Tips on how to make the most of your time in the chat

Do your research

A successful one-on-one chat at a Virtual Career Fair starts with solid preparation and focused communication. With only 10 minutes per chat, making a strong impression and gathering valuable insights requires a clear objective and well-structured questions. To maximize your time, research the organization in advance—understand its mission, values, and key opportunities. 

Being well-prepared not only demonstrates your interest but also helps you engage in a more meaningful and productive conversation.

How to ask the right questions in your one-on-one chat

Ask yourself:  what is the main thing I would like to find out? When you know that, prepare how you will ask the question, making sure that - if needed - you can reference a specific element on your CV.

Before entering a chat session, take time to crystallize your main goal. Rather than asking broad questions like "What opportunities do you have?" focus on specific aspects that matter to your career journey. Instead of asking broad questions like "What opportunities do you have?" focus on what matters to your career. For example, if you're interested in project management, ask how your past experience aligns with their project coordination needs. This approach allows you to reference relevant parts of your CV naturally in the conversation, demonstrating both preparation and professional self-awareness.

When formulating your questions, keep in mind that organization representatives typically cannot provide individual coaching or detailed application feedback. Instead of asking "How can I improve my CV for your organization?" consider questions that explore role-specific requirements or are related to the organization's mandate.

For example, if you find a job mentioning cross-functional collaboration, you could ask, "I see your recent projects involve cross-functional teams. How do Project Officers collaborate with other departments?" This question shows you've done your research and helps you gather useful information for your application.

An example of a concrete tailored question

A concrete question tailored for a chat focussing on a Subregional Coordinator position could for instance look like this:

"In my current role leading a UN agency's sub-regional office, I've gained experience coordinating with UN Country Teams across multiple countries to implement their objectives. Since the Subregional Coordinator position emphasizes collaboration with UN-system entities at both subregional and national levels, could you share how your organization balances subregional strategic planning with country-specific programming in Central Asia?"

This question is effective because it:

• Focuses on a key aspect of the role mentioned in the job description
• Asks about operational details that are valuable to know
• Demonstrates understanding of UN-system coordination
• Shows careful reading of the job posting
• Promotes a meaningful discussion within the 10-minute time limit
• Allows the representative to share insight into the organization's specific approach 

The question also avoids asking for individual application while still gathering useful information about the role's practical requirements and organizational approach.

Make your questions actionable

Remember to keep your questions concrete and actionable. Rather than asking about general career paths, inquire about specific skills or certifications valued in, for example, their entry-level positions. This approach helps you gather practical information to guide your professional development while respecting the representative's position and time constraints.

The goal is to leave the conversation with clear, actionable insights that can help you focus on the right actions you can take, rather than vague encouragement or general advice.

Key takeaways 

Don'ts:

• Do your ‘homework’ - don’t ask for information that can be easily be found on their website

• Don't ask for generic CV advice - it's too broad to address properly in a short chat

• Don't request general career advice - representatives can only provide surface-level responses

• Don't ask broad questions like "What opportunities do you have?"
  
  

Do's:

• Remember, you typically have only 10 minutes for the chat

• Prepare your main question in advance with a clear objective

• Make your questions specific and concrete, rather than general

• Reference relevant parts of your CV naturally when asking questions

• Focus on role-specific requirements or organizational approaches

• Show you've done your research about the organization

• Ask about operational details that would be valuable for your application

Elements of an Effective Question:

• Focus on specific aspects of the role from the job posting

• Connect your relevant experience to the position's requirements

• Ask about practical operational details

• Demonstrate an understanding of the organization's context

• Structure the question to allow meaningful discussion within the time limit

• Seek insights into organizational approaches rather than personal advice
  
  

Preparation Strategy:

• Identify your main goal for the chat before entering

• Structure your questions clearly and concisely

• Research the organization and position thoroughly

• Be ready to reference specific elements of your experience

• Prepare questions that will yield actionable insights

• Focus on gathering practical information that can guide your application
  
  

We wish you good luck with your chats. Make the most of it!

 

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