According to a recent Student Insights Report by Rakuna, nearly 90% of college students and recent graduates are attending campus recruiting events. As campus recruiting events are speed-dating events between employers and potential employees, you need to get the spotlight to attract the best candidates. Here are our suggestions to make your career fair giveaways impress your prospective candidates and help your organization break through the clutter.

3 Critical Features Of Successful Campus Recruiting Events Giveaways

At a career fair, a positive impression is one of the critical factors in helping an organization win qualified talent. One effective way to stand out from the crowd is through compelling career fair swags. 

However, not all giveaways are created equal. To maximize your impact, it’s essential to understand what makes a giveaway successful:

1. Fun and Memorable

People are more likely to hold onto promotional items that bring them joy. Incorporating fun elements into your giveaways can leave a lasting impression on attendees and associate your employer brand with positive experiences. Whether it’s quirky gadgets or playful designs, aim to make your giveaways memorable and enjoyable for recipients.

2. Trendy and Relevant

Trendy career fair swags that resonate with attendees’ tastes and personalities are more likely to be retained and used. Consider incorporating popular trends and designs into your giveaways to attract attention and appeal to a wider audience. By staying up-to-date with current trends, you can ensure that your giveaways remain relevant and impactful.

3. Functional and Practical

Recipients value giveaways that serve a practical purpose and are more likely to be kept and utilized daily. Functional items such as tech gadgets, stationery, or eco-friendly products provide value to recipients and are constant reminders of your employer’s brand. By offering practical giveaways, you can effectively reinforce your brand message and enhance brand recall.

Career Fair Swags: 17 Ideas To Become the Spotlight

Here are our top 17 must-try ideas to help you become the spotlight at career fairs & campus recruiting events. For best results, you should ensure the alignment between your handouts and your company brand and values.

• Free Snacks and Coffee

Nothing attracts a crowd like free food and drinks. Offer snacks and coffee at your booth to create a welcoming atmosphere and encourage candidates to stop by for a chat.

• Power Bank

A portable power bank is a practical and appreciated giveaway in a world where everyone relies on their electronic devices. Ensure your brand stays at the top of recipients’ minds whenever they charge their devices.

• Card Sleeves for Phone

Keep it practical with card sleeves attached to the back of smartphones, providing a convenient way to carry essentials like ID cards and credit cards.

• Popsocket

Popsockets are trendy and functional accessories that attach to the back of phones, making them easier to grip and stand up for hands-free use.

• Wellness Items: Lip Balm or Hand Sanitizer

Show your care for candidates’ well-being by offering items like lip balm or hand sanitizer, which are always helpful, especially during flu season.

• Tumbler and Water Bottle

Help candidates stay hydrated with branded tumblers or water bottles, perfect for daily work, school, or gym use.

• Sustainable Gifts: Reusable Straws and Bags

Appeal to environmentally-conscious candidates with reusable straws and bags, demonstrating your company’s commitment to sustainability.

• Phone Stand

Provide attendees with a versatile folding phone and tablet stand featuring adjustable positions, ideal for watching videos or chatting on the go. Add your logo for brand visibility wherever they go.

• Can Cooler

Keep job seekers refreshed with an insulated can cooler, perfect for career fairs & campus recruiting events, interviews, and networking events. Add a splash of color and your logo for a fun and practical giveaway.

• Dual-Sided Microfiber Cloth

Help candidates keep their devices clean and polished with a dual-sided microfiber cloth. With ample space for your logo or contact information, it’s a practical and eco-friendly giveaway.

• Cooling Towel

Offer branded cooling towels to help attendees stay refreshed throughout the event. Made of lightweight, breathable material, these towels are customizable for maximum brand exposure.

• Small Journal

Provide potential employees with a high-quality journal for jotting down notes and ideas. Their ample writing space makes it a practical and appreciated giveaway.

• Unisex Tee

Keep your brand visible with classic unisex tees that recipients will wear for years. Add your logo for maximum exposure and lasting impressions.

• Stylus Pen

Equip job fair attendees with a laser-engraved metal pen featuring a soft stylus tip for precise navigation on electronic devices. Its stylish design and comfort grip make it a standout giveaway.

• Braided Charging Buddy Cable

Offer a sleek charging buddy capable of charging multiple devices simultaneously, ensuring attendees stay powered up and connected throughout the event.

• Roll-Up Tech Case

Provide a practical solution for organizing tech accessories with a folding neoprene tech case. Its adjustable closure and compact design make it a must-have for tech-savvy attendees.

• Waterproof Dry Bag with Window

Keep attendees’ belongings safe and dry with a waterproof dry bag featuring a clear window for easy smartphone access. It’s the perfect career fair swag for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers.

About Rakuna Event & Campus Recruiting Solution

Whether it is in-person or virtual recruiting events, we always have your back covered. Streamline your event recruiting operations seamlessly on one single platform.

With Rakuna’s Event & Campus Recruiting Solution, you can: 

• Impress your candidates with paperless technology at recruiting events. Let Rakuna’s Mobile Recruiting App handle the data collection while your team converse and forge authentic connections, taking full advantage of face-to-face interactions.
• Leverage the Rakuna dashboard to plan, track, and promote all recruiting events, review candidates’ data and recruiters’ evaluations, collaborate with hiring managers, and automate communication with candidates pre and post-events.
• To analyze past performance and allocate resources accordingly, have a complete view of all existing events’ results, whether in-person, virtual, or hybrid. Focus on delivering results rather than busy the mind with administrative burdens.

Want to see Rakuna in action? Book a FREE demo with us!

Conclusion

Career fairs and campus recruiting events are like speed-dating events between you and your potential candidates. You should make sure that the career fair giveaways you give are fun, stylish, and useful. Great giveaways can get you the spotlight and create a lasting impression. As you probably have found some great ideas to try from this article, you can also check our previous article, 34-Step Career Fair Checklist For Employers – Tips & Ideas, to efficiently prepare for your next event.