Bigger, better graduate Virtual Careers Fair

2010 is the tenth anniversary of the Graduate Careers Australia [GCA] Virtual Careers Fair [VCF] and the event is promised to provide a bigger and better experience for Australian students assisted by a new technology platform.

The VCF, taking place from March 22 to March 31, offers university students the opportunity to participate in the largest online graduate employment event in Australia.

Students can explore interactive Expo Halls by discipline, visit Exhibitor Booths, attend pre-recorded employer presentations in the Conference Centre and download career-related material from the Resource Library.

The new technology enables students to chat live one-on-one with employers and university career advisors, “attend” presentations, have access to career counsellors and much more all from their laptop computer.

Last year’s event attracted more than 13,000 visitors from across Australia, New Zealand and internationally and this year even more visitors are expected.

What makes a virtual careers fair different to a career website?
VCF Project Manager, Kathy Unger, says that the real difference is that a virtual careers fair offers students the opportunity to interact with employers in real-time, just like they would at a physical career fair. Employers will staff their booths during the “live” component of the VCF (29-31 March) where students can visit and chat one-on-one via webcam, audio or text depending on the technology available to both parties. Each employer will have a notice on their booth advising what times staff will be available.

In addition, each employer will also host a 45 minute group chat at a designated time in the conference room. The other great thing is if the booth is unstaffed at the time the student visits, they can post a question for the employer to respond to directly. The VCF is in “preview” the week prior (22-28 March) so students can check out which employers are exhibiting, when employers of interest will be staffing their booth, and even register for group chats to receive email and SMS reminders prior to the chat commencing.

Students that have previously participated in the VCF will of course want to know: how will the VCF be different this year?

What will stay the same:

• Employers will still have a profile including company information, graduate program details, application processes, website link, and PDFs
• Employers will host a 45-minute group chat session in the Conference Centre
• The VCF will still be open for a “preview” week (no live chats) so that students can visit and see which employers will be exhibiting, check out the chat timetable, and download resources

What’s new:

• It LOOKS like a virtual event ““ visitors enter via an Expo Foyer, there are Expo Halls by discipline, making it easier than ever to find relevant employers, and exhibitor booths look like the real thing
• Students can subscribe to employer newsletters and enter competitions on the booth as well as download information and videos
• ONE-ON-ONE chat with booth staff ““ via text, voice or webcam
• Chats: students can pre-register for group chats and receive an email reminder the day before AND an SMS reminder one hour prior to the scheduled chat time
• Presentations: Employers can pre-record a video presentation, which can be viewed by students in the Conference Centre
• “Job Doctor” booth ““ there will be a dedicated booth staffed by University Career Advisors. Students can visit and chat about careers one-on-one via webcam, audio or text
• Resource Library ““ download career advice information on your University Career Service and more

Visit www.vcf.graduatecareers.com.au for more information. Students that pre-register for the VCF have the chance to a win a Dell Inspirion Mini 10 Notebook.