Definition of a Hiring Event Platform
Online hiring event platforms are having their day, finally. While some providers have been serving talent acquisition teams for years, the pandemic and sudden shift to remote-everything prompted many new players to enter the market. And this makes it especially challenging to shop for a new partner. The sad fact is that few online hiring event platform vendors have the level of industry knowledge and expertise to support you no matter what recruiting challenges arise in the future.
These tools work for a single organization that needs to hire for many positions and/or a large volume year after year, as well as multi-employer hiring events hosted by employers, associations, workforce development departments, and government agencies.
Use this guide to help you evaluate the available options and make the right choice for your organization.
Software Criteria
When you start looking for a software vendor, it makes sense to start by evaluating what their product can actually do. For online hiring event platforms, look for features and functionality that help you create a compelling event experience. The best platforms on the market include the following features:
- Live video broadcast
- Booths (for different employers, departments, or positions)
- Integrated text, audio, and video chat (with no add-on apps needed such as standalone or external video calls)
- Branding and customization
- Web browser-based user experience
- Mobile-friendly interface
- Ability to schedule chats in advance
- Rate, review, and take action on candidates
- Reporting and analytics
Once you find a platform that meets your needs in terms of features and functionality, look at how this new tool will integrate with the other technology you use to accomplish your recruiting goals. Will the online hiring event platform integrate easily and effectively with your applicant tracking system (ATS)? Platforms with these integrations will save your recruiting team countless time and energy by streamlining processes and helping you build your talent database.
Support, Training & Expert Insights
Find out what kind of technical support is available. Some free event platforms offer little or no support. If you have questions about setting up an event or run into a problem during a live event, you want instant access to tech support. Look for solutions with 24/7 live chat support for events as well.
Make sure there is a library of easily accessible training for you, your recruiting team (recruiters, hiring managers, anyone else who is screening candidates), and your attendees.
Another must-have is access to account managers who have their fingers on the pulse of industry best practices and work with you to build the best events and strategy.
Development Roadmap
Many of the newer platforms on the market have not evolved since their initial launch. Brazen’s engineering team is constantly working to develop new features and improve our platform’s workflow so is always enhancing our clients’ abilities to drive results. For example, we recently launched the ability to schedule chats for an upcoming event ahead of time.
We’re not talking about change for the sake of change. Making valuable innovations rely on understanding the real world challenges TA teams face, and that requires years of experience in the industry, working closely with high volume clients, and honing the ability to anticipate trends. As you evaluate potential vendors, don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions about how they see talent acquisition and what they see for the future of recruiting.
User Satisfaction
Just like shopping for a consumer product, user reviews can be very insightful when shopping for an online event platform. Check reputable software review sites like G2 and Capterra to see what current and past customers are saying about the software, customer support, and any problems they faced and how they were handled. If you see anything concerning, ask the sales team about it. A great vendor should be able to address any concerns you have.
Expertise & Relationship
Providing an effective online hiring event platform takes more than technological know-how. It also requires expertise in all areas of talent acquisition, like recruitment marketing and candidate experience. Look for a partner who can bring this to the table.
Investing in Your Recruiting Goals
Deciding how to spend your technology budget is a big deal, in more ways than one. Take the time to evaluate your needs and find a vendor who can exceed your expectations at every turn. The best online hiring event platforms offer a wide range of features that are easy to use, enhance the candidate experience AND the recruiter experience, and deliver a wealth of data to enrich your talent database and reveal insights you can use right away to improve your talent acquisition strategies. In effect, the right online hiring event platform will help you crush your goals and stay flexible to respond to whatever the future holds.
