Every company has made a bad hire at least once -- you know, the guy who sits in his office giving female colleagues the once-over between personal phone calls. The best way to minimize the chance of hiring Homer Simpson's twin brother is to cast your hiring net far and wide. At a job fair, you can vet a candidate as fast as you can collect her resume. But first, you'll have to attract potential job candidates to your booth. To do that, you'll need to make it both original and visually attractive.
Pictures
The old saw about a picture being worth a thousand words is true. Add plenty of photos to your exhibit to make your booth stand out from the rest. Avoid the traditional photo of the company's 93-year-old founder in favor of some shots of your creative team doing mock-ups or the corporate trainer conducting a fun activity. To grab the attention of fair attendees, consider using an enormous photo as the background for your entire display.
Theme
Decorate your exhibit to fit the theme of your company. If your company is a fashion wholesaler, rent mannequins and deck them out in smart attire. A company that provides travel services could use leis and sunglasses to create an eye-catching display. Along with placing your company name front and center, customizing your booth can make it stand out from the somewhat mundane booths that typically populate job fairs.
Multimedia
There's a reason why a small screen tells you about the latest flavor of energy bar as you walk past the health food aisle of your supermarket. It grabs your attention and creates more sales. Implement this same strategy when designing your job fair booth. Set up a display screen that shows a video telling about your company or demonstrating the work that employees typically perform. A multimedia display will educate potential applicants while providing a talking point.
Swag
One sure way to draw potential applicants to your booth -- while also creating a friendly impression -- is to offer candy, T-shirts, pens and other swag. Even if the person who takes your free branded tote bag isn't a potential employee, other people may see her carrying it and decide to check out your company. Keep a supply of brochures, business cards and other promotional materials on hand for people to peruse and take home with them.
References
Writer Bio
Elise Wile has been a writer since 2003. Holding a master's degree in curriculum and Instruction, she has written training materials for three school districts. Her expertise includes mentoring, serving at-risk students and corporate training.