Here’s the print version of our recent CF+ Power Up Webinar customers requested to refresh their CF+ skills as fall recruiting accelerates.
So, whether you’re new to Career Fair Plus (CF+) or a long-time fan, keep reading to optimize the software for superior student, employer, and career services outcomes.
Let's start at the beginning. CF+ uses Smart Links to simplify event access. Sharing one link with your students and employers automatically directs them to the right platform—mobile or web-based on their device: Voila, less confusion and fewer steps for everyone.
Once inside CF+, you'll see a list of upcoming and past events. I recommend keeping past events accessible for a few weeks so students can prepare for future events with this existing employer information.
Let's explore the Event Info tab with key event details: location, agenda, and how to add the event to their calendar. By making this information readily available, we help attendees feel prepared.
You can customize this section with hyperlinks to essential resources. For example, include contact information, a button to get directions to your event, or links to surveys for post-event feedback. Think of it as your central hub for all event-related info.
Moving on to the Employers page—this isn't just a list; it's a powerful tool. You can customize labels to fit your event's theme and create filters to help students find employers or positions that match their interests. These filters make the process efficient, whether they search by major, opportunity type, or other criteria.
Encourage students to favorite employers they're interested in and take notes directly in the app for rapid retrieval when preparing elevator pitches or meeting conversations.
Make sure employers build detailed profiles by showcasing their brand with logos, company descriptions, and links to their career pages or social media. This information helps students better understand each employer before they meet.
If you want to offer specific employers more visibility, use the Featured Employer Listing, which highlights them at the top of the list and on the app's splash screen. It's a great way to add value for your top sponsors.
Banner ads are another way to enhance visibility. They're eye-catching and sit right next to employer listings. They make sponsorship packages more appealing since they're linked directly to the employer's profile, and you can track views.
Encourage employers to embed videos in their profiles. Whether it's a recruiter sharing insights or a glimpse into company culture, videos engage students in ways text can't.
Don't forget the app's announcements feature. Use it to send push notifications about sponsors or event updates. It's an effective way to drive traffic to specific booths or highlight important information.
Now, let's talk about the interactive fair map. CF+ offers an offline map, which is particularly useful in crowded venues with spotty Wi-Fi. It handles multi-room and multi-day events effortlessly, helping students navigate with ease.
Students can use the map to mark their favorite booths and check off the ones they've visited. They can also tap on any booth to get more information, which simplifies on-the-spot decisions.
Setting up the map is straightforward for you as organizers. Just upload your booth layout and drag and drop employers into place. That’s it!
Don’t forget booth and event check-in with QR codes to streamline check-in. Students scan in quickly, and you gather valuable analytics on attendance and booth visits. Employers get digital lead collections at no extra cost.
Since not every student can meet every employer, use the Resume Drop feature. It lets students submit their resumes to employers they missed. It's customizable and keeps opportunities open even after the event.
For example, Auburn University had great success with its Resume Roundup event. Students submitted resumes to top employers without scheduled meetings, which kept engagement high between events.
Consider offering pre-scheduled in-person meeting times to support students with tight schedules and employers who want to meet candidates who meet company criteria. Plus, it's another feature to include in sponsorship packages.
Next-day interviews can be chaotic, but CF+ simplifies this with private QR codes for employers. They can invite students on the spot, and students can schedule interviews without double-booking. You'll also get full analytics to track participation.
Don't forget about the integrated CareerForge tools. The Event Management Module integrates smoothly with CF+. It allows for customizable employer registration, tailored sponsorship packages, and integrates with payment systems like Stripe and TouchNet.
Also, the Badge Printing Module speeds up event entrance. Students show their ID—physical or virtual—and print their badges in seconds. It's efficient and reduces long lines at check-in.
Remember, CF+ offers live webinars twice a week to train recruiters. Your employers can get up to speed without adding to your workload. Plus, they have direct access to support for any technical questions.
Both students and employers can access resources within the app, like help guides and contact options.
You'll get detailed reports on employer booth views, banner ad impressions, and student interactions. Knowing what's working helps you refine future events.
Share these analytics with your sponsors to show them the engagement they're getting. It reinforces the value of their investment and can help in renewing sponsorships.
CF+ is packed with features to make your career fairs more effective and engaging. If you have any questions or need a hand getting started, we're here to support you feature by feature for any career services event.