Introduction
On October 30, 2024, School of Code hosted its highly anticipated Career Fair, an event designed to bridge the gap between talented individuals seeking career opportunities in tech and innovative companies solving real-world problems with software. The event attracted 69 participants and was a resounding success, thanks to the immersive capabilities of Gatherly – a platform designed to foster meaningful and life-like connections in a virtual space.
In this case study, we will explore how School of Code leveraged Gatherly to create an engaging and interactive environment that helped both candidates and companies connect, collaborate, and thrive.
About School of Code
School of Code is an organization focused on developing software solutions for real-world problems. The company is dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where both learners and professionals can grow their skills and apply them to address global challenges.
By combining hands-on coding education with practical experience, the School of Code prepares individuals to make a meaningful impact in the world of software development.
Event Overview
The School of Code Career Fair was designed as an event to showcase job opportunities within the software development sector and connect attendees with potential employers. The Career Fair aimed to:
Provide job seekers with direct access to companies looking for top talent.
Allow employers to meet candidates with practical, hands-on coding experience.
Foster meaningful connections between participants that go beyond traditional virtual networking.
To achieve these goals, the event was hosted entirely on Gatherly, a cutting-edge virtual event platform known for creating an environment that simulates the experience of in-person interaction.
Why Gatherly?
In today’s world of remote work and virtual gatherings, traditional video conferencing platforms often fall short when it comes to creating authentic engagement. With Gatherly, School of Code organizers found a solution that offered a unique combination of interactivity and immersion. Unlike standard Zoom or Teams meetings, Gatherly allows participants to move freely between virtual spaces, hold spontaneous one-on-one or small group conversations, and even engage in realistic networking through spatial audio.
The choice of Gatherly was based on several key features:
Customizable Virtual Spaces: Gatherly’s dynamic virtual spaces provided a flexible, customizable environment where participants could interact, collaborate, and even socialize in settings that mimicked real-world environments.
Spatial Audio: Participants could approach different booths or tables to join conversations, hearing only the people near them, just as they would in a physical venue. This created a natural and organic networking experience.
Ease of Use: Gatherly’s intuitive interface made it easy for attendees to jump right into conversations and activities without a steep learning curve, making it accessible for all.
Engagement Tools: The platform’s interactive features, such as booths, stages, and private rooms, gave companies and candidates ample opportunities for engagement beyond just job interviews, providing a holistic event experience.
Event Execution
The event was held in the virtual world of Gatherly, with various zones designed for different types of engagement:
Employer Booths: Companies attending the career fair had their own virtual booths where job seekers could browse job listings, meet with recruiters, and ask questions about open positions.
Networking Lounges: These spaces encouraged informal, spontaneous conversations between participants. Attendees could walk around and join discussions with people they were most interested in, whether they were other job seekers or company representatives.
Presentation Stages: In addition to the booths, the event also featured live presentations where companies could showcase their products, services, and the types of roles they were hiring for, as well as panel discussions on the latest trends in the tech industry.
Private Rooms: For more in-depth discussions, private rooms were available for one-on-one or small group conversations, mimicking the experience of a traditional interview.
Key Highlights of the Event
1. High Engagement and Interactivity:
With 69 participants attending the virtual event, the atmosphere remained lively and dynamic throughout. Thanks to the spatial audio and virtual environments, attendees were able to move around freely, fostering authentic connections. Job seekers and employers were able to connect with ease, having real-time discussions that felt far more organic than traditional video calls.
2. Seamless Networking Opportunities:
One of the most praised features of the event was how easy it was for candidates to network with multiple companies. Rather than waiting for structured Q&A sessions, participants could engage with employers as they wished, whether in the booths or in a more informal setting. Several job seekers were able to meet potential employers in the networking lounge and get hired on the spot after quick discussions.
3. Real-World Problem Solving Focus:
The event wasn’t just about job hunting; it was also about creating lasting relationships between like-minded individuals and organizations working toward solving global challenges. School of Code, with its core mission of developing software solutions to real-world problems, created an atmosphere where participants could deeply engage in conversations about the impact of technology on society. This allowed companies to meet candidates who shared their vision and values, fostering a strong cultural and professional alignment.
4. Access to a Diverse Talent Pool:
Thanks to the inclusive nature of the event and the global reach of Gatherly, School of Code was able to attract talent from a wide array of backgrounds. Whether it was through their coding bootcamps or other educational initiatives, participants brought a variety of skill sets to the table, helping companies find new hires with the right technical knowledge and passion for problem-solving.
Outcomes and Success Metrics
The event was hailed as a major success by both attendees and companies. Key outcomes included:
Strong Participation: With 69 participants actively engaging in networking, interviews, and presentations, the event saw high levels of engagement from both candidates and employers.
Successful Hires: Several companies reported successful hires directly following the event, with many more building a pipeline of potential candidates for future roles.
Positive Feedback: Participants praised the immersive virtual experience provided by Gatherly, with many commenting on the ease of use, the organic networking opportunities, and the ability to connect with people in a way that felt “real” despite being virtual.
Follow-Up Engagement: Many companies planned follow-up interviews or additional informational sessions with candidates they met during the event, indicating that the connections made were of high quality.
Conclusion
The School of Code Career Fair of October 2024 was a prime example of how virtual events can be transformative when the right platform is chosen. By utilizing Gatherly, School of Code not only met its objective of connecting talented software developers with companies, but it also created a space where meaningful, real-world problem-solving discussions could take place.
Gatherly’s unique blend of interactivity, spatial audio, and customizable environments helped simulate an in-person event experience, providing a dynamic and engaging platform that made the career fair a memorable success. As the world of remote and hybrid work continues to evolve, the success of this event underscores the growing importance of virtual spaces that foster deeper connection and engagement, and demonstrates how technology can be leveraged to build real-world solutions.