Student fairs are essential events for landing a work-study contract or an internship. Some are general, while others are more specialized. But with digitalization and the coronavirus health crisis, these events have lost their appeal. Is this a temporary phenomenon, or are these meeting places already outdated and have become a thing of the past ?
Student fairs shunned
Job fairs, which previously brought together companies and interns or work-study students, are now being snubbed by students. Lack of information, disinterest, lack of personalization, etc. are all factors that cause students to avoid job fairs. They prefer to target more specific offers, using social media or sending unsolicited applications, which target specific companies.
Some students feel that the fairs host a limited number of organizations and that these organizations are not of interest to them. They believe that even the interviews that take place on site are more like assembly line interviews, which trigger a very visible and disturbing feeling of competition.
For many people looking for an internship or student job, trade fairs are well and truly outdated and they consider attending them a waste of time, especially since some of the performances can be disappointing.
On the other hand, another problem arises, namely the lack of knowledge of the market reality. In this regard, students are looking for large organizations for an internship or work-study program, which may not be present at the fairs. Students should not fixate on a particular group or company; they should be more open to different organizations, including SMEs. In other words, they must be more aware of the reality of the job market.
For some, the distance from the trade fair, the lack of information about the upcoming event and the dates, prevent them from attending. While others are more interested in an online trade fair that saves them from many inconveniences, especially when the event in question is planned far from their city of residence.
Due to the coronavirus, many events have been canceled or postponed, while others have permanently adopted virtual formats. This has allowed students living in certain regions to attend trade shows held far from home online. Organizers of these types of events are even considering a hybrid version allowing them to attend the show remotely or in person. Students can then choose what suits them among the many trade shows , career and apprenticeship meetings, or even work-study programs. It seems that these events must increasingly adapt to the new uses and needs of their visitors.
Despite all the criticism, such events should not be overlooked, as they are one of the channels that allow you to land an internship or work-study position. They play an important role, just like advertisements, networking, and social media. They are an additional source that allows you to directly meet recruiters interested in interns or work-study students.
Why go to a trade fair?
Despite the controversy, the fairs continue to attract people for many reasons, namely:
-Connect with recruiters: Visiting a trade fair can be an opportunity not only to secure a work-study or internship position, but also to scout out companies and meet recruiters for later use. It's a great chance to network and make some useful contacts.
-Survey attendees: Companies are generally represented by employees and HR managers. This offers an incredible opportunity to get a feel for the atmosphere of a structure by gleaning information and having a physical meeting with the exhibitors. It would even be possible to meet your future employer or manager.
-Take advantage of professional tips and advice: Many conferences are organized during a student fair and it would be interesting to attend them. Indeed, HR managers, coaches and recruitment experts advise the audience on how to land the right job, convince an employer, write a CV, etc. It's an enriching experience, not to be missed.
-Practice your presentation: Making a one-minute pitch that will be impactful and convince your future employer is a difficult exercise, which should be practiced many times to perfect it. And there's no better place than a trade show to practice and deliver a concise yet powerful presentation.
-Discover new opportunities: Students often attend fairs with the expectation of meeting a specific company or recruiter. However, such an event is also an opportunity to discover other organizations and other sectors of activity, likely to offer a new experience and even a more interesting career plan.
