Articles : Speaking at a Virtual Event? Here are Our Top Tips

Businesses and organizations have gone through a lot of changes over the past year amid the COVID-19 pandemic – working from home is one of them. But we’re also seeing a lot of adjustments in the way we do live events and seminars.

Here at TorontoJobs.ca, we’ve moved from doing live in-person events to hosting them completely virtually. It has been a challenging shift… but it’s sort of just become the new normal now.

Whether you’ve tested the waters with virtual events or you’re thinking about participating in one, below are some of our top tips for success.

1. Make sure your laptop is completely charged.
The last thing you want happening is your laptop battery running low during your speaking session. Ensure your laptop is fully charged before your session. Make sure to also have a backup laptop or iPad/tablet in case your laptop stops working.

2. Turn off notifications from your other devices.
If there are additional electronic devices around your laptop like your phone for example, ensure to turn them off. You don’t want to get distracted by the notifications coming in during your session and you also don’t want any radio noise in your session.

3. Set-up in front of a blank wall.
Eliminate further distractions by hosting your session in front of a blank wall – you don’t want your audience to focus on your décor or what’s on your bookshelf.

4. Look at your camera not your screen.
If you are looking at your laptop screen when your speaking, it will look like you aren’t making eye contact with your audience. It will take some time to get the hang of it but focus on looking at the camera on your laptop.

5. Introduce yourself.
If you have some time before your session starts, don’t assume that the audience hasn’t tuned into your session yet. The best thing you can do during this time as people start to filter in is to introduce yourself and welcome everyone.

6. Prepare content for your Q&A session.
If you’re holding a Q&A session at the end of your session, have content ready to present during this time, as some people may be too shy to ask questions. Try formulating your content by anticipating what questions your audience may ask during that time.

7. Prepare links and your contact info.
If there is a chat feature part of your session, use it to your advantage by linking your website, social pages, resources, etc. You can also include your contact info.

For more content you can check out our Toronto Recruiters YouTube Channel here.

Want to attend one of our upcoming virtual events? Click here to learn more.

TorontoJobs.ca is a full-service recruitment organization, including TorontoJobs.ca Website, Career Fairs, full-service Recruitment Division and Outplacement Services. The local focus and advanced features make TorontoJobs.ca a vital asset for both job seekers and employers within the Greater Toronto Area. Visit our Online Career Centre for additional articles on Career Development, Personal Branding and more.