Since 2014, Handshake has been a trusted platform for universities hosting career fairs, with over 40,000 events held both in person and virtually. Now, with our recent acquisition of Talentspace, Europe’s leading career fairs provider, we're combining our expertise to provide careers services with the ultimate end-to-end fairs solution that will help take your career fairs to the next level. This winter, we’re launching a brand new fairs module that provides careers services with complete control, flexibility, and a seamless experience for both students and employers—all from a single login.
Here’s why our new career fairs module is set to transform how careers services manage and deliver compelling events.
1. Total control and flexibility for career services
Running a successful career fair requires flexibility and control, and that’s exactly what our enhanced feature delivers. Whether you’re looking to host a large-scale hybrid fair, a virtual-only event, or a traditional in-person booth setup, Handshake provides the tools you need to manage everything efficiently from one single login.
In just a few clicks, careers services can set up hybrid, multi-day fairs that combine in-person and virtual components, offering a more engaging and flexible experience for both students and employers. From inviting employers to participate to promoting your event to students, you control every aspect of the event directly from the platform. Post-event, the solution provides detailed reporting on key metrics like employer engagement and student participation, helping you refine future events for even better outcomes. Additionally, Handshake’s platform lets employers discover your fairs, request to join and grow your network, opening doors to new partnerships.
The platform gives careers services full freedom and flexibility, ensuring they can create events that align with the unique needs of their university and students.
2. A modern career fair experience that drives student registrations
A key factor in successful career fairs is student engagement, and the new Handshake module is designed with student-first features that ensure a seamless, modern experience. With event information accessible on both the web and the Handshake app, students are empowered to engage with employers in a way that suits them best.
Students can check in at in-person booths using QR codes for quick, efficient registration. They can also take charge of their job search by messaging employers before, during, or after the fair. This opens up more personalised communication opportunities that were previously difficult to manage. Additionally, students can book one-on-one time slots with employers, ensuring meaningful connections are made during the event.
Handshake not only provides students with a seamless fairs experience, it gives them a customised careers experience. Careers services can promote events, resources and fairs that are relevant to them whilst our smart algorithm promotes the fairs, jobs and employers they want to engage with. To date, events hosted on Handshake have generated over 3.7 million student registrations, making it the leading choice for universities.
3. More opportunities for employers to connect with talent
While the new module enhances the student experience, it also provides employers with multiple ways to connect with talent. Career fairs are a crucial touchpoint for employers seeking talent, and Handshake’s module ensures they can maximise their presence at these events.
Employers can connect with students through a variety of interactions, such as group sessions, 1-1 meetings, booth check-ins, and curated job walls where they can highlight relevant job opportunities. This allows them to engage with students in a more meaningful way, ensuring their brand stands out during the fair. Handshake’s Talent List feature also enables employers to proactively invite students who match their hiring criteria to attend specific sessions or one-on-one meetings, improving the chances of finding the right candidates.
After the event, employers can access CV books of the students they interacted with, giving them an easy way to follow up with potential hires. This means employers can follow up with promising students they met, making it easier to fill key roles and stay connected with top talent. For careers services, these enhanced engagement options also provide more ways to monetise fairs by offering premium slots for employers who want additional exposure.
End-to-end fair management
Handshake’s all-new fairs feature is more than just an event tool; it connects with the full suite of Handshake functionalities to provide a seamless experience for students and employers. Careers services can utilise Journeys and targeted emails to promote fairs to specific student groups, ensuring that the right students are aware of and prepared for the event. Resources and appointments can be embedded into student Journeys, helping them book key prep sessions ahead of the fair. After the event, direct messaging between employers and students allows for personalised follow-ups and ongoing engagement. Analytics and dashboards help track success, enabling careers services to analyse engagement and improve future events. All the tools you need, all in one platform.
Conclusion
Handshake’s enhanced career fairs solution module offers an exciting opportunity for careers services to elevate their career events. Imagine hosting a hybrid career fair that brings together top employers from across the region while offering virtual access to students who are studying abroad. Handshake makes this possible, all from a single, easy-to-use platform.
With complete control and flexibility, a modern, student-focused experience, and more opportunities for employers to connect with top talent, this module is designed to help universities create compelling, effective career fairs that deliver real results.
Whether you’re looking to host a multi-day hybrid event or a simple in-person fair, Handshake’s platform ensures your events run smoothly from start to finish.
Ready to transform your career fairs? Contact us to learn more about how Handshake can help you create impactful career fairs that engage students and connect them with the right employers.
Host your next career fair with Handshake.