actively address accessibility issues and provide accommodations such as quiet spaces, clear communication materials, and support staff who are trained to assist and engage with neurodiverse and disabled individuals. ?????

Expanding the Reach:

All of the events had local charities and even D&I consultancies. ?? Collaborating with these groups can help create targeted events or specialized career fairs that cater specifically to their needs, enabling meaningful interactions and increasing the chances of successful recruitment. ???

Leveraging Virtual Platforms:

Virtual career fairs offer a significant advantage in terms of accessibility. ? These platforms can provide a controlled and customizable environment where participants can engage comfortably from their own spaces. Recruiters can leverage virtual platforms to incorporate features like live chat, video interviews, and closed captioning to ensure equal opportunities for all attendees. ???????? By embracing virtual career fairs, organizations can remove physical barriers and create an inclusive space for all job seekers.

Raising Awareness and Training:

During the events, it was sadly clear that many exhibitors were either volunteered to to representing a brand or enthusiastic hiring stakeholders without, most didn't have visible identification. It made it difficult to follow up in a less hectic environment on LinkedIn or other platforms.

It is essential for recruitment teams to receive training on neurodiversity, disability inclusion, and accessibility best practices. ?? By raising awareness among recruiters and hiring managers, organizations can foster a more inclusive and supportive environment. Career fairs often serve as the first impression for job seekers, so providing guidance on inclusive communication, fostering empathy, and giving stakeholders clear guidance on your EVP and talent brand is essential to maximize ROI.

Going beyond QR codes.

At a local major banking company's stand, representatives from outsourcing company they were using were comfortable ignoring some job seekers and complaining about the event's duration. Considering the cost and importance of these events to local talent, it left me wondering: What was the point of exhibiting in the first place? ???

To attract diverse candidates, organizations must prioritize showcasing their commitment to inclusivity through employer branding initiatives, which go beyond QR codes to careers websites??. By highlighting diversity and inclusion policies, accessibility measures, and success stories of neurodiverse and disabled employees, a welcoming environment can be created for job seekers. Demonstrating a culture of acceptance and support will strengthen the talent brand and attract a diverse pool of talent.

But not all is lost !

There were many smaller non-profit organizations, charities, and a few HR teams who genuinely cared about the job seeker experience. They took their time to understand how to engage with specific individuals at the event and follow up afterward. ??

Traditional career fairs can be transformed into inclusive and ROI-driven talent acquisition machines by addressing the accessibility challenges faced by many job seekers. By actively creating accommodations, expanding outreach, leveraging virtual platforms, providing training, and showcasing inclusive employer branding, recruitment teams can ensure that all individuals, regardless of their background, have equal opportunities to engage and thrive in the job market. ??

If you're in need of support in preparing for an event or training your TA team on inclusive hiring frameworks and want to attract diverse talent, I'm here to help!

#InclusiveHiring #TalentAcquisition #DiversityandInclusion #JobSeekerExperience