Virtual job fair using Power Pages

Loading

Building a Virtual Job Fair with Microsoft Power Pages is a powerful way to connect job seekers with employers in a secure, interactive, and scalable environment. Power Pages—combined with Dataverse, Power Automate, and other Microsoft 365 tools—lets you design a portal for candidate registration, resume submission, employer booths, job listings, real-time Q&A, and even live interviews.

Below is a detailed, step-by-step guide to creating your own Virtual Job Fair portal using Power Pages.


Step 1: Define Your Portal Architecture

Break the portal down into main sections:

  1. Home Page – Overview of the fair, instructions, event schedule
  2. Job Seeker Registration – Secure sign-up form
  3. Employer Booths – Individual pages or sections showcasing each company
  4. Job Listings – Searchable listings for all open positions
  5. Live Sessions or Webinars – Event schedule with links
  6. Resume Submission – Secure upload or form
  7. Interview Scheduling – Integrated calendar booking
  8. Live Chat / Q&A Support – Via chatbot or staff support

Step 2: Create Your Power Pages Site

  1. Go to Power Pages Studio
  2. Define the Site Structure
    • Use the site map to add pages:
      • Home
      • Employers
      • Job Seekers
      • Job Listings
      • Upload Resume
      • Live Events
  3. Set Up Authentication
    • Enable Azure AD B2C or local registration
    • Allow separate roles: Employer, Job Seeker, Admin

Step 3: Build Dataverse Tables

Create necessary Dataverse tables:

  • Employers
    • Name, Description, Industry, Logo, Website
  • Job Postings
    • Position Title, Description, Location, Employer Lookup, Deadline
  • Job Seekers
    • Name, Email, Resume Upload, Skills, Interests
  • Resumes
    • File Upload, Linked Job Seeker
  • Event Sessions
    • Title, Speaker, Date/Time, Meeting Link
  • Interviews
    • Job Seeker, Job Posting, Employer, Time Slot

Step 4: Design the Pages and Forms

  1. Job Seeker Registration Page
    • Power Pages form linked to the Job Seekers table
    • Add a resume upload field
  2. Employer Directory Page
    • Use a list component connected to the Employers table
    • Clicking a company opens its detail page
  3. Job Listings Page
    • Use filters: industry, location, job type
    • Connect to Job Postings table
  4. Interview Booking
    • Use Power Automate to send meeting links or calendar invites
    • Embed a calendar tool (e.g., Outlook Bookings, Calendly)

Step 5: Add Real-Time Interactions

Option 1: Chatbot with Power Virtual Agents

  • Create a chatbot that:
    • Answers FAQs
    • Helps users find jobs or register
  • Embed it into the site using the chatbot widget

Option 2: Live Webinars or Meetings

  • Embed Teams/Zoom/YouTube live sessions using iFrames or links
  • Store the event links in the Event Sessions table
  • Display with session schedule

Step 6: Automate Workflows with Power Automate

  1. On Resume Upload
    • Notify employers who match the skills or job interests
  2. Job Application Submitted
    • Send a confirmation email to the job seeker
    • Notify employer contact
  3. Interview Scheduled
    • Add to calendar (Outlook/Teams)
    • Create reminders via email

Step 7: Control Access and Roles

Use Web Roles in Power Pages:

  • Anonymous: Can see overview and public job listings
  • Job Seeker: Access to resume upload, job apply, interviews
  • Employer: Manage job postings, view resumes
  • Admin: Full control

Control page access via web page permissions for each role.


Step 8: Branding and Responsiveness

  • Customize with portal styling in Power Pages Studio
  • Add logos, colors, and fonts per your event branding
  • Ensure it’s responsive for mobile users

Step 9: Analytics and Reporting

  • Track:
    • Number of job seekers registered
    • Resumes uploaded
    • Interviews scheduled
    • Top jobs viewed

Use Power BI dashboards embedded in admin pages or export data from Dataverse.


Step 10: Pre-Launch Testing and Support

  • Test user journey end-to-end
  • Provide a “Help Center” page with:
    • Contact Form
    • Chatbot
    • FAQ Section

Schedule staff for live assistance during the event.


Optional Features

  • Gamification: Award points or badges for actions (e.g., attending sessions, applying)
  • Email Campaign Integration: Use Dynamics 365 Marketing or Mailchimp
  • Search Indexing: Use Dataverse Search for fast job search
  • Document Downloads: Use SharePoint/Blob for brochures, company profiles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *