Employer Tips: Preparing for Teacher Job Fairs
While recruiting should be an ongoing, year-round process, springtime is key in implementing your teacher recruitment strategy. As job fair season ramps up, visit the HCRC’s Job Fair page for a listing of upcoming events sponsored by Ohio colleges and universities that are open to all school districts.
According to Handshake data, 78% of students and recent alum want to attend a career fair before they apply for a job. Why? The most common responses were to “get a perspective of what it is like to work for the organization” and to “understand if the role and responsibilities align with their interests and values.”
These responses indicate implications for schools - your brand matters. Think of it as your school’s reputation, specifically as an employer. Be sure that you highlight what makes your brand unique. For tips on defining your brand, visit the HCRC’s Employee Branding Toolkit.
To further prepare for career fairs and maximize exposure to top talent:
Have a good idea of the positions needed to be filled next year before attending the job fair(s). Many districts do this by sending a survey or declaration of intent document to staff each winter.
Review literature provided by the sponsoring site for tips and options to maximize engagement with students and alumni. Examples:
Education Career Fair Checklist; Employer Strategic Planning Checklist (Xavier University)
Employer Toolkit: In-Person and Virtual Recruiting Activities (University of Akron)
Build relationships with the career development team at the sponsoring college/university. They support employer partners on ways to engage students and alumni effectively.
When interacting with prospective candidates at job fairs, consider these tips from Handshake that can help employers stand out:
Proactively invite students to your booth.
Highlight what makes your brand unique.
Be transparent.
Make it memorable and useful.
Demonstrate how your leadership is invested in early talent. For teachers, show how they will be supported and their pathways for growth.
Humanize the candidate experience.
Afterward, follow up and nurture qualified connections.
For more details, see the complete list from Handshake: 7 Ways Employers Can Stand Out.